Cocktail du Mois with Agua Mágica Mezcal

Rafael Shin's journey from Wall Street to the agave fields of Oaxaca began with a simple realization: New York deserved better mezcal. 

"I was inspired to bridge this gap, bringing Oaxacan magic to sophisticated drinkers eager to discover mezcal's true potential," says Shin, who founded Agua Mágica Mezcal in 2021. 

So Shin decided to do something about it by creating Agua Mágica, a spirit that introduces cocktail enthusiasts to the depth and quality defined by great mezcal. His mezcal defies the common misconception that the spirit should overwhelm the palate with smoke. Instead, Agua Mágica achieves something far more nuanced—clean, balanced notes that reveal mezcal's character. Working with Don Rogelio, a fifth-generation maestro mezcalero, Shin crafted a spirit where smoke complements rather than dominates, making Agua Mágica inviting, memorable and easy to drink.

The name itself, Agua Mágica, pays homage to the magical realism woven throughout Zapotec culture and honors Oaxaca's rich storytelling tradition while appealing to contemporary tastes. Consider the signature Mezcal Last Word—a cocktail that transforms the classic gin-based recipe into something entirely new. Each sip reveals layers of complexity that showcase exactly what Shin envisioned: a mezcal that invites exploration and appreciation of a culture and heritage.