Of Love and Mezcal: Meet The Couple Behind The New Elixir That Everyone Wants But Few Can Get.
This was certainly not their first trip to Mexico. For Courtney and David, the love affair with the country has been a constant element in their lives, since their very first visit and as they immersed themselves completely into a world of history, healing, traditions and stories they also found the inspiration to create something unique together, something that would act as a symbol of their love, but also as a way to share the purity of that love with the world.
T.O. Mezcal was born from their love for each other, organic products, travel, and enjoying life to the fullest. Their goal is to inspire everyone to find love on their journey through life while enjoying exceptional tasting mezcal; Courtney and David Yurko fell in love after knowing each other for 13 years. They walked separate paths during that time, but when their journeys brought them back together, it was as clear as their joven mezcal...they were soulmates.
Fast forward to October 2022, on a trip to Oaxaca where they reconnected with David's long-time right-hand man in real estate development, Gonzalo. They were welcomed with love and gratitude in his hometown of Chichicapam. That love was returned with Dr. Courtney's chiropractic work to the people of the pueblo. What a magical exchange of love it was!
T.O. Mezcal came to fruition on that trip and since then their vision for linking the world with divine mezcal has been their highest calling.
Mezcal, a traditional Mexican spirit made from the fermented and distilled sap of the agave plant, has been an integral part of Mexican culture and tradition for centuries. The making of mezcal is deeply rooted in the history and heritage of the Mexican people, and it continues to play an important role in the country's cultural identity; One of the unique characteristics of mezcal is that it can be made using over 30 different types of agave, each with its own unique flavor profile. The most commonly used agave for Mezcal is the EspadÃn agave.
Those “in the know” have a deep love for EspadÃn agave, but they also believe that organic Tobalá agave offers a rich and decadent experience for the senses. T.O. Mezcal offers both varieties, crafted in small batches using an authentic style of manufacturing, rooted in the ancient tradition that has been passed on through generations amongst the people of Chichicapam pueblo in Oaxaca, where David´s friend Gonzalo and his family had never shared their secrets with anyone outside of the village before.
Mezcal is made using a traditional manufacturing process known as artisanal production, which involves roasting the agave in underground pits, crushing it with a stone wheel called a tahona, fermenting it in wooden vats, and distilling it in copper or clay stills. These time-honored techniques passed down through generations ensure that each batch of mezcal is unique and authentically Mexican.
However, recently there has been a growing interest in Mezcal, not only in Mexico but also in the United States. The American market has seen a significant increase in the consumption of mezcal in recent years, as more and more people discover the unique and flavorful spirit. This growing interest in mezcal can be attributed to its distinct smoky flavor and artisanal production process, which make it a special and sought-after spirit among connoisseurs.
Mezcal has also been embraced by bartenders and mixologists who have been experimenting with the spirit in their cocktails.
For the first time, American entrepreneurs collaborate directly with the inventors of a highly coveted methodology that has been known to produce mezcal with an almost divine aura, which has only been made available to a few close friends of the couple and has already caused such an impact that offers from distributors, exclusive resorts and highly coveted restaurants both in Mexico and in the United States are coming in at a time when production is still in its initial stages; So if you were hoping to get your hands on one of these mysterious, alluring bottles and try T.O. Mezcal for yourself any time soon, our advice would be: have patience, it will be worth it.
