30 Mezcals Every Tequila-Lover Must Try

Unlike the party-favorite that is tequila, mezcal is a spirit that tends to be more mysterious to the average drinker. It's almost comical, considering that all tequilas are technically mezcal, but the same doesn't go the other way around. Tequila has pretty strict specifications for its production, while mezcal specifications are slightly more open-ended. There are nine Mexican states that mezcal is produced in. It's still distilled from 100 percent agave with no other sugar sources, but it can be created by more than 30 different types of plants (via Experience Agave). Additionally, and contrary to popular belief, mezcal doesn't always come with a worm inside.

Mezcal is usually richer and smokier than tequila, a result of the agave piñas being roasted instead of steamed. Every type of agave has its own distinct flavor, which also varies based on the region it originates from. Mezcal might not be as popular since it tends to have a higher price tag than some low-cost tequilas. The price usually reflects not only the time it takes to distill the spirit, but also the waiting game of anywhere between eight and 30 years that it takes agave plants to mature. 

Mezcal is on the rise — agave-based spirits are anticipated to surpass the sales of both whiskey and vodka by 2023 (via Bloomberg). If you're ready to transition from tequila to mezcal, we've laid out 30 must-try options to help get you better acquainted with the intensely flavorful Mexican spirit. 

Espadín is the most common type of agave used in mezcal, but there are so many varieties that distillers like to play with outside of the staple, which is popular due to its relatively short maturation span of 6 to 8 years (via Wine Mag). Bozal has its renditions of Espadín mezcal that are great, but Bozal Tobasiche, which is distilled from a subspecies of the Karwinskii family of wild agave, is a noteworthy bottle to seek out. The agave takes at least 12 years to mature in the region of Rio de Ejutla in Oaxaca, but it's worth the wait. Bozal means "wild" or "untamed" in Spanish, referencing the brand's use of wild-grown agave. 

Bozal Tobasiche definitely features notes that lean more earthy and herbaceous. It's distilled using ancient methods — cooking piñas in earth ovens, featuring open-air fermentation, and double distilling the product through clay pots. This is all done in small-batches that are a maximum of 60 liters each, meaning that every bottle has its own specific flavors to explore. A bottle will cost you $65 as of June 2022, which is a fair price for such a fine spirit. "I had a sip.... WOW. It was cowabonga in a taste form," one review on Total Wine reads. 

We promise we'll get to plenty of more traditional Espadín mezcals, but we want to make sure to be able to recommend a wide variety of options available in the category of agave-distilled liquor. Convite Coyote is another mezcal that uses 100% wild coyote agave that takes 12 years to mature. It's distilled using traditional methods in the Zapotec mountains of San Baltazar Guelavila, Tlacolula, located in the Sierra Madre del Sur. The mezcal is naturally fermented with spring water and features no added chemicals. The result is a full-bodied liquor with notes of dried fruit, florals, and a bit of nuttiness. It's a good mezcal to try that is more complex than just being smoke-forward, but still with that traditional roasted agave quality that makes mezcal so lovable. 

Fans on Mezcal Reviews also commented Convite Coyote for being a smooth and more subtle mezcal. "Perfect mezcal for pairing with the rich Tlacolula gastronomy. I can't wait to go back to Oaxaca and visit their tasting room," one reviewer wrote. A bottle of Convite Coyote is selling for $150 on Drizly. 

If you're looking to try authentic mezcal, Del Maguey is an absolute must. The brand's been distilling its own mezcal for more than 25 years. An added layer of spirits is the brand's village series of mezcal with bottles named after the villages they are distilled in. One of the best expressions from Del Maguey is the Chichicapa mezcal, created by a father-son duo in the village of San Baltazar, Chichicapa. This blend is twice distilled from Espadín agave that is matured for 8 years or less. It contains notes of roasted agave, dried fruit, almond, and hints of chocolate. 

Del Maguey Chichicapa is also marked by a distinguished smoke flavor that's accompanied by some heat. " There are flavors here that I can describe only as 'vegetal' and 'mineral' and 'smoky', none of which do it justice," one review on Distiller reads. "This is really, really, good. Stunningly, amazingly good. It offers a fresh, clean change from whisky." A bottle is selling on Drizly for $75, so it's a middle-of-the-road priced mezcal considering the other bottles on the shelf. 

Doña Vega Espadín is an Oaxacan-produced mezcal that costs only $50 a bottle, but has an amazing depth of flavor (via Mash and Grape). This organic and small-batch mezcal brand was founded by and is produced by a team of Mexican women. The company has two expressions since debuting on the market, and the Espadín is one that can simply and sneakily become your mezcal of choice to keep at your home bar. 

Doña Vega Espadín is produced in a small town outside fo Oaxaca City and epitomizes the flavors of a joven Espadín mezcal. It's a clean liquor with a robust amount of smoke and pepper on the tongue that isn't overwhelming. It's balanced out with some slight hints of fruit and salt to add depth. "Smooth and not too smoky. Easy to sip on a single cube," one customer review on Mash and Grape reads. 

A truly unique mezcal that you must try if you happen upon a bottle is El Jolgorio's Ancestral Coyote. It's a special bottle because it was distilled from Casa Cortes in Oaxaca City's first female master Mezcalera Justina Ruiz Perez. It's a 100% coyote agave mezcal that is produced in the ancestral tradition in small-batches (via Back Bar Project). It marks an important merging of Oaxaca mezcal tradition with progressive ideas in the field, and resulted in a darn tasty bottle of booze. 

It's a tough bottle to find, but luckily El Jolgoria has other expressions of mezcal that are solid picks. When looking on Distiller, El Jolgorio's Pechuga mezcal is the top-rated of the bunch. As for the Ancestral Coyote, it's a mind-bending explosion of flavors that ever mezcal fan should experience once. "It was a little intense upon first taste, and a little bit mellower upon second taste," one user wrote on Mezcal Reviews. "I have a few this will be worth holding for a while and letting it develop and mellow."

Gracias a Dios translates to "Thank you God" in Spanish, which is exactly what you'll be shouting after you try this Cuishe mezcal. Gracias a Dios distills this mezcal from a wild Kawinskii agave that takes 13 years to mature, and stands out for featuring a piña that grows out of the ground. It's double-distilled in the central valleys of Oaxaca, and the brand was established in 2010 and partnered with its master mezcalero Oscar Hernandez a couple of years later (via Thank GAD). 

There are a lot of flavors going on in Gracias a Dios Cuishe, but all of them channel natural elements. It's earthy like wet grass, spicy like white pepper and cinnamon, and slightly fruity with notes of apples and lemon. Thankfully, this Cuishe has a dense body to hold up all of the flavors. "The 100% Cuixe has really nice green tones on the palate, that is pleasant and it develops with smokiness that is well balanced," one user wrote on Mezcal Reviews. 

If you're looking for a mezcal with a little more oomph, check out Lagrimas de Dolores Anejo. This aged spirit is distilled at Hacienda Dolores in Durango, which was originally built in the 17th century. It's distilled from a species of agave durangensis, native to the region of Northern Mexico. The spirit is aged in oak barrels for at least a year, resulting in a deep amber liquid with depth that can rival any good whiskey. Thanks to the oak, it's heavy with flavors of wood, roasted agave, and a bit of chocolate. It's definitely a drink meant for sipping, or an interesting swap in your typical old-fashioned cocktail. 

"I found this Mezcal extremely pleasant, having drank mostly Mezcal from Oaxaca this was an excellent change in profile and taste," one review on Dan Murphy's website reads. "The addition of the aging in this expression works well with the agave notes, does not overpower it but adds some subtle notes of carmel and cinammon[.]"

If you're looking to expand your palate of artisanal mezcal, La Luna Cupreata is a budget-friendly option that is rich in flavor. Unlike some other in-your-face bottles, La Luna Cupreata is light, citrusy, and heavy on the floral elements. Of course, there's a hint of smoke, but it's not the star of the show in this drink. La Luna is selling this bottle for $45 as of June 2022, so there's no excuse to not freshen up your bar with a bottle of something different. 

Many reviews on Distiller point out the ideal price for a bottle of mezcal in general, but particularly one that isn't in the Espadín category. "I was prepared for this to be an interesting dram that would linger. Delightfully, this is really enjoyable. I need to keep my eye open for more cupreata and more La Luna," one review on the website reads. 

From the village of Llano Grande of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco comes La Venenosa Raicilla Costa, a flavor explosion in a bottle. The mezcaleros use a mix of two breeds of agave: Rhodecantha, which takes 12 years to mature, and Angustifolia, which takes 8 years to mature. It's double-distilled in a Filipino still made out of copper and a hollowed out tree trunk. The uniqueness doesn't end at the process — the flavor is hard to pin down, and requires a few sips to really comprehend. 

La Venenosa Raicilla Costa has an insane amount of flavors going on at once. It's almost reminiscent of a good blue cheese, but don't let that turn you off from trying it. There are notes of mint, herbs, white pepper, fruit, and smoke. In a review on Distiller, one user described the flavors as something like a bouquet of different flowers that go together perfectly. "One of the craziest things I've ever tasted, but so intriguing you have to keep sipping just to see what flavors come up next," another review on the website reads. 

Coyote mezcal is pretty unpredictable and can vary from bottle to bottle, so it's worth sampling different expressions to get a grasp on the flavor of wild agave. Mezcal de Leyendas Maguey Coyote is a solid option worth adding to your list that is made in Sola de Vega, Oaxaca. It's a blanco that's distilled with 100% Agave americana oaxacensis (also known as coyote) that takes 8 to 10 years to mature. The spirit distilled from the plant epitomizes the earth it came from, with the flavor being dominated (in a good way) by toasted agave. 

Vine Pair's review of the spirit points out notes of citrus, aloe vera, and minerals with a little smoke in the background. "My favorite of the 3 new Leyenda expressions that I sampled," one user wrote on Mezcal Reviews. "It's a bit expensive at around $130 a bottle but it's really good."

Neta is a brand that showcases mezcals created from several small-family producers in Oaxaca, so literally no two products are alike. It's almost funny to suggest the brand's Espadín, because there are a few expressions created from different types of Espadín agave plants that taste completely unalike. However, it seems that regardless of where exactly your Neta bottle is originating from, you're bound to encounter the unexpected once you pop it open. 

The notes can vary from bottle to bottle, but each batch tends to expand the drinker's idea of what an Espadín mezcal can be. Many user reviews point out notes of pineapple and other fresh fruits, but it only gets more complicated from there. "Different than your typical Espadín, in a really good way. Neta is putting out some of the best Espadíns I've tried lately," one user wrote on Mezcal Reviews about their bottle. 

If you're looking to delve into some really novel agave flavors, Peloton de la Muerte has a mezcal distilled from 100 percent Maguey Criollo. It's not the bottle for those who like the taste of light and sweet liquors, but for those who are looking for a full-bodied spirit with a savory side. There are notes of ash and salt that stand out, with some acidity from citrus fruits and sweetness from chocolate to round it out. It's definitely one of the bottles on the list meant for sipping, but you could get creative with some unexpected cocktails if you're feeling inspired. 

The most distinguishing factor of Peloton de la Muerte is its extremely thick mouthfeel. "This one's got some heft and body to it," one user wrote on Judge Me. "If you like your mezcal a bit funky and sweaty, this one's for you. And it's at a great price." A bottle sells for $45 on Drizly as of June 2022. 

The end of the alphabet on this list wraps up with some must-try mezcal blends, like Real Minero Largo Becuela from Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca. This bottle features Largo Karwinskii agave, harvested after 14 years, and a Becuela Marmorata plant, which takes 20 years to mature. Similarly to Producer, this Real Minero is remembered for its floral and vegetal notes, thanks to the two distinct types of agave plants. It's definitely a tricky bottle to get your hands on, but you also can't go wrong with trying any bottle from Real Minero. "Solid Mezcal. Earthy and robust agave. The clay distillation comes through nicely, and ends with peppery spice. Does not disappoint, which is what I've come to expect with Real Minero," one user wrote on Mezcal Reviews. 

Other users also suggest that if you come across a rare bottle of Real Minero Largo Becuela, do not hesitate to buy it. It's a tough blend to track down, so you also can't go wrong with the brand's straight-up Largo mezcal, which sells for $160 a bottle (via Caskers).

Mezcal Union Viejo is another Oaxacan mezcal distilled in the artisanal style that features a blend of Espadín and Tobala agave plants. It's another solid option for those looking for less smoke on the tongue, or to use to persuade any tequila loyalists in your life to try something new. The Tobala agave takes 14 years to mature, so it's another bottle that is years in the making. The notes that jump out immediately include mint, cinnamon, and other herbs with a slight taste of tropical fruit. It's also described as having a buttery mouthfeel, which adds a smooth finish that is a pleasant compliment to the peppery smoke. 

Union Viejo sells for $50 on Total Wine as of June 2022, and customers who decided to treat themselves to a bottle seem to be pretty satisfied with the purchase. "What an amazing Mezcal. Totally blew my mind," one Total Wine review reads. 

Vamonos Riendo mezcal is one of those bottles that will look great on your bar, but that you'll also struggle to not drink quickly because it's so good. It's a triple-distilled Artesanal mezcal with a special twist. Pechuga-style mezcals typically feature the breast meat of an animal, but Vamonos Riendo makes a vegan-style pechuga to amp up the Espadín and Tobala mezcal blend. Notes in this bottle include cocoa, herbs, pineapple, honey, anise, citrus, and the list goes on. 

Vamonos Riendo Joven sells for about $65 a bottle, so it's another easy bottle to try once that you might end up purchasing on repeat (via Drizly). "It's a great, neat sipper with all those delicious fruit notes," one user wrote on Mezcal Reviews. "I'm told it works well in a cocktail, but once I pour it into the glass, I always forget the rest of the recipe and just start drinking."