Deep reporting and stunning visuals show the environmental costs and economic benefits of mezcal boom in Mexico

By Claudia Rosel and Teresa de Miguel

This richly reported, visually striking package explored the complex reality behind mezcal’s global rise — an economic lifeline for communities in Oaxaca that also carries growing environmental costs.

Produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center, the project centered on the voices of farmers, producers and workers navigating the tension between sustaining their livelihoods and protecting fragile ecosystems. Claudia Rosel’s reporting traced how mezcal evolved from a local, working-class drink into a globally coveted spirit, while highlighting the strain that increased demand is placing on land and resources.

Months of careful reporting and trust-building allowed the team to access communities where skepticism of outsiders is high. Rosel’s work brought together a wide range of perspectives, while Teresa de Miguel’s documentary-style video and Rosel’s intimate photography added depth and immediacy to the storytelling.

The package stood out for its seamless integration across formats, including an explainer, a photo gallery and interactive elements such as a map showing deforestation trends. Climate Photo Editor Alyssa Goodman built the presentation, with editing by Global Climate News Director Peter Prengaman.

Judges praised the work as a “full package success,” highlighting how the combination of text, video and photography captured a nuanced reality: communities understand the environmental risks but are left asking what alternatives exist when their livelihoods depend on the industry.

For nuanced accountability reporting and a visually compelling exploration of the costs behind a global trend, Claudia Rosel and Teresa de Miguel win this week’s Best of AP — First Winner.