Discover Miske at the Equator Line near Quito

What many people don’t realise is that the Mitad del Mundo sits in a dry, arid valley, ideal for the cultivation of the agave plant. For centuries, agave has been grown here to produce an ancestral Ecuadorian spirit known locally as Miske (sometimes written Mishki).

Miske is an Ecuadorian distilled spirit made from agave sap — distinct from tequila or mezcal — and has a Denomination of Origin, giving it protected status as a unique Ecuadorian product.

At a local museum and restaurant called Casa Agave, visitors can learn all about this important heritage spirit. The experience lasts around 1.5 hours and makes for a fascinating cultural and culinary addition to a visit to the Equator.

Casa Agave Experience: Agave Gardens, Distillery & Tasting

We begin in the agave garden, where you can see the cactus-like plants up close and learn about the different varieties used in production. From there, we move to the museum, which explains the history of Miske in Ecuador and its importance to local communities. Traditionally produced using ancestral techniques, many of the original Miske producers are now elderly, and there is a strong local effort to preserve this knowledge and way of life, making Casa Agave an important cultural heritage project.

After learning about the history and people behind Miske, we continue to the distillery, where the production process is explained step by step. Visitors can see how the sap of the agave plant is extracted, fermented and distilled, and there is also some hands-on interaction. During this part of the visit, you’ll have the opportunity to taste the spirit as it is being distilled, offering real insight into its character and production.

The experience finishes in the bar and restaurant, where a tasting platter is served featuring different agave-based products, alongside Casa Agave’s refined, high-end Miske. A knowledgeable guide takes you through each tasting, and the Miske itself offers a smooth yet strong, tequila-like profile.

Before leaving, guests are treated to a final cocktail, skillfully prepared by the bartender using Miske — a relaxed and enjoyable way to end the visit.

This experience can easily be added to a visit to Mitad del Mundo, offering a unique agave-based tasting and adding an extra culinary and cultural dimension to your time at the Equator, just outside Quito.

Contact us for more information.