Thanksgiving isn’t just about the turkey. It’s about that one uncle telling the same story again, the laughter that fills the gaps between bites, and that familiar, comforting feeling that comes with being surrounded by people you love.

And in a way, that’s exactly what mezcal has always been about too.

At first glance, these two traditions, one born from American harvest tables and the other from the heart of Mexico’s agave fields, might seem worlds apart. But look closer, and you’ll see they share the same spirit: gratitude, connection, and the beauty of gathering together.

This season, let’s raise a glass to the values that bring us to the table, whether it’s piled with sweet potatoes or filled with the smoky sweetness of mezcal.

 

Honoring the Land and the Hands

Every bottle of mezcal begins with the land.

It’s a slow process, the kind that forces you to respect time. The agave plant grows for years, sometimes decades, before it’s ready to harvest. No shortcuts or no rushing, just sun, soil, and a little patience.

That kind of patience teaches gratitude. Mezcaleros (or in our case, mezcaleras) understand that their work starts long before the first drop touches a glass. They give thanks to the land, to the agave that gives its life, and to the generations of hands that make it all possible.

At Chicotona, we carry that same respect. It’s a thank-you, un agradecimiento profundo, to the earth and the people who shape it.

Thanksgiving shares that same heartbeat. It’s our own yearly reminder to slow down and recognize everything (and everyone) that got us here. Whether it’s the farmers who grew the vegetables, the hands that cooked the meal, or the family that gathered around to share it, gratitude is the common thread.

 

Stories Passed Down Like Recipes

If you’ve ever sat at a Thanksgiving table long enough, you know stories get told, and retold, every year. Some get better with time; others get a little more dramatic.

That’s the beauty of heritage. It’s not about perfection. It’s about keeping stories alive.

In mezcal culture, those stories are passed down through the craft itself. A mezcalero’s (mezcalera’s) knowledge often comes from their parents or grandparents, lessons carried by memory, repetition, and respect. Every technique, from roasting the agave underground to distilling by hand, holds generations of experience.

 

The True Toast of Mezcal

Mezcal isn’t meant to be taken alone.

It’s meant to be shared.

You don’t knock it back like a shot. You sip, you talk, you laugh, you pause. There’s an entire rhythm to it, a back-and-forth that feels like conversation. One pour leads to another story, one toast leads to another laugh.

In many parts of Mexico, mezcal is poured to mark both beginnings and endings. Births, weddings, new homes, farewells, every moment that matters gets a little mezcal. It’s a ritual that says: We’re here together. Let’s honor that.

Thanksgiving lives in that same space. It’s less about what’s on the table and more about who’s around it. Sharing mezcal during the holidays adds another layer to that tradition, a way to merge cultures and create something universal: togetherness.

When the meal winds down and the plates are cleared, pull out a bottle. Pour small and pass it around. Instead of the usual “cheers,” try something new:

Para todo bien, mezcal. Para todo mal, también.

For everything good, mezcal. For everything bad, mezcal too.

That’s the mezcalero’s way of saying life deserves to be celebrated, all of it.

 

Time, Patience, and Meaning

Mezcal teaches patience.

The agave plant takes years to mature, but even after harvest, the transformation continues, roasted, crushed, fermented, and distilled. Each stage changes the plant, revealing something new.

Thanksgiving asks for the same thing in a different way. It asks us to slow down, to sit, to reflect, to notice. Gratitude isn’t instant. It’s something we grow into over time, shaped by what we’ve lived through and who we’ve shared it with.

There’s a quiet beauty in both. Mezcal is transformation in a bottle; Thanksgiving is transformation around a table. Both remind us that good things take time, and that the waiting makes it worth it.

Our own story at Chicotona begins with Don Lauro, our abuelo and inspiration. His name carries the weight of tradition and the warmth of family. The brand itself is a tribute to him, and to la chicotona, the snake that roamed the agave fields, reminding us to move with purpose and respect for where we come from.

Thanksgiving’s not that different. The recipes, the rituals, the way someone insists on using “that one plate”, it’s all family history in motion. We honor the past by continuing it, by making something familiar feel new again.

 

How to Bring Mezcal to Your Thanksgiving Table

Let’s make it practical, because this is where tradition meets the fun part.

If you’re looking for a way to blend mezcal into your Thanksgiving celebration, here are a few ideas that’ll make you the cool cousin of the group.

1. The Toast

Start dinner with a small pour. Before everyone digs in, raise your glass and say:

“A sip for the land, a sip for the hands.”

It’s short, sincere, and perfectly captures what both mezcal and Thanksgiving are about.

2. The Cocktail

Give your bar cart a twist with a smoky seasonal drink. Try a Spiced Apple Mezcal Spritz or a Cranberry Mezcal Margarita. They pair beautifully with fall flavors and balance that post-turkey heaviness.

3. The Pairing

Espadín goes well with roast turkey, stuffing, or pumpkin pie, its gentle smoke and touch of citrus complement rich, warm dishes.

4. The Slow Sip

After dinner, pour mezcal into small copitas and sip slowly with no rush or agenda.

 

A Shared Table, A Shared Spirit

At their core, mezcal and Thanksgiving celebrate the same things: gratitude, connection, and honoring what brings us together.

So this year, when you gather around the table, bring a little mezcal with you. Not just for the flavor, but for what it represents.

Wherever you are, raise your glass.