Mezo Beverages has announced a major retail expansion for its premium ready-to-drink cocktail line, Mezo Mezoritas, with the brand now available in 38 Whole Foods Market stores across Southern California. The rollout, which stretches from Oxnard to San Diego, represents the company’s largest retail launch to date and marks an important milestone in its mission to bring authentic mezcal-based cocktails to a rapidly growing audience of ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage consumers.
The Southern California launch significantly increases Mezo’s visibility in one of the country’s most influential food and beverage markets, where consumer demand for premium, craft-inspired alcoholic beverages continues to rise. By entering Whole Foods Market, a retailer known for prioritizing quality ingredients, sustainability, and innovative brands, Mezo is positioning itself among a new generation of elevated RTD cocktail producers focused on authenticity and craftsmanship.
Premium Mezcal Meets the RTD Category
At the heart of Mezo’s offering is its flagship product line, Mezoritas—lightly carbonated canned cocktails made with 100% Agave Espadín mezcal and inspired by traditional Mexican flavors. Unlike many mass-market canned cocktails that rely on malt liquor or neutral spirits, Mezoritas are built on an artisanal mezcal foundation, delivering a more nuanced and authentic drinking experience.
Currently, the brand offers two varieties: Pineapple and Guava. Both are designed to highlight the smoky, earthy characteristics of mezcal while balancing those notes with tropical fruit flavors and natural sweetness. Two additional flavors—Ginger and Passionfruit Paloma—are expected to launch later this year, expanding the product portfolio and giving consumers more options in the premium canned cocktail segment.
Each Mezorita contains 6.5% alcohol by volume and is packaged in a convenient 12-ounce can, making it suitable for a wide range of occasions, from outdoor gatherings and beach outings to casual at-home entertaining. The beverages are lightly effervescent and crafted to offer a chef-inspired balance of flavor, avoiding the overly sweet profile often associated with hard seltzers and other RTD alternatives.
According to the company, the cocktails are designed to deliver a drinking experience closer to a handcrafted cocktail served in a bar than a traditional canned alcoholic beverage.
Whole Foods Market Endorses the Brand’s Quality and Story
For Mezo, placement in Whole Foods Market is about more than shelf space—it is validation of the brand’s commitment to premium ingredients and authentic sourcing.
“Our customers look to us to identify up-and-coming brands that are both flavorful and innovative, while still meeting our quality ingredient standards,” said Samantha Fletcher, Senior Category Merchant at Whole Foods Market.
She added that the craftsmanship behind the Mezo brand, along with the founders’ direct collaboration with traditional mezcal producers in Oaxaca, made it an ideal fit for Whole Foods shoppers seeking distinctive, responsibly made products.
That endorsement places Mezo among a curated group of premium beverage brands that appeal to consumers who increasingly want to know where their products come from, how they are made, and who is involved in the production process.
A Brand Born from Friendship and Travel
Mezo Beverages was founded in San Diego by longtime friends Troy Brajkovich and Spencer Johnston, whose shared travels through Oaxaca, Mexico, inspired the company’s creation.
Brajkovich, a filmmaker, and Johnston, an executive chef, were introduced firsthand to Oaxaca’s mezcal culture while exploring the region’s villages, traditions, and culinary heritage. What began as a personal appreciation for artisanal mezcal quickly evolved into a business vision: to create a modern RTD cocktail brand rooted in authentic Mexican craftsmanship.
Their goal was not simply to build another canned cocktail company, but to preserve the heritage of mezcal-making while introducing it to a wider consumer audience in an approachable format.
That philosophy remains central to Mezo’s identity today.
Traditional Mezcal Production in Oaxaca
Every can of Mezoritas begins in San Dionisio Ocotepec, a small town in Oaxaca widely respected for its mezcal-making traditions.
There, fifth-generation maestro mezcaleros Oscar and Octavio Martinez craft the Agave Espadín used in Mezo’s cocktails using traditional methods passed down through generations.
The agave is roasted slowly in earthen pit ovens fueled by coals and volcanic rock, a process that imparts mezcal’s signature smoky flavor. After roasting, the agave is fermented using wild yeasts, allowing the natural environment to influence the spirit’s complexity. It is then distilled in traditional copper stills, preserving artisanal techniques that have defined mezcal production for centuries.
Notably, Oscar and Octavio Martinez are not merely suppliers—they are equity partners and co-owners in the Mezo business, an uncommon arrangement in the beverage industry that reflects the founders’ commitment to shared ownership and ethical sourcing.
This partnership ensures that the people responsible for producing the mezcal directly benefit from the brand’s commercial success.
California Ingredients Complete the Formula
Once the mezcal arrives in California, Mezo blends it with ingredients selected to complement its smoky base while maintaining freshness and balance.
Organic California lime serves as a bright citrus foundation, while tropical fruit juices add vibrant flavor. Botanical ingredients contribute aromatic complexity, and a touch of agave nectar provides subtle sweetness without overpowering the spirit’s natural character.
The result is a cocktail that the company describes as more comparable to a freshly prepared Oaxacan drink than a mass-produced canned beverage.
This culinary approach reflects co-founder Spencer Johnston’s background as a chef, bringing a food-driven perspective to beverage development.
Meeting Consumer Demand for Premium RTD Cocktails
The RTD alcoholic beverage market has experienced rapid growth over the past several years, fueled by consumer demand for convenience without sacrificing quality.
What began with hard seltzers has evolved into a broader premium category that now includes spirit-based cocktails, canned wine, and craft innovations like mezcal-based beverages.
Industry analysts continue to note growing interest in premiumization, where consumers increasingly seek authenticity, better ingredients, and unique flavor experiences.
Mezo’s entry into more Whole Foods locations aligns directly with that trend.
By offering a product built on small-batch mezcal, transparent sourcing, and culinary craftsmanship, the company is differentiating itself from larger competitors and appealing to consumers willing to pay more for quality and authenticity.
Leadership Looks Ahead
For Mezo co-founder and CEO Troy Brajkovich, the Whole Foods expansion represents both a commercial opportunity and a philosophical milestone.
“From the agave fields of Oaxaca to the California coast, our goal is to produce RTD mezcal cocktails the right way,” Brajkovich said.
He emphasized that Whole Foods shoppers are especially likely to appreciate the company’s attention to sourcing and production integrity.
“I believe their shoppers care about where things come from and how they’re made. That’s what Mezo is all about,” he added.
What Comes Next for Mezo
With distribution now expanded across Southern California and new flavors planned for release later this year, Mezo appears positioned for continued growth.
Its successful Whole Foods rollout could open doors to broader regional or national retail expansion, particularly as retailers continue seeking innovative alcoholic beverage brands that align with premium consumer trends.
For now, Mezo’s focus remains clear: honoring traditional Oaxacan mezcal craftsmanship while redefining what a canned cocktail can be.
That combination of authenticity, storytelling, and product quality may prove to be the formula that helps the young beverage company stand out in one of the most competitive categories in the drinks industry today..
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