young or unaged, though they can be aged for up to two months. Here are ten of the best old and new mezcal brands to try now, to get you started on your journey. The mezcal is produced in a traditional fashion and has a smoky, fresh and refined profile that’s enjoyable neat, but really comes alive in twists on traditional serves such as the Old Fashioned or … Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. It’s a truly artisanal product, before that term became fashionable. Most mezcals are made to be drunk immediately, and are known as joven, i.e. Mezcal has become so big that brands are beginning to think small. Ilegal. It won a Gold Medal in the 2017 San Francisco International Wine and Spirits Competition. Mezcal Vago is a beautiful brand of artisanal and ancestral mezcals produced by four separate mezcalaros utilizing four different terroirs around Oaxaca. Del Maguey is perhaps the best-known purveyor of mezcal in the States, and its wide range of offerings—there's one for any type of drinker—can be found at bars across the country. Del Maguey is what’s called a “single village” Mezcal because all of the farming, roasting, distillation, etc. This has produced a mezcal with slightly more vanilla and honeyed sweetness than usual, but balanced with some smokiness on the nose and palate. Read our full review of Ilegal Mezcal Reposado. There are over 200 different types of agave plant, though only 30-40 of them are suitable for making mezcal. Here are 15 of the best brands. Ilegal Mezcal is a badass brand, and their Joven is a fantastic mixer. There are few brands that can boast as awesome a name as Dangerous Don and fortunately, the brand has the spirit to match. There are currently three different types of mezcal available from Montelobos, with another one on the way. Carhartt's Iconic Watch Hat Is For Everyone, The 15 Best Winter Boots for Less Than $250, Stop Asking for 'Smoky' Mezcal at the Bar, Upgrade Your Old Fashioned with Mezcal and Rum, The Hands-Down Best Bourbon Brands in 2020, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. This review was last updated in September 2020. It’s a crystal-clear mezcal, with a nose that offers both sweet and savoury aromas, along with the usual earthiness, while the taste brings in honey, caramel and a dash of peppery spice. The piñas are then cooked for several days, usually in underground ovens, before being crushed, traditionally under a stone wheel that’s pulled by a horse. Read our full review of Ilegal Mezcal Reposado. It’s equal parts smoky, vegetal, crisp, sweet, and funky. It didn’t catch on with me until the past couple of years, for a variety of reasons. Herbs and spices can be added at both the fermentation and distillation stages, which is another reason mezcals have subtle differences. Their whole lineup is really great, but the Joven is the best for mixing. Magazine subscription – 5 issues for only £5. The brand was founded by artist Ron Cooper, and is now part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio. So… mezcal should have been immediately appealing, right? The volume of alcohol of Mezcal is about 38 to 40%, and its sales are mainly in the Mexican domestic market. Flavoured mezcals are rare but this one, steeped in coffee beans, is an absolute winner. Top Brands of the World. It’s made in small batches, mostly in one-person or family-run distilleries, with supplies often going no further than the local town or village. In 1971, Jimenez’s grandfather bought a mezcal farm, which is where the spirit is still produced today—and the reason why the sole product, a joven mezcal, has that year printed on the label. Beer 52 exclusive offer: Get a free case of craft beer worth £24. The brand behind the famous Oaxaca mezcalería of the same name, Los Amantes is a great starter mezcal for those who are worried about the strength of the spirit, given that it offers a slightly lower alcohol volume than many others. “For a long time, people just wanted mezcal to be smoky and agave-ish, and Del Maguey Vida does that in a good way,” she says. The brand, which is owned by Campari, has an Espadín expression, a mix of three different agave types called Ensamble, and an expression that uses the rarer Tobalá agave. The Best Mezcal You Can Buy for Less Than $50. If you have a sweet tooth, Del Maguey’s Crema de Mezcal will indulge it, as a dash of agave syrup has been added to the base spirit. Ivy Mix calls this “entry-level” mezcal produced in the Oaxacan village of San Luis Del Rio “a classic go-to” for that traditional Espadín flavor. Del Maguey has proved to be one of the most reliable brands, and a very early mezcal promoter. The mash this produces is then fermented, followed by two distillations, as with tequila. Read our full review of Del Maguey Chichicapa. This is an exceptional reposado from one of the leading brands in the UK, with a straw-like colour to it from resting for four months in American oak barrels. It’s the perfect introduction for the mezcal novice. If you shop for mezcal, you’ll notice that many of the brands will be unfamiliar to you. This mezcal was put into glass containers to rest for a decade before bottling in 2014. Mezcal is a singular Mexican spirit with a strong character. Mezcal can only be distilled in nine different states in Mexico, as dictated by the denominación de origen determined in 2005. The flagship line consists of different mezcals that are made in six of the states in which mezcal can be produced, including Oaxaca and Durango, each using a different type of maguey, and each the work of a specific mezcalero. As global mezcal sales continue to rise and the spirit makes its way into more cocktail programs across the U.S., it's a great time to get to know mezcal. It's also one worth spending some time with. For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly. Best for Cocktails: El Silencio Mezcal El Silencio. Esquire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. But do not fret because we have curated a list of some of the best mezcals for 2019. You know all about tequila and now you want to open your horizons to another magnificent Mexican spirit — mezcal. The organic coffee beans come from the Oaxaca coast and are introduced to the mezcal between its second and third distillation, producing a spirit that’s not actually over-rich in coffee but full of flavours like chocolate, nuts, citrus, and the scent of an autumnal bonfire. Mexican mezcal (or mescal) is one of the most fascinating spirits around. One interesting feature of Sombra’s sustainability efforts is that leftover fibers and vinasa (liquid byproduct) from distillation are used to make adobe bricks for building homes. There are two expressions available, each made from a different type of agave—the commonly used Espadín, and the much rarer Tobalá from the high desert region. The Best Mezcal Brands El Tinieblo Joven Del Maguey Single Village Los Amantes Ilegal Mezcal Montelobos Alipus Fidencio Mezcal Vago Scorpion Reposado Mezcal El Buho Mezcales de Leyenda Los Nahuales Joven Sombra Pierde Almas Espadín Pierde Almas DoBaDaan Métl Narro Mezcal (oven-cooked agave) is a rare brand of liquor in the alcohol industry. Mezcal Ojo de Tigre is a brand that came onto the market in May 201 8 and is born from two agaves, the first from Espadín and the second from Tobalá, which come from Oaxaca and Puebla. The 10 Best Mezcal Brands to Drink Right Now Del Maguey. Mezcal is getting more popular here in the U.S., although it’s still nowhere near the scale of tequila as far as sales, availability, or even familiarity. The best mezcal brands are complex, nuanced and deserve to be carefully tasted. Read our full review of Gente de Mezcal Tobalá Joven. Various brands have not changed much in the past 200 years. A reposado has been aged from 2-12 months, and an aňejo for at least a year, but often more.They tend to be bottled at 40-50% ABV but can be even stronger. Not really. It ought to be noted that simply since you like smoky scotch and tequila, that doesn’t imply you’ll essentially enjoy mezcal. Ilegal. Best Smoky: Del Maguey Vida. The aroma and taste most commonly associated with mezcals is smoky, in the same way that Islay whiskies are renowned for their smoky or peaty notes. Their mezcal, which is held in high esteem around the world, is distilled in clay pots and made using a variety of agave types that are either distilled separately and blended, or combined in the mash before distillation. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 15 Cocktails to Keep You Buzzed All Summer, How to Drink Your Way Through a Three-Day Weekend. For one, I wasn’t sure if I had space to add another spirit to my palate, as crowded as it is with all the bourbon, rum, gin, and tequila I’m tasting from week to week. Mezcal is going to have a massive year. The result is a mezcal that’s both smoky and sweet, and with a rich, almost gamey, taste to it. I found this the hard approach myself—effectively, the long way, to be exact. There’s a long backstory about founder John Rexer smuggling mezcal from Oaxaca into the U.S. that you can read about on the website, if you are interested. The agaves are brought here, and the leaves and roots removed to leave just the heart, or piña. is done locally in one ... Fidencio. Sombra. We may earn a commission from these links. The 10 Best Mezcal Brands to Drink Proper Now. The random tool shows a total of 20 top Mezcal brands in the world that are worth a try. The newcomer to the lineup is Pechuga, a triple-distilled mezcal that incorporates turkey breast, fruit, and spices into the last distillation to add flavor and texture to the spirit. The resulting spirit provides a veritable journey for the senses, juxtaposing various aromas, textures, … Bartenders love making cocktails with it, though (we miss you, bartenders! Del Maguey, which celebrates 25 years this year, was one of the first widely available mezcals in America. And unlike tequila, which is only made from Blue Weber agave, mezcal can be made using a number of wild and cultivated varieties, although the most common is Espadín. There are two expressions to check out: an Espadín mezcal, and the joven Ensamble premium blend made from Espadín, Tobasiche, and Mexicano agave. Doña Vega is a relatively new mezcal brand founded by Sonya Auvray, president of PR company Wetherly Group. If you have any questions or suggestions for future reviews, or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. The Ángeles family behind the Real Minero brand of mezcal has been making the spirit for four generations, and it quite literally remains a family-run operation today. It should be noted that just because you like smoky scotch and tequila, that does not mean you will necessarily enjoy mezcal. Mezcal, tequila's more interesting older sibling, is experiencing a boom in the UK. Below, you’ll find a wide range of mezcal, from the best mezcal to use for cocktails to premium spirits that deserve … It provides a whisky-like aroma, with hints of vanilla and pear, while on the palate there’s more vanilla, more fruit, and a fully-rounded mouth-feel leading to a smooth finish. Yola is a mezcal company run by women, named after activist and businesswoman Yola Jimenez, who founded the brand along with musician Lykke Li and CEO Gina Correll Aglietti. Here’s what he had to say about how to pick the best bottle of mezcal in your liquor store. Like other mezcal brands, Sombra focuses on two varieties, a 100-percent Espadín expression, and a limited edition Ensamble made using Tepeztate and Tobalá agave (only 2,000 bottles of this were produced). Get the best bottle for your buck with this guide to six nationally available, affordable mezcals. It’s smoky, it’s cactus-y, and it can be...very expensive. I learned this the hard way myself—well, the long way, to be precise. One example is the Real Minero Blend of 4, made from Barril, Largo, Tripon, and Espadín agave. But this historic Mexican spirit has a way of growing on you as you try different ages and styles. So yes, it’s entirely possible that mezcal will not speak to you the first time you try it. Best Under $50: Banhez Mezcal. For the uninitiated, some basic mezcal facts: Tequila is a type of mezcal, not the other way around. Well, let’s start with what it isn’t. Del Maguey, Ilegal, and Montelobos top our list of the best-tasting and best-reviewed brands of mezcal on the market. Discover the best of the Mexican drink mezcal with our top ten finds. Updated 02/03/21. Because mezcals are made in small quantities using traditional techniques that are not always the most efficient, they remain both elusive and expensive. The outcome is a mezcal that has a mix of vegetal and sweet notes on the nose, and an earthy and peppery flavour. For years, I’d enjoyed the aggressive peat of a good Islay single malt, as well as the earthy and sweet notes of a finely tuned, 100-percent agave tequila. They are then ground to a mash using stone mills or hand-held mallets, followed by a long, slow period of natural, ambient fermentation in wooden vats, and finally distilled twice, very slowly, in wood-fired clay or copper stills.”. In Mexico they prefer their tequila reposado, or rested and aged in barrels, ... QuiQuiRiQui mezcal. The Los Amantes distillery is a modern-looking operation in Oaxaca that is also home to an art gallery and an artist residence (Ilegal is distilled there, too). If you like peaty whiskies, there are going to be many mezcals that you will also enjoy, and the best way to describe mezcal to someone who hasn’t tried it is somewhere along a spectrum between smooth tequila and smoky whisky. Steve Olson, global mezcal advocate for Del Maguey, offers a good explanation of the rest of the process, at least how traditional producers do it: “The roast period changes depending on the village or palenquero [distiller]. Gente de Mezcal Tobalá Joven. Céline Bossart. Yes, … ), and more and more people are drinking it at home, either neat or using it to mix up their own concoctions. Corte Vetusto Espadín mezcal. Comparative guide of the best cheap mezcal in 2021 value / price, reviews, buy, pensador, verde, gusano rojo, Zignum Silver The 8 Best Mezcals of 2021. Also, environmental initiatives seem to be a focus of many mezcal brands, with distilleries implementing recycling and upcycling efforts to sustain the earth and ensure their own survival as the planet changes. Read our full review of Corte Vetusto Espadín. It has nothing to do with mescaline, the drug made from a cactus plant, as mezcal is made from the agave plant, which is a succulent and not a cactus. They will also tell you not to shoot or even drink your Mezcal, but to kiss it. Doña Vega’s mezcalera is a woman who runs the farm where it’s distilled with her three daughters. There are also four special editions from “hyper-small producers, unique agaves, as well as biosphere reserves,” according to the brand. It hails from Mexico and is distilled with a type of specific agave genus of monocots found in hot and arid regions of the Americas. This one from the town of San Balthazar Chichicapa uses 100% espadin agave and cooks them using a variety of woods, including eucalyptus. They can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a craft cocktail. But the real story here can be found in the liquid, which comes in joven, reposado (aged four months in ex-bourbon barrels), and añejo (aged 13 months in new American oak) expressions. Leave a comment below. A visit to the El Silencio website will assault your senses with dark and moody images of dudes in cowboy boots and black leather jackets enveloped in smoke and, for some reason, chains. Del Maguey. Few people know that Mezcal is generally brewed in small family wineries. The focus is on mezcal made by family palenques located in single villages. If you haven't gotten into mezcal — Mexico's other agave-based spirit — it's about time you gave this smoky elixir a shot. Serve it neat, on the rocks, or in place of tequila in your favourite cocktails. Fortunately, mezcal evangelists like Bobby Heugel of Houston agave palace The Pastry War are here to help. As tequila is made from the blue agave plant, it is a type of mezcal, but it has rules and a category of its own. Top 25+ Best Mezcal Brands in the World. It was made in a limited batch of 1,200 litres in the town of San Baltazar de Guevila in Oaxaca, and won a Double Gold at the San Francisco International Wine and Spirits Competition. Most tequila is made in the state of Jalisco, and most mezcal is made in Oaxaca, though several other states are also official mezcal-producing states as defined by Mexican government regulations. Bacardi bought a minority stake in Ilegal Mezcal in 2017, making it the natural choice for this year’s Dewar’s... Montelobos. Ilegal Mezcal Reposado. It’s crafted from the mighty tobalá, a famously difficult agave plant that’s grown at high altitudes. Mezcales de Leyenda offers an impressive lineup of mezcal expressions that are made using agave types that range far beyond Espadín. Have you tried a mezcal that you could recommend? The key to the smoky flavor is that the agave, or maguey, hearts are roasted in an underground pit for a few days over a wood fire. There’s a smell of straw too, and a more earthy taste with a dash of spice. Before getting into a few of our personal … Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best ... Best Overall: Del Maguey Vida Mezcal. Mezcal, the ancient Mexican agave spirit related to tequila, is booming in the United States. Last August, the brand put on a music festival in L.A. called Yola Día with all female performers; hopefully there will be a time when something like that can happen again. Nor is mezcal the drink with a worm in it. Mezcaleros will tell you that a neat pour at room temperature is the preferred way to enjoy quality mezcal. Ignacio "Nacho" Jimenez, expert of the best mezcals. This unaged mezcal uses 100% tobalá agave, a rare and small agave that requires 12-15 years to come to maturity, which cannot be cultivated. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, the category has grown significantly: from fewer than 50,000 cases in 2009 to around 360,000 cases in 2017. Tequila's rebel cousin, mezcal, is made from agaves grown for up to 20 years, creating a complex, smoky spirit. “If you want to dip your toe into those waters, try a cocktail made with Sombra Mezcal ($36), Cruz De Fuego Mezcal’s Espadín ($40), or La Luna Mezcal’s Cupreata ($45). Bacardi bought a minority stake in Ilegal Mezcal in 2017, making it the natural choice for this year’s Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth collaboration, in which Dewar’s blended scotch (also owned by Bacardi) was finished in mezcal barrels. The reposado is aged for six to eight months in French oak, and the añejo is matured for at least a year in French oak with a medium toast. This is all the more reason to choose wisely, if trying them out. That means sustainable single-village sips and infinitely delicious drinking Hugh Garvey – July 3, 2019 | Updated July 29, 2019 The newest village to join the line is Las Milpas, the first addition to the core range in 25 years. Sombra is one of the few mezcal brands that owns and operates its own distillery—whereas most other liquid is sourced from small farms or distilleries that make mezcal for a number of brands. The nose is rich and buttery, like a good chardonnay, but with a vanilla sweetness and several other scents wafting around, while on the palate it’s equally complex and satisfying. An expression for every palate. Pierde Almas Espadin. Corte Vetusto cooks its agave for four days using mesquite wood, to enhance the smoky flavour and give an extra taste of Mexico. All of the expressions are made from Espadín agave, but the joven is triple distilled, while the other expressions are double distilled. Ghost Donkey. Mezcal distilleries are called fábricas or, more commonly, palenques. But again, it’s all about what’s in the bottle, and in this case what you’ll find inside is pretty good. Read our full review of Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal. Others include tobala, tepeztate, madrecuixe, and arroqueño. It’s neutral and round, with deep fruity notes that mingle nicely with slight hints of smoke. Written by. None of the 23 mezcals sampled by BBC Good Food has been anywhere near a worm. Buy on Drizly. QuiQuiRiQui proves that the most common agave plant, the espadin, can produce outstanding mezcal without any ageing at all. In Mexico they prefer their tequila reposado, or rested and aged in barrels, but like their mezcals young and unaged. Best Mezcal Brands 2021. Mezcal is great. Del Maguey, which celebrates 25 years this year, was one of the first widely available mezcals in America. Besides, mezcal is a singular spirit, for better or for worse. But as I started to try more and more bottles, and especially after a brief trip to Oaxaca, mezcal really started to grow on me, and I’m very pleased that it has. The best mezcals for 2021. Subscription offer: Get 5 issues for only £5. So, what is mezcal? Mezcal Vago is among the best mezcal brands in the game, and Tobalá might very well be the label’s masterpiece. As a new wave of consumers express interest in agave spirits, producers are upping their game in terms of quality and diversity. Each expression uses a different type of maguey (though some are blends of different types) that brings unique flavors to the spirit, from the entry level VIDA, to the limited edition Vino de Mezcal series, to Ibérico, a collaboration with Chef José Andrés that incorporates Ibérico ham into the distillation process to impart new flavors. The one most commonly used is Oaxaca’s most common agave, the espadin, which is used in about 90% of mezcals and does make a very smooth-tasting drink.