Dock Street Spirits created Vicio Mezcal — a distinctive spirit that offers an experience far from ordinary.

Founded in 2013 by Rosemarie Certo and Marilyn Candeloro in Philadelphia, Dock Street Spirits — a sister company of Dock Street Brewery — ventured into unknown territory. With little more than fiery passion, curiosity, and a deep respect for Oaxaca, the duo embraced a spirit of adventure and odyssey. An energy that echoed the early days of the American craft movement, when small, independent brewers (like Dock Street Brewery) began reshaping the industry.

Mezcal has been described as the purest spirit on Earth, made by hand and cooked in the ground using ancient techniques passed down by generations of mezcaleros. And though mezcal needs little intervention, the journey to create Vicio Mezcal took over three years of travel to the far reaches of Oaxaca, working closely with one family of mezcaleros to craft a recipe shaped by their collaboration, time, and shared energy. The result is complex, yet balanced — it goes down like lightning, yet it is soft, harmonious and enveloping.

Vicio Mezcal leaves a lasting impression. One sip unlocks ancient flavors and evokes primal imagery, capturing the essence of something both timeless and powerful.

The label for Vicio wears an illustration of the axolotl, a Mexican salamander made famous by a short story from Julio Cortázar — a nod to the mystical and unique nature of both the spirit and its origins.

Want to read more? Read Julio Cortázar's short story 'Axototl' here.