Most Popular Mezcal Brands

Position: #1 selling mezcal brand in the US. #4 selling mezcal brand in top global bars

Sales in the US in 2022 (growth over 2021): 85%

History: Around 2004 John Rexer started bringing mezcal from Oaxaca to his bar Café No Sé in Antigua, Guatemala. The brand Ilegal Mezcal was founded in 2006. The name references the less than official methods Rexer first used to bring unlicensed mezcal across the border from Mexico to Guatemala. Bacardi took a minority stake in Ilegal Mezcal in February 2017 and in September 2023 it purchased the remaining share of the brand.

Current Owner: Bacardi

Origin: Oaxaca, Mexico

Products:

• Espadín: A. angustifolia. Ilegal Mezcal has a joven, reposado and añejo. They also released a limited edition 7 year aged añejo.

Position: #2 selling mezcal brand in the US. #1 selling mezcal brand in top global bars

Sales in the US in 2022 (growth over 2021): 35%

History: Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal was founded in 1995 by US artist Ron Cooper. The brand is responsible for first popularizing mezcal in the US. In 2017 Pernod Ricard acquired a majority stake in Del Maguey.

Current Owner: Pernod Richard

Origin: Oaxaca, Puebla, Mexico

Products:

• Vida Collection: Espadín (A. angustifolia). Made for cocktails. Comes in Clasico (42% ABV, from Oaxaca), Puebla (40% ABV, from Puebla) and Dia de Los Muertos (45% ABV version of the Clasico)
• Village Tradiciones Collection: Five expressions of Espadín from different villages in Oaxaca including artesanal and ancestral methods. These are higher-proof and made for sipping.
• Village Varietales Collection (the line was formerly called Vino de Mezcal): mezcal made from different types of agave, including Arroqueño, Barril, Cuixe, Ensamble of Espadín, Arroqueño & Mexicano), Jabalí, Madrecuixe, Papalome, Papalote & Pizorra, Tepexate, Tobalá, Tobaziche
• Village Especiales Collection: two Pechuga editions, one made with the traditional chicken breast, the other with Ibérico ham.

Position: #3 selling mezcal brand in the US

Sales in the US in 2022 (growth over 2021): 29%

History: Francisco Javier Perez Cruz led the founding of a cooperative in Ejutla, Oaxaca. The organization gives families the chance to organize to produce and sell their mezcal. The coop is now led by Francisco Javier’s son, Luis.

Current Owner: Co-op of Oaxacan farmers (Unión Productores de Agropecuarios del Distrito de Ejutla de Crespo, UPADEC Co-op)

Origen: Oaxaca, Mexico

Products:

• Espadin & Barril: 42% ABV, targeted at cocktails
• Single maguey varieties: 47% ABV, aimed at sipping. Including Cuishe, Tepeztate, Arroqueño, Jabalí, Tobalá, Mexicano
• Pechuga: Mezcal from Espadín with a third distillation involving turkey breast, fruit and spices. 47% ABV.

Position: #4 selling mezcal brand in the US

Sales in the US in 2022 (growth over 2021): 31%

History: Casamigos was founded by actor George Clooney together with Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman as a tequila brand in 2013. Diageo purchased Casamigos in a deal worth $1 billion in 2017. The mezcal was released under the Casamigos brand in 2018.

Current Owner: Diageo

Origen: Oaxaca, Mexico

Products:

• Espadín: A. angustifolia.
• Tequilas: Casamigos is more known for its range of tequilas (blanco, reposado, añejo and cristalino). Casamigos is the fourth highest selling brand of tequila worldwide.

Position: #5 selling mezcal brand in the US. #1 selling mezcal brand in Mexico

Sales in the US in 2022 (growth over 2021): 125%

History: Founded in 2014 by Becle, the company behind Jose Cuervo. Becle has used its massive distribution channels to help make 400 Conejos mezcal the number one selling mezcal in Mexico. “400 Conejos” means 400 rabbits. It is named in reference to an Aztec (Mexica) legend. In one version of the story Mayahuel, the goddess of agave, and Patacatl, the god of pulque and drunkenness, got together and had 400 rabbit offspring. The offspring are known as Centzon Tōtōchtin in Nahuatl. Mayahuel nursed the rabbits from her 400 breasts.

Current Owner: Becle (Jose Cuervo)

Origin: Oaxaca, Mexico

Products:

• Espadín: A. angustifolia.
• Tobalá: A blend of Espadín and Tobalá (A. potatorum)
• Cuishe: A blend of Espadín and Cuishe (A. karwinski)
• Reposado: Espadín aged for 3 months

Position: #6 selling mezcal brand in the US. #3 selling mezcal brand in top global bars

Sales in the US in 2022 (growth over 2021): 35%

History: Founded by Ivan Saldaña in 2011. Campari acquired a controlling stake in Montelobos in 2019.

Current Owner: Campari

Origin: Oaxaca (Espadín and Pechuga) and Puebla (Tobalá  and ensamble), Mexico

Products:

• Espadín: A. angustifolia.
• Tobalá: A. potatorum
• Ensamble: Blend of Papalote (A. cupreata, Espadín and Tobalá
• Pechuga: Mezcal from Espadín with a third distillation involving turkey breast, fruit and spices

Position: #2 selling mezcal brand in top global bars

History: Founded by Julio and Eduardo Mestre in 2010

Current Owner: Julio and Eduardo Mestre co-own Siete Misterios together with 50% owners Chatham Imports (US company that produces Michter’s whiskey)

Origin: Oaxaca, Mexico

Products:

• Doba-Yej: Espadín / A. Angustifolia. Various regions of Oaxaca. Designed for cocktails
• Ensambles: A variety of different blends of agaves, usually with Espadín as a base (including Barril, Mexicano, Coyote, Arroqueño, Tobalá)
• Pechuga: Mezcal with a third distillation involving turkey breast, fruit and spices
• Ancestral: A variety of single maguey mezcals, ground by hand with wooden mallets and distilled in clay pots

Position: #5 selling mezcal brand in top global bars

History: Mezcal Unión was founded in 2011 by a group of Mexican entrepreneurs including Alejandro Gutierrez Champion. In 2016 Diageo became the distributor. Diageo acquired Mezcal Unión in August 2021.

Current Owner: Diageo

Origen: Oaxaca, Mexico

Products:

• UNO: Blend of Espadín (A. angustifolia) and Cirial (A. karwinskii). Designed for cocktails
• El Viejo and Silvestre: Two expressions which are blends of Espadín (A. angustifolia) and Tobalá (A. potatorum)