Posted on

Soho House | Mexico City

Opened by John Rexer in the early 2000s, Café No Sé has become the beating heart of an international music scene in Antigua, Guatemala. This is the original home of Ilegal Mezcal + the first mezcal bar opened outside of Mexico.

Bar Ilegal is an experiential outpost of Café No Sé, and Ilegal’s 2023 tour celebrated 20(ish) years since the opening of our legendary home. After an amazing year circling North America, beginning in Oaxaca and ending in New York City, the Ilegal team snuck in one more celebration in January, a few weeks behind schedule, in the always welcoming Mexico City.

DJ Paurro set the mood for a very stylish crowd, as they tried our Mezcal Margaritas, Spicy Palomas, Negronis, and neat mezcal pours. In the room just off the bar, we were honored to have our talented friends Lapiztola join us from Oaxaca to screen print custom t-shirts for our fans. At 9PM, SUSU took to the stage, and all bets were off. Liza and Kia prowled across the pricy furniture and its inhabitants, whipping the crowd into a frenzy.

Announcements for our 2024 Bar Ilegal Tour are coming soon. Next up for our team is the Paste Magazine East Austin Block Party, showcasing 60+ bands across four stages, March 13-15. RSVP here for more information.

Posted on

Public Records | Brooklyn

Opened by John Rexer in the early 2000s, Café No Sé has become the beating heart of an international music scene in Antigua, Guatemala. This is the original home of Ilegal Mezcal + the first mezcal bar opened outside of Mexico.

Bar Ilegal is an experiential outpost of Café No Sé, and the 2023 tour celebrated 20(ish) years since the opening of our legendary home. After stops in Oaxaca, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Atlanta, Austin, and Los Angeles, Ilegal Mezcal made its final stop at Public Records in Brooklyn, and the vibes were off the charts.

The party was expansive, covering the entirety of the property. It held three separate bars, with classic mezcal cocktails featured downstairs, the Musician’s Breakfast outside (complete with Ilegal bottle ice sculpture), and pitch perfect aged mezcal cocktails upstairs in the not-so-secret Reposado Room.

Guest artist Jimmy doled out 42 flash tattoos in the front room, while Classy Screens executed screenprinted t-shirts to the masses in the garden. Watson Soundsystem kept things fun and dancey in the main room, SUSU blew the doors off at 9pm, and then most guests ventured up to the Repo Room, where vinyl DJ Mickey Perez was expertly spinning a playlist of diaspora-spanning dance tracks to finish out the evening.

Pics by Nico Malvaldi ~

Posted on

Everson Royce Bar | Los Angeles

Opened by John Rexer in the early 2000s, Café No Sé has become the beating heart of an international music scene in Antigua, Guatemala. This is the original home of Ilegal Mezcal + the first mezcal bar opened outside of Mexico.

Bar Ilegal is an experiential outpost of Café No Sé, and the Bar Ilegal 2023 tour celebrates 20(ish) years since the opening of our legendary home. Following stops in Oaxaca, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Austin, the Ilegal Mezcal team made its way out to the Arts District of LA, and our friends at Everson Royce Bar.

Seemingly every one of our 550 RSVPs showed out, grabbed swag, ordered mezcal cocktails with Gilbert Marquez, and enjoyed a killer set from SUSU on the packed outdoor patio.

See how it went down in the gallery below, all pics by Sarah Craig.

2023 REMAINING DATES

DEC 6 [NEW DATE!] – Brooklyn, NY

Click HERE to RSVP to Bar Ilegal

Posted on

Malinalli

Meaning ‘grass’, Malinalli is the day in the Aztec Calendar associated with rejuvenation and tenacity.

1.5 oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven

0.5 oz Green Chartreuse

0.75 oz pineapple juice

0.5 oz lime juice

Rosemary sprig

Combine and shake vigorously. Double strain the cocktail into a glass to remove any ice and solids. Garnish the drink with a fresh rosemary sprig.

Posted on

El Cockfight | Austin

Opened by John Rexer in the early 2000s, Café No Sé has become the beating heart of an international music scene in Antigua, Guatemala. This is the original home of Ilegal Mezcal + the first mezcal bar opened outside of Mexico.

Bar Ilegal is an experiential outpost of Café No Sé, and the Bar Ilegal 2023 tour celebrates 20(ish) years since the opening of our legendary home. After stops in Oaxaca, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, and Atlanta, the tour hit its stride in Austin on the incredible rooftop at El Cockfight. A rowdy performance from SUSU, mezcal cocktails and education with Gilbert Marquez, and flash tattoos from George Miller.

Pics from a wild night by Sarah Craig in the gallery below ~

2023 REMAINING DATES

NOV 8 – Los Angeles, CA
DEC 6 [NEW DATE!] – Brooklyn, NY

Click HERE to RSVP to Bar Ilegal

Posted on

Negra Tomasa

1.5 oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven

0.75 oz Meletti Amaro Liqueur

0.5 oz Royal Combier Grande Liqueur

3 oz Modelo Negra beer

Ice

Lime peel, for garnish

In a mixing glass, combine Ilegal Mezcal Joven, Meletti Amaro Liqueur, and Royal Combier Grande Liqueur. Stir the ingredients in a mixing glass until the mixture is cold. Top the cocktail with Modelo Negra beer. Garnish the drink with a lime peel.

Posted on

Campos de Fresa

2 oz vanilla-infused Ilegal Mezcal Reposado*

4 oz strawberry agua fresca**

Ice

In a glass, pour 2 oz of vanilla-infused Ilegal Mezcal Reposado*. Add 4 oz of agua fresca to the glass. Top off the glass with ice. Stir gently and garnish with a strawberry or lime wheel.

0.25 oz vanilla extract
10 oz Ilegal Mezcal Reposado

Combine in a sealable container and gently shake to thoroughly mix. Infuse for 3-5 days in a cool, dark place, shaking gently once a day. Strain to remove any sediment and transfer to a clean bottle or container for storage.

6 hulled strawberries
1 cup milk
1 can (14.5 oz) sweetened condensed milk

Blend the ingredients until smooth and well combined. If desired, strain the mixture to remove any strawberry seeds or pulp. Serve the blended mixture immediately or refrigerate for later use.

Posted on

Sister Louisa’s Church | Atlanta

Opened by John Rexer in the early 2000s, Café No Sé has become the beating heart of an international music scene in Antigua, Guatemala. This is the original home of Ilegal Mezcal + the first mezcal bar opened outside of Mexico.

Bar Ilegal is an experiential outpost of Café No Sé. With dates in nine cities, the Bar Ilegal 2023 tour celebrates around 20(ish) years since the opening of our legendary home, bringing mezcal cocktails and education, flash tattoos, and live performances from our dear friends SUSU. After stopping in Oaxaca in April, Miami and Chicago in May, and New Orleans in July, we paid a sweet September visit to Sister Louisa’s Church in Atlanta.

Old friends stopped by, new ones were made over mezcal cocktails, and Black Cat Tattoo Shop handed out a whopping 42 Ilegal flash tats. Special thanks to them, DJ La Superior, and the wonderful team at Sister Louisa’s Church.

More pics by Sarah Craig in the gallery below!