Mala Idea is a small-production mezcal brand founded by Marcos Mendoza and made in micro-batches by mezcalero Celestino Sernas in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, the heart of mezcal country. The brand focuses on single-agave and ensamble expressions that let each plant speak for itself.

Production is artesanal. Piñas are roasted in an earthen oven, crushed with a 1.5-ton tahona wheel, fermented in the open air with ambient wild yeasts, and distilled in vintage copper stills. The agave is a mix of semi-cultivated and wild plants. The lineup runs from Espadín (Agave angustifolia) and an Ensamble of Espadín, Tobalá and Jabalí, to wild Tobalá (Agave potatorum), wild Tepextate (Agave marmorata) and an Espadín-based Añejo rested in wood for a rounder, richer character.

Whether you start with the citrus-forward Espadín for cocktails or go straight to the Tobalá or Tepextate to sip neat, Mala Idea is a rewarding way to explore the range of Oaxacan agave. Browse our full Mala Idea collection with fast nationwide shipping delivered straight to your door.