Enjoy a mouthful of agave, with a hint of smoke.
Available through Total Wine, Binny’s, Spec’s, Reserve Bar, and many more which you can find via our map below. Email question@ilegalmezcal.com with your ZIP Code for the closest retail or bar serving Ilegal.
Black Lives Matter Resources: Somos Ilegales Cuando La Ley Está Contra La Gente. Stand with us in support of the black community in America, who has endured injustice and systemic oppression for far too long.
SNAP State Directory of Resources: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Community Fridges: Use our interactive map to find a community fridge you can contribute to near you
Creative Capital: A list of recourses and grants for those who work in the arts
CORE Grants: Support to families with children who work in the food & beverage service industry
More Resources: We have put together a sheet of recourse for hospitality workers, undocumented workers, and more. This list is constantly being updated, so please let us know if you have questions or recourses we should add. Please contact us at question@ilegalmezcal.com
The pandemic kicked off a global glass shortage that impacted the spirits supply chain worldwide. When Ilegal found ourselves with no access to the bottles we had used for years, what could have thrown off production ended up a silver lining – we took swift action to identify and shift to a recylced glass partner.
All Ilegal Mezcal bottles are now made by a family-run company that recycles 10,000 tons of glass each year at its facility in Jalisco, Mexico.
OUR HISTORY
Around 2004, Ilegal’s founder John Rexer began bringing mezcal down from Oaxaca to Antigua to supply his bar, Café No Sé. The mezcal became popular very quickly. At the time, he was bringing down unbranded mezcal from a variety of villages in Oaxaca that included: Tlacolula, San Lorenzo, Sola De Vega, Santa Catarina Minas, Hierve el Agua, Santiago Matatlan and a few others.
In 2006, John created the brand Ilegal, originally just to supply his bar in Guatemala. On the back of each bottle of Ilegal you will find it says “Originally produced for: Café No Sé, Mezcal Bar.”
OUR LIQUID
Certified as artisanal by the CRM, made in Oaxaca, agave forward, with a hint of smoke. Approachable and versatile, can be served neat or in cocktails.
We only use Espadín agave because it is cultivated and sustainable. 100% natural, Ilegal Mezcal uses no artificial colors, yeasts, flavors, or additives. Just agave, sun, and time. Commitment to quality is apparent in every step of our process, from harvest to first sip.
One of the few brands that has aged mezcals. Simple Portfolio: Joven, Reposado, & Añejo.
THE ILEGAL BRAND
Ilegal is a leading artisanal mezcal in the US. Crafted in Oaxaca, Mexico from sustainable Espadín agave. It is smooth, approachable and ultra premium. Our name comes from when the owner used to smuggle it from Mexico to Antigua, Guatemala for his bar, Café No Sé…everything Ilegal is full of risk and adventure, great stories and truth wilder than fiction.
1.5oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven
0.5oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
0.5oz Fresh Lime
4oz Tonic
Rim a tall glass with salt or add a pinch to the cocktail. Build in glass. Garnish with a grapefruit peel.
Signature Ilegal Mezcal Cocktail by Team Ilegal
Ricky builds his specialty Lulo Margarita with Ilegal Mezcal at Broken Shaker in Miami, FL. Recipe ↓
Add to shaker:
1 oz Lulo Syrup
1 oz Lime Juice
2 oz Ilegal Joven
To make Lulo Syrup, add Lulo fruit pulp to your agave syrup equal parts. Modify to taste.
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Light, bright, crushable mezcal cocktails you can try at home. Ilegal Cadillac Margarita ↓
Add to shaker:
0.75 oz fresh orange juice
0.75 oz Grand Marnier
1.5 oz Ilegal Reposado
Juice of one lime
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Rocko builds the ‘Forgtmenot’ with Ilegal Mezcal at Ponyboy in Brooklyn, NY. Recipe ↓
1.75 oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven
0.75 oz lime juice
0.75 oz watermelon juice
0.25 oz ginger syrup
Splash of aquafaba
Matcha salt (matcha powder + salt)
Rim a rocks glass with matcha salt. Add remaining ingredients to shaker and shake. Pour over ice.
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Light, bright, crushable mezcal cocktails you can try at home. Ponche Ilegal ↓
6 cups water
1 cone piloncillo
6 guava
0.5oz Tejocotes (Mexican hawthorn)
1 apple
1 handful of cranberries
3 cinnamon sticks
Add everything to a pot and boil on medium heat for 10 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of Ilegal Joven.
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Light, bright, crushable mezcal cocktails you can try at home. Margarita de Granada ↓
2oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven
1oz lime
1oz agave syrup
0.5oz pomegranate juice
Pomegranate seeds and lime wheel
Add mezcal, lime, agave syrup and pomegranate juice to a shaker, shake until chilled and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
Garnish with pomegranate seeds and lime wheel.
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1 bottle of Ilegal Mezcal Joven 750ml
8oz lime
8oz agave syrup
6oz pomegranate juice
Pomegranate seeds and 6 lime wheels
Add mezcal, lime, agave syrup and pomegranate juice to a pitcher with light ice, stir until chilled.
Garnish with pomegranate seeds and lime wheels.
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