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.
Aged four months in ex-bourbon barrels.
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.
Aged thirteen months in new American oak barrels.
Maple, clove, and bitter orange aromas. Dark chocolate and sweet agave on the palate.
Handcrafted in small-batches, Ilegal Mezcal has a beautifully balanced profile, with a mouth full of agave and a hint of smoke. A unique and complex taste for those who enjoy sipping spirits like tequila, bourbon, or craft gin.
While our mezcal is perfect neat, it is 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.
Growing + Harvesting
Our 100% Espadín Agave (Angustifolia Hau) 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 pit lined with river stones. The roasting process takes 5-7 days.
Deforestation is a problem in the Oaxacan Region — one of the reasons all the wood we use is from certified wood farmers.
The Tahona
agave is crushed by a horse drawn tahona (mill).
Natural Fermentation
natural fermentation occurs in pine vats.
This process takes approximately 7-10 days.
Distillation
To avoid contaminating the distillate with smoke, we never cook and distill at the same time.
Our Joven is then bottled, or put in barrels to make our Reposado & Añejo. Each bottle is hand corked, labeled, and numbered.
Barrel Aging
we use a combination of new and used american oak, medium char barrels.
Our barrels are sourced from Kelvin Cooperage, a family-run business since 1963.
Sustainability
Our practices reflect our commitment 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.