16 Best And Smokiest Mezcals To Add Some Heat To Your Life
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What's the best way to spend your time this year? Drinking mezcal!
Mezcal is a Mexican liquor manufactured from the wild agave plant that typically has a smoky flavor. With so many different varieties and regions, there is no better drink to enjoy a night on the town.
In this article, we'll review 16 of our favorite mezcal brands that you can try right now, as well as what they taste like.
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall - Del Maguey Chichicapa Mezcal• Dominated by fruity flavors |
Best for Cocktails - Mezcal El Silencio - Espadín• Strong agave taste |
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Most Delicate - The Lost Explorer Mezcal Espadín• Approachable mezcal |
1. Del Maguey Chichicapa Mezcal - Best Overall
Although the Del Maguey Chichicapa has a mild fragrance, it is rich and sweet on the palate, with plenty of citruses and a refined flavor. Drinking this spirit leaves you with lingering smoke and a warm sensation that lasts a long time.
This is a fantastic spot to start your Mezcal collection if you just have one. It is a very smooth alcohol with a balanced taste, slightly dominated by fruity flavors.
2. Clase Azul Mezcal Guerrero - Most Rare
Mezcal Guerrero is a one-of-a-kind mezcal. Its magnificent taste derives from a scarce kind of agave, the papalote agave, a plant that grows wild in Guerrero's Mountain Range. This spirit has subtle notes of tobacco, fresh wood, and seaweed, perfect for a steamed fish taco.
The exquisite decanter is a handcrafted work that pays homage to the Mexican women's traditional knowledge, delicate temperament, and warrior spirit. These are the characteristics that have earned her the title of being the cultural heart of Guerrero.
3. Bozal Mezcal Ensamble
Maguey Espadín, Barril, and Mexicano are used to make Bozal Ensamble. This ensamble has a note of smokiness and a grassy flavor that sits in the middle of the palate. The warm viscous finish of the Mexicano introduces and strengthens the citrus and flowery flavors from the Barril.
The majority of Espadín Ensamble has a pleasant light and sweet flavor. In the bottle, the Mexicano's herbaceous flavor comes through.
4. Doña Vega Espadín - Best Smoky
Doña Vega Espadín is made entirely of Maguey Espadín in Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca. This mezcal's flavor elements are right on. It has a smoke-forward mezcal, which isn't necessarily negative since it isn't overbearing but is noticeable.
Mid-palate, there's a hint of sweetness, and the finish is all white pepper. On a bright day, this would be ideal for a BBQ!
5. Mezcal El Silencio - Espadín - Best for Cocktails
Mezcal El Silencio - Espadín has a more robust flavor, making it ideal for transforming cocktails. It adds a slight smoke to the most refined mixed drinks and is also perfect for just drinking it neatly under the sun’s heat.
Its sleek, black bottle and strong, deep flavor profile evoke earthy pleasures and hearty flavors. It is unique from any other mezcal or alcohol you've tasted because of its subtle spice and distinct finish.
6. Montelobos Mezcal Joven
Made entirely of organically certified agave Espadín, Montelobos Joven is a premium mezcal in Santiago Matatlán. It has a slight sweetness and a lemony flavor and aroma to it, which is pleasant with some subtle pepper overtones.
This best mezcal has a slight smokiness, which works well in enabling you to taste the citrus and rounding out the mezcal.
It's simple to drink for newcomers to mezcal and unexpectedly pleasurable for seasoned mezcal enthusiasts due to its smooth, gently smoky taste. It doesn't leave much of a burn and has a pleasant aftertaste.
7. Ilegal Mezcal Anejo
Ilegal Mezcal has a nicely balanced flavor with a taste of agave and a trace of smoke. Ilegal Anejo is matured in a combination of American and French oak for 13 months. It's a stunning Mezcal that rivals the world's best scotches and cognacs.
It contains prominent aromas of caramel, oak, toffee, and butterscotch. This smooth and complex mezcal is perfect for tequila lovers. While this best mezcal is delicious on its own, it's much better in cocktails, both original and reinterpreted classics.
8. Alipus San Juan del Rio Mezcal - Best for Negroni
If you are a mezcal fan with very ashy notes, the San Juan del Rio Mezcal by Alipus is for you. The characteristics of the plants' site in reddish and white soils, as well as extended fermentation times, give this best mezcal its metallic and chalky tones.
Known as the finest liquor for making cocktail drinks, this mezcal brand gives bright copper tones, as well as an ash and wood blend. Also, it provides a sip that’s smooth and metallic. Plus, it is perfect for creating Mezcal Negroni.
9. Mezcal Rey Campero Tepextate
Rey Campero Tepextate is prepared from a wild agave plant, Tepextate, which has been aged for 15 to 18 years before being harvested.
This best mezcal has a predominantly acidic flavor with hints of sweetness and velvety smoothness. Its concentrated taste depth, rich character, and harmonic balance make an outstanding overall impression.
10. Neta Espadín Mezcal
This spirit features rich and complex tastes as it offers several fruit flavors. The pure Espadín with undertones of rich citrus and grilled maguey also has pineapple, mango, and lemon notes.
This best mezcal is distinct from other Espadín, providing a different profile but in a good way!
11. El Jolgorio Madrecuixe Mezcal
The taste of this mezcal would take you to the countryside while rain is pouring during summer. With a slight touch of floral notes and dried rosemary, this best mezcal is quite earthy with some minerality, like sand and granite boulders after a storm.
The vegetal and orange blossom of the El Jolgorio Madrecuixe comes from the Madrecuishe maguey, which it is made from. This plant belongs to the karwinksii agave family.
12. Del Maguey Vida Mezcal - Most Classic
One of the originals, this mezcal is the go-to for smoky margarita lovers out there! Vida isn't a premium sipping mezcal, but it's one of the smokiest on the market, with some fruit overtones. It's great for combining with cocktails, and it is a solid classic.
13. Vamonos Riendo Ensamble Mezcal
Espadin and Tobala were combined to make an ensamble. Fruit is added to the still for a third distillation, inspired by pechuga-style mezcals, resulting in a vegan pechuga.
Melon, grapefruit, pineapple, and mandarin notes are offset by cocoa's sweetness, which is complemented by mint and anise undertones. A caramel finish with a citrus bite lingers for a long time. With all those wonderful fruit aromas, it's a great neat sipper.
14. The Lost Explorer Mezcal Espadín - Most Delicate
Spirit connoisseurs who prefer smoother and more approachable liquor will be thrilled with the welcoming aroma of this mezcal. The palate is herbaceous, gently smokey, and somewhat salty, with crisp vineyard fruit.
15. Santo Puro Mezquila - Crowd’s Favorite
This is a simple spirit for individuals who don't entirely like mezcal. The Santo Puro Mezquila is a very well-balanced blend of mezcal and tequila. It has a smooth, clean flavor that has a touch of smokiness, and it's tastier than typical tequilas.
16. Ojo Te Tigre Artesanal - Best for Sipping
This Mezcal brand, a mixture of Espadin and Tobala, goes great with grapefruit or as a replacement for Tequila. With a pinch of worm salt, it's also delicious. This tasty mezcal goes well with a variety of cheeses and dried fruits.
Conclusion
Mezcal is a Mexican spirit that is created using the agave plant. It is commonly compared with Tequila because they are both Mexican distilled spirits. But they have their own advantages and disadvantages.
We hope that these best mezcals help you find your new favorite drink for all of those nights out with friends or on vacation!
However, if drinking and collecting those Mexican spirits are not enough for you, check out these best tequila lover gifts that you can buy for yourself or your loved ones.
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