True mezcal, much like tequila and champagne, only comes from designated areas around the globe. When it comes to traditional mezcal, it must derive from one of the nine designated states in Mexico: Durango, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luís Potosí, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas. And while both spirit types are made from agave, there is a distinctness in the aroma that any spirit connoisseur could spot immediately upon breathing in.
And while the 400-year-old tradition of artisanal mezcal making is embodied in the product, Oakes and team took a modern approach to the branding, while still offering a human element to consumers. "The word campante really resonated with us," she said. "It’s a word that’s used to describe someone. It means to be happy, unconcerned, content. And to be happy and unconcerned is a wonderful place to be.