Commitment to quality is apparent in every step of our process,
from harvest to first sip.

Joven

Full bodied agave flavor. Light smoke, lingering heat. Ideal for cocktails or perfect on its own.

un-aged

Eucalyptus and mineral aromas compliment hints of green apple, fresh citrus, and red chiltepe.

Reposado

Velvety throughout. An exceptional drinking mezcal.

Each lot of Ilegal Mezcal Reposado is aged to taste for 6 months, using a combination of new and used American oak, medium char barrels. Our barrels are sourced from Kelvin Cooperage, a family-run business since 1963.

Caramelized pear and bitter orange on the nose. Clove, butterscotch, and hints of vanilla on the palate.

Añejo

A gorgeous spirit rivaling the world’s finest scotches and cognacs. Rounded. Full. Rich. Yet untamed.

Making mezcal is an art. Each lot of Ilegal Mezcal Añejo is aged to taste for 13 months, using a combination of new and used American oak, medium char barrels. Our barrels are sourced from Kelvin Cooperage, a family-run business since 1963.

Maple, clove, and bitter orange aromas. Dark chocolate and sweet agave on the palate.

Ilegal Mezcal Drinks

Signature Mezcal Cocktails by Ilegal Bartenders

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.

buy mezcal cocktail kits »

Growing + Harvesting

Our 100% Espadín Agave (Angustifolia Haw) is harvested by Hand and Machete.

The fourth-generation mezcaleros who craft Ilegal use only perfectly ripe Espadín agave, double distilled in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Roasting the agave

Agave is roasted in earthen pits lined with river stones. The roasting process takes 5-7 days.

The fire is built using Encino, a native Oak. Because deforestation is a problem in the Oaxacan Region, all of the wood we use is from certified sustainable wood farmers

The Tahona

The agave is then hand cut into smaller pieces, to be crushed using a tahona (horse drawn mill).

The horses and mules work three-hour shifts at a time.

Natural Fermentation

The mash is then moved to pine vats for natural fermentation.

Open-air fermentation using natural airborne yeast takes 7-10 days.

Distillation

The fermented mash is moved to 250L copper stills and distilled twice, once using the fibers, and the second time just the liquid.

To avoid contaminating the distillate with smoke, we never roast and distill at the same time.

Barrel Aging + Bottling

Joven is then bottled, or put in barrels to make Reposado & Añejo. Each bottle is hand corked, labeled, and numbered.

We use a combination of new and used american oak, medium char barrels, sourced from Kelvin Cooperage, a family-run business since 1963.

Sustainability

Our practices reflect our dedication to sustainability and biodiversity in the Oaxaca region. 100% natural, Ilegal 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. Our artisanal mezcal is produced in small lots – each bottle is hand corked, labeled, and numbered. Our fourth-generation mezcaleros use only perfectly ripe Espadín agave, double distilled in the Santiago Matatlan Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico.