Ilegal Mezcal Añejo is a 100% Espadín mezcal from Oaxaca, aged to taste for 13 months in new and used medium-char oak barrels and bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV), here in a 375ml half bottle.
The Ilegal name refers to the trips founder John Rexer used to make smuggling mezcal from Mexico to Guatemala for his bar, Café No Sé. Today Ilegal is very much legal: one of the leading artisanal mezcals in the world, crafted in Oaxaca by fourth-generation mezcaleros from sustainably sourced Espadín, "sin prisa," without rush, with each bottle hand corked, labeled and numbered.
Making mezcal is an art. The agave is roasted in underground ovens in small batches and lightly smoked, just enough to bring complexity and a richer aroma. Each lot of the Añejo is then aged to taste for 13 months in a combination of new and used medium-char American oak barrels, which rounds out the smoke and amplifies the agave's natural sweetness. Ilegal helped introduce the world to aged mezcal, and the Añejo has been named Best of the Best, Best Aged Mezcal, year over year at the Tequila.net Awards.
Rounded, full and rich, yet untamed: maple, clove and bitter orange lead the nose, followed by mellow flavors of dark chocolate, vanilla, smoke and sweet agave on the palate, and a full, rich finish.
A gorgeous spirit rivaling the world's finest scotches and cognacs, it is best sipped neat from a copita or snifter. The 375ml size is a perfect introduction or gift.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Maple, clove, bitter orange.
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Palate: Dark chocolate, vanilla, smoke, sweet agave.
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Finish: Full and rich.
Specifications
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Producer: Ilegal Mezcal, Oaxaca
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Agave: 100% Espadín
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Aging: 13 months, new and used medium-char oak
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Style: Mezcal añejo
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Proof / ABV: 80 proof (40% ABV)
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Size: 375ml
How to Enjoy It
Sip it neat from a copita or snifter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is it aged?
13 months in new and used medium-char oak.
Where does the name come from?
Founder John Rexer's early mezcal-smuggling trips to Guatemala.
What does it taste like?
Maple, clove, bitter orange, dark chocolate and smoke.
Explore more in our Mezcal collection.
