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Finding Mezcal: A Journey into the Liquid Soul of Mexico, with 40 Cocktails
In this groundbreaking and deeply personal book, Ron Cooper--a leading voice in the artisanal mezcal movement, and the person largely responsible for popularizing the spirit in the United States--shares everything he knows about this storied, culturally rich, and now hugely in-demand spirit, along with 50 recipes.
In 1990, artist Ron Cooper was collaborating with craftspeople in Oaxaca, Mexico, when he found mezcal--or, as he likes to say, mezcal found him. This traditional spirit was virtually unknown in the United States at the time, and Cooper founded Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal in order to import it. Finding Mezcal recounts Cooper's love affair with the spirit and the people who make it; its meteoric rise in popularity; and the delicate balance between sharing mezcal with the world and facilitating its preservation. Each chapter introduces a new mezcal, its producer, and its place of origin, while also covering mezcal production methods and the botany of the maguey (aka agave) plant, from which mezcal is distilled. Featuring 50 recipes developed for Del Maguey by chefs and bartenders from around the world, the book is copiously illustrated with photographs, as well as Cooper's artwork and that of his friend Ken Price, who illustrated Del Maguey's now-iconic labels.
In 1990, artist Ron Cooper was collaborating with craftspeople in Oaxaca, Mexico, when he found mezcal--or, as he likes to say, mezcal found him. This traditional spirit was virtually unknown in the United States at the time, and Cooper founded Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal in order to import it. Finding Mezcal recounts Cooper's love affair with the spirit and the people who make it; its meteoric rise in popularity; and the delicate balance between sharing mezcal with the world and facilitating its preservation. Each chapter introduces a new mezcal, its producer, and its place of origin, while also covering mezcal production methods and the botany of the maguey (aka agave) plant, from which mezcal is distilled. Featuring 50 recipes developed for Del Maguey by chefs and bartenders from around the world, the book is copiously illustrated with photographs, as well as Cooper's artwork and that of his friend Ken Price, who illustrated Del Maguey's now-iconic labels.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2018
35 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Ron Cooper
50 books13 followersRon Cooper's novel, Hume's Fork, was called by author Ron Rash "one of the funniest novels I've read in a long time" and described by Rebecca Goldstein as a "mix of zaniness and erudition, satire and insight." His new novel, Purple Jesus, will appear in September 2010. He is a South Carolina native who moved to Florida in 1988 and teaches at the College of Central Florida. Cooper has a BA from the College of Charleston, an MA from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University. He is also the author of a number of philosophical works, including Heidegger and Whitehead: A Phenomenological Examination into the Intelligibility of Experience."
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 7, 2021
Really entertaining read for a great overview of mezcal. Superb cocktail recipes in the back from some bartenders of the best bars in the world. Great to reference for summer drinks of all sorts, even just mezcal neat.
May 10, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book. My criticism is that it may have romanticized the hard life in villages making Mezcal. As a memoir I think it show Coopers love of the people, places, art and the spirit itself. As a bit of travelogue it did make me want to visit Oaxaca even more than I already wanted to. As a cocktail recipe book it is superb.
November 20, 2018
“Finding Mezcal” melds a reference book with a memoir and surprisingly, it works. Thanks in part to the beautiful heft of the book, which resembles an upmarket cookbook, and the organization of its chapters.
From the first glance, the book speaks to the high quality of craftmanship that Cooper pursues in his mezcal. The hard cover is an embossed Ken Price painting and his paintings appear at the beginning of each chapter as on the labels of Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal. Inside, the book is illustrated with beautiful photos of the landscape and people of Oaxaca. The paper it’s printed on is a thick high-quality
stock and edged in green.
Divided into 11 chapters, each chapter introduces a new theme and a new mezcal producer along with their corresponding village where they grow and produce the mezcal. At the end of each chapter is a
detailed chart showing production methods and the botany of the particular maguey plant used by that producer. Everything from the elevation in which the maguey is grown to the age it is harvested at to the still size and water source plus much more is included. The last section of “Finding Mezcal” features forty mezcal cocktail recipes developed by chefs and bartenders from around the world.
But while this detailed compendium is rich with information, it is also rich with personal story.
Cooper is adventurous and goes to great lengths to find a specially rumored mezcal in the depths of the mountains down isolated dirt roads. He often drives a beat-up car or a rental with bald tires and is uncertain if the person he’s looking for will even be there when he arrives as there are no telephones in some of the villages. He commonly approaches strangers who speak in a tribal tongue he can’t understand, but instantly finds connection with their shared interest in mezcal.
From the first glance, the book speaks to the high quality of craftmanship that Cooper pursues in his mezcal. The hard cover is an embossed Ken Price painting and his paintings appear at the beginning of each chapter as on the labels of Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal. Inside, the book is illustrated with beautiful photos of the landscape and people of Oaxaca. The paper it’s printed on is a thick high-quality
stock and edged in green.
Divided into 11 chapters, each chapter introduces a new theme and a new mezcal producer along with their corresponding village where they grow and produce the mezcal. At the end of each chapter is a
detailed chart showing production methods and the botany of the particular maguey plant used by that producer. Everything from the elevation in which the maguey is grown to the age it is harvested at to the still size and water source plus much more is included. The last section of “Finding Mezcal” features forty mezcal cocktail recipes developed by chefs and bartenders from around the world.
But while this detailed compendium is rich with information, it is also rich with personal story.
Cooper is adventurous and goes to great lengths to find a specially rumored mezcal in the depths of the mountains down isolated dirt roads. He often drives a beat-up car or a rental with bald tires and is uncertain if the person he’s looking for will even be there when he arrives as there are no telephones in some of the villages. He commonly approaches strangers who speak in a tribal tongue he can’t understand, but instantly finds connection with their shared interest in mezcal.
December 21, 2024
Ron Cooper takes you into the real world of mezcal in the heart of Oaxaca. It’s the mera mera, as the Mexicans say. Ron’s trip started in the 1970s, taking the unpaved country roads in search of mezcal. This was back when nobody was going to Oaxaca.
I was lucky to spend two weeks in Oaxaca back in 2020. It’s when I tried my first mezcal and visited the cochineal textile workshops in Teotitlán del Valle. What an experience. Ron Cooper’s book not only took me back to my own adventures, but took me even deeper. Ron Cooper knows Oaxaca better than any foreigner. He’s the one who made mezcal popular outside of Mexico, and he did it out of his passion for the drink and for the people.
The book is full of anecdotes, and pretty good ones. It’s also advertising for his different varieties of mezcal. But if you’re starting to get into mezcal, the advertising is good information. The list of cocktails makes the book great for reference. If I were more of a drinker, I would buy the hardcover edition, which others here in the reviews say is a beautiful edition. But for me, I’m more interested in the culture of mezcal, so the Kindle version is good enough.
I was lucky to spend two weeks in Oaxaca back in 2020. It’s when I tried my first mezcal and visited the cochineal textile workshops in Teotitlán del Valle. What an experience. Ron Cooper’s book not only took me back to my own adventures, but took me even deeper. Ron Cooper knows Oaxaca better than any foreigner. He’s the one who made mezcal popular outside of Mexico, and he did it out of his passion for the drink and for the people.
The book is full of anecdotes, and pretty good ones. It’s also advertising for his different varieties of mezcal. But if you’re starting to get into mezcal, the advertising is good information. The list of cocktails makes the book great for reference. If I were more of a drinker, I would buy the hardcover edition, which others here in the reviews say is a beautiful edition. But for me, I’m more interested in the culture of mezcal, so the Kindle version is good enough.
May 20, 2023
Firstly, this is a physically beautiful hardback book, with a stout cover, heavy paper, colored fore edge, stitched spine and beautiful pictures. It's true pleasure just to hold a well made book. This is Ron Cooper's travel journal through the Oaxacan countryside visiting remote villages and finding delicious mezcal (or I should say, the mezcal finds him!). It's a wonderful romp, and one I really enjoyed. With high aspirations of visiting Oaxaca one day, I am trying to educate myself about the mezcal world and have worked my way through three other books with I can highly recommend. Each has a different focus which is important for a broad-based view. Alvin Gary Starkman's book, John P. McEvoy's book and Tom Bullock's book are all gems! ¡Salud!
August 20, 2020
This book is a work of art in and of itself. Speaks to Ron Cooper's talents, choice if collaborators, good taste, adventurism, down to earthness, ability to transcend social barriers and move between the mescaleros in the village, to top of the line famed bartenders and socialites.
The book is easy to read and sort of a Oaxaca travel log with emphasis on Mescal. He introduces the reader to the villages and Mescal makers individually. Great book!
Great cocktail recipes too!
The book is easy to read and sort of a Oaxaca travel log with emphasis on Mescal. He introduces the reader to the villages and Mescal makers individually. Great book!
Great cocktail recipes too!
June 17, 2025
This is the best corporate brand-building book I have ever read. It helps if you already like Mezcal but if you do then taking the author's own journey of discovery and discernment can be transporting.
I honestly can't believe I'm ranking a promo book with 5 stars but, just like the spirit itself, this was one of the best "sipper" books I have ever read. Recommended for folks who like travel, food writing, and the stories behind the Del Maguey products on the shelf.
I honestly can't believe I'm ranking a promo book with 5 stars but, just like the spirit itself, this was one of the best "sipper" books I have ever read. Recommended for folks who like travel, food writing, and the stories behind the Del Maguey products on the shelf.
June 13, 2021
I love this book; funny irreverent, well-written and very interesting. Ron Cooper brought mezcal to the world and this story is his tribute to this great spirit and the artisans who craft it. It makes me want to visit Mexico again!
July 2, 2019
Somewhat informative on mezcal, but more so a travel book that painted pictures of mexico in my head. Does make me want to visit oaxaca, and some damn good cocktails in the back.
March 18, 2020
Beautiful book about a very interesting topic.
"You don't find mezcal, mezcal finds you."
"You don't find mezcal, mezcal finds you."
May 25, 2020
Among the best spirits books I've ever read. As fascinatingly informative as it is incredibly personal, it will make you long to visit the villages where it's made and meet the people who make it.
November 27, 2020
More than a bit of a name dropper, that's the name of the game selling yourself whether it be art or business. I would love to try mescal. The photos are incredible. Obviously a talented man.
March 10, 2021
I rate this five stars with two large caveats. If one is interested in Mexican culture and/or Mezcal/spirits, this is a fascinating book. If not, probably not the book for you.
July 29, 2024
Ron Cooper’s first hand account of his hunt for unique mezcals revels in the ancestral foodways of Central America while nodding at the wonder possessed by the writers of the Beat Generation. Unfortunately the book does not delve deeply into the mechanics mezcal production, but it is successful in foregrounding the artisanal nature the spirit.
The recipes are also great; ‘The Brave’ by Bobby Heugel of Anvil Bar & Refuge is worth the price the book on it’s own.
The recipes are also great; ‘The Brave’ by Bobby Heugel of Anvil Bar & Refuge is worth the price the book on it’s own.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews