We believe that at the door of your business your values should be exemplified and defended.

Ilegal Mezcal — the company — was founded in Guatemala.  Ilegal Mezcal — the liquor — is made in Oaxaca, Mexico by Oaxaqueños. The company is comprised of Mexicans, Guatemalans, Mexican Americans, an El Salvadoran American, a Venezuelan, an Ecuadorian, New Yorkers, Californians, an Alabamian, a Philadelphian … people from an array of ethnicities, cultures, and sexual orientations. We live, work, and play across borders.

We are too keenly aware of the issues of immigration, the refugee crisis, gender discrimination, racism and xenophobia.  Climate Change affects the future of agriculture, food supply, water resources, air quality, economy, health care, migration, and human rights. These issues impact us, our friends, and our relatives. 

Demonizing groups of people will not solve any of this. Nor will building walls, whether brick by brick or sound bite by sound bite. Violence is certainly not the answer.  Finding commonality, exercising compassion, sharing an other’s custom, fighting for human dignity, engaging in civil discourse — these are good first steps.

Since the company began we have supported and contributed to a number of groups working to affect social change for the better. Below is a list of organizations we support.

Through the 2019 profits of our apparel shop and team fundraising efforts, Ilegal raised over $50,000 for numerous charity and community organizations. For 2020, in addition to our fundraising efforts, a percentage of our gross sales up to $100,000 will be donated to charity. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

John Rexer and The Entire Ilegal Mezcal Gang