Photo by Annabelle Christian
In Oaxaca, mezcal has always been more than a spirit—it’s a living expression of land, lineage, and ritual. Zaponauta, a handcrafted mezcal-coffee liqueur, carries that tradition forward while introducing something refreshingly unexpected. Created by the same family behind Wahaka Mezcal, Zaponauta blends heritage mezcal with rich, sustainably sourced Mexican coffee to produce a liqueur that feels both deeply rooted and strikingly modern.
Zaponauta is handmade in small batches by a fifth-generation mezcalero in Oaxaca, where time-honored methods remain central to every bottle. Fire-roasted agave hearts, slow distillation, and carefully roasted coffee beans come together in a process that honors patience, craft, and respect for raw ingredients. The result is a spirit that reflects the soul of Oaxaca while pushing mezcal into new territory.
Unlike traditional coffee liqueurs, Zaponauta is smooth and gently sweet, never heavy or cloying. On the palate, warm roasted coffee leads the way, layered with subtle mezcal smoke, soft cacao notes, and a clean, elegant finish. The mezcal doesn’t overpower—it enhances—bringing balance and depth rather than intensity. It’s indulgent without excess, bold without weight, and unmistakably shaped by its Oaxacan terroir.
Versatility is part of Zaponauta’s appeal. It can be sipped neat or over ice, where its aromatics and texture shine, or used to elevate cocktails with a coffee-forward complexity that feels refined rather than predictable. Whether replacing a classic coffee liqueur in a cocktail or standing on its own as an after-dinner pour, Zaponauta invites drinkers to rethink what coffee spirits can be.
At the heart of Zaponauta is the same philosophy that defines Wahaka Mezcal. Wahaka is owned and produced by a single Indigenous Zapotec family whose lineage can be traced back to the very beginnings of mezcal. From their village in Oaxaca, owner Alberto Morales and generations of his family oversee every step of production, preserving ancestral knowledge while thoughtfully sharing it with a wider audience.
Zaponauta is not a departure from tradition—it’s an evolution of it. By bringing together mezcal and coffee, two pillars of Mexican culture, this liqueur tells a story of continuity, creativity, and respect for craft. For those who appreciate spirits with authenticity, intention, and a sense of place, Zaponauta offers a taste of Oaxaca that feels both timeless and entirely new.
To learn more and where to find Zaponauta and Wahaka Mezcal throughout Texas, go to wahaka,com/locate
