Ilegal Mezcal has a beautifully balanced profile, with a mouthful of agave and a hint of smoke.
Handcrafted in small batches by fourth-generation mezcaleros, our Joven, Reposado, and Añejo mezcals are all made with perfectly ripe, sustainable Espadín agave, double distilled in the Santiago Matatlan Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Commitment to quality is apparent in every step of our process, from harvest to first sip.
Our practices reflect our dedication to sustainability and biodiversity in the Oaxaca region. 100% natural, Ilegal uses no artificial colors, yeasts, flavors, or additives.
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Made with sustainable Espadín agave, our Joven, Reposado, and Añejo mezcals are perfect neat. Our aged mezcals are rested in a combination of new and used American oak, medium char barrels, a unique and complex taste for those who enjoy sipping spirits.
Our mezcals are also exceptional in cocktails – originals and reimagined classics alike. Check out our signature mezcal cocktail recipes, and try Ilegal as the base spirit in a Mezcal Margarita, a Mezcal Mule, or your favorite cocktail.
Exceptionally smooth, especially rare. Aged for over seven years in 35 barrels of French Oak, Ilegal Mezcal 7 Year Añejo makes for an exceptional gift, or an ideal sidekick to break out on a special night.
Ilegal Mezcal helped introduce the world to aged mezcal with our Reposado and Añejo expressions, and our new Limited Edition 7 Year Añejo further expands our showcasing of barrel aged innovation and artisanal craft. A very limited quantity is now available at our online shop and in select markets.
— John Rexer, Founder
Ilegal Mezcal has strengthened our commitment to an eco-friendly foundation and future, announcing that all bottles will be made with 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) glass.
Due to the recent global glass shortage, we suddenly found ourselves with no access to the bottles we had used for years. What could have thrown off production, however, ended up a silver lining – we took swift action to identify and shift to a new partner.
Puede ser desalentador existir en un planeta que muere un poco todos los días por nuestra culpa. Es una tarea que requerirá que todos hagan su parte para corregir o al menos mitigar el daño mientras los líderes mundiales actúan — si es que lo harán.
The current state of the world, specifically the dire state of our natural habitats, has posed an array of challenges to those of us running businesses.
“There are some basic mantras that we live by: Support the whole category, not just Ilegal. Don’t ‘give back’. ‘Give along the way.’ When traveling, always remember you are a guest in someone else’s country. Desks are dull, be out there where the action is. Throw a damn good party.”
Marquez emphasizes that Ilegal isn’t attempting to showcase a singular or superior style of production, but is rather pursuing its own preference. “There’s an over-specification of what mezcal should or shouldn’t be,” he says. “It’s an artisanal spirit, so who is one artisan to say to another that your art form isn’t correct? It doesn’t mean it’s the best way or the only way, it’s the way we do it.”
