Author: ray@ilegalmezcal.com

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Bar Ilegal | Tour 2025

Opened by Ilegal founder John Rexer around 2004, 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.

This year, we are thrilled to be celebrating Café No Sé’s notorious history by bringing music, mezcal, and tattoos to bars, music venues, festivals, and trade shows across the U.S., beginning February in Phoenix for Arizona Cocktail Weekend.

We’re coming soon to a bar new you — check back or follow Ilegal for more dates!

2025 TOUR DATES

FEB 13-19 – Arizona Cocktail Week, Phoenix [link]
MAR 12-14 – Paste Magazine Showcase @ SXSW, Austin

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Ilegal Daiquiri

2 oz Ilegal Caribbean Cask Finish

1 oz fresh lime juice

0.75 oz simple syrup

Lime wheel, for garnish

Chill a coupe or cocktail glass by filling it with ice water while you mix.

In a shaker, combine the mezcal, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds until well chilled.
Discard the ice water from your glass. Strain the mixture into the chilled glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or twist.

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60 Minutes Profile

Watch the entire segment above.

The Hernandez brothers, Armando and Alvaro – are fourth-generation mezcaleros from an indigenous Zapotec family. They learned the craft from their father, Silverio. Today they run Mal de Amor, one of Matatlán’s largest distilleries, or palenques.

Sharing the story of Ilegal and the Hernandez brothers to the 60 Minutes audience is a humbling reminder of how far we have come, and our heightened responsibility to preserve the traditions of handcrafted mezcal in Oaxaca.

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The Mezcaleros

Demand for mezcal was low for years, but interest and sales have soared. The vast majority of the spirit is made in Oaxaca, Mexico, where family-owned distilleries dot the landscape.

Cecilia Vega travels to Oaxaca and meets the Mezcaleros laboring to quench the world’s thirst for Mezcal. The handcrafted Mexican spirit, made from agave, has seen exponential growth in popularity and production.

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Jolie | New Orleans

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. In 2024, Bar Ilegal has activated across Arte Agave, Forest Hills Stadium, Anti Social Camp in NYC, and the Rockaway Hotel. In July, the Bar Ilegal team descended on to New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail.

The party was among the most attended at Tales, and had people talking the remainder of the week. Ilegal set a new event record at Jolie for the most cocktails served in a night, SUSU blew the doors off, 54 guests walked away with fresh flash tattoos, and the evening ended in essential New Orleans fashion, with — what else — a burlesque show.

All photos by the fabulous Taylor Hunter.

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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.