People ask me all the time how many bottles of mezcal I have. I look around my apartment and I see bottles stashed everywhere: closets, cabinets, laundry room, kitchen, billiard room, parlor, library, conservatory, observation wing, theater, gazebo, tanning room (for hides not skin of course), and even the laboratory! With all these rooms, how can I find them to count them? Well OK, maybe that is not really the set up in NYC apartment. But I do have a lot of bottles and they are spread out a bit, and I have never taken the time to count them up….until now….
So people ask how many bottles I have, and then they usually ask me how that stacks up to other mezcal fans or bars and restaurants. Do I have more mezcal than any individual in NYC? In the U.S.? Or do I have more mezcals than any bars in the City? Of course, I really don’t know the answer to any of these, though I suspect I have more mezcal than any bar. That really is not that hard when you realize that the bars are pretty much limited to what they can buy commercially in the U.S. – things like liquor laws, tax stamps, importers and distributors come into play, so they are handicapped. Whereas, a private collection is uninhibited by such restrictions. So if you buy what is commercially available in the U.S. (which I pretty much do), plus you bring back a lot of bottles from Mexico (which I also do), then it is hard for a bar to keep up with that due to the restrictions they face.
So yes, I THINK I have more mezcals than any bar in the country but I don’t know if I have more than any private collection here in NYC or beyond. In fact, I highly doubt it. My friends at Mezcalistas on the West Coast may be killing me! (But no combining collections Max and Susan). But I don’t know. That’s what this post is all about. Take the Mezcal Challenge!
Are there bottles in the US that I don’t have? Absolutely. I buy what interests me. I don’t buy to artificially expand my collection. For example, I love most of the Del Maguey line but I really don’t need all 18 of their bottles in my apartment! I’ve tried them all, and I buy the ones I really like. Also, budgetary and storage constraints come into play (we are actually renovating our apartment in part to create more mezcal storage space….really). But I still have acquired much of what is out there, and probably tasted almost all of it.
I have acquired it but that doesn’t mean I still have it. My mezcal collection, probably like yours, is a living and breathing entity. Bottles come in, bottles are consumed, bottles go out. And there is a fair amount of turnover here as I drink a LOT of mezcal (not all on my own mind you…OK, maybe most of it).
So the Mezcal Challenge is a snapshot in time. How many bottles of mezcal do you have RIGHT NOW? But first, we need a few rules. I know, I know. Mezcal don’t need no stinkin’ rules! But we had to have a few. And yes, there is of course subjectivity, but we needed a methodology to count our bottles. For example, I have a lot of little sample bottles, but should those count? It does not feel right to me since they disappear with one swig. So they are out. What about mezcals you may have brought back from Mexico that have no label? Fantastic. They are in. Or the 200ml flask that fits in your back pocket? I say yes. So you see, there are a few considerations, and I have clearly given it deep meditative thought….
Bottle Counting Rules:
- Size matters. No 2 ounce sample bottles. Size has to be 200ml or greater.
- Bacanora, Sotol, Distillates de Agave, and Raicilla count. You deserve the credit if you have some of these.
- Tequila does not count. No offense to tequila but this is about other agave distillates. My friends at Agave Idiots can run the Tequila Challenge.
- This is a unique bottle competition. What does that mean? Well, if you have a case of Ilegal Joven or Del Maguey Vida in a closet, that does not count as 6 bottles – it is just one. Even if you have 2 of your favorite bottles, it still only counts as 1. But if you have 4 different expressions from Pierde Almas, that’s 4. Unique bottles only.
- Different lots do not equal different bottles. This one is admittedly tricky. Different lots of the same brand can taste different for sure, but it is the same brand and same expression, so I am going to say it does not count. Tough call though and it would inflate my totals for sure.
- Honor system. Ernst and Young will not show up at your door seeking verification. Photographic evidence may be requested for bold claims!
Personal Category and Professional Category
As I am anticipating an onslaught of entries (Mario help me out here!), I will have two categories. The Personal Category for individuals and The Professional Category for bars and restaurants. Depending on the geographic breakdown of entries, I may make a few categories for the winners (like US, Europe, Mexico, International, etc). Many bars want to claim that they have the largest selection of mezcal (I know because they want to be included on my Mezcal Joints page and they make these types of claims). I get that. Submit your entry. Let’s see how it goes, and maybe some obvious sub-categories will develop. Or perhaps, I will only get a handful of submissions (lame). We will find out!
But man am I curious. I would love to know you if you are a serious collector of mezcal, and I would love to know what bar or restaurant has the largest mezcal selection in the US and beyond!
Throwing Down the Gauntlet
Since I am initiating the Mezcal Challenge, you probably want to know how many unique bottles I have in my collection??? Should I disclose now or wait until other entries come in? Well, I want to set the tone so I will disclose my current unique bottles count with the complete list at the end of this post. So…….
I have 142 unique bottles of mezcal currently in my possession.
I guess it is a good number but it seems small when I think of tequila collectors I know (Hello Mark!) who have something like 2,000 bottles in their private collections (though that is probably not unique bottles). But anyway, it feels small. Well not small small, but big small. With me? But maybe not. You tell me. What have you got?? You don’t even have to list them all – just give me a number.
I will publish the results. You can send me an email to [email protected] or respond to this post. But either way, I will publish a results post in a few weeks time.
Prizes
I am working on producing Mezcal PhD T-shirts – the logo design is in process. While not there yet, I will have these in the coming months, and that my friends will go to the lucky winners of the Mezcal Challenge!
So that’s it. I hope that some of you – any of you stake your claim to the title and give me a unique bottle count. And for the bars and restaurants out there, the crown of most mezcals in the US, London, Australia, Canada, Paris or wherever hopefully has some appeal! I look forward to any and all submissions!
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RESULTS
So after many months and hundreds of submissions (would you believe dozens?), the results are in! A bit to my surprise, it appears that I have the largest private mezcal collection in the U.S. While no one from Mexico submitted a larger list, I would bet that my collection can be readily topped south of the border by more than a few people.
At any rate, I thank those that submitted their collections and here are some of the notable numbers:
Mario (“Marwinski”) 85 bottles (Hated mezcal 3yrs ago!)
Mezcal Review (Oaxacan writer) 54 bottles (Mexican winner!)
Eric Gunn (Ohio) 39 bottles (State Champ!)
Max (Mezcalistas) 40-ish (Turnover high – excessive consumption)
Ken (Mezcal journalist) 30-ish
Mike Jones (enthusiastic contributor) 15
Judah (Mezcal Vago) Unknown (Talks a big game – can prob back it up)
So there you have it! I owe T-shirts to Mario and Mezcal Review, though I have to make them first. They are extremely well-designed and super cool in my head, but I am slow to execute. But I will get there. I may send out some more freebies as well! Thanks to all for contributing!
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And finally, here is my bottle list……and drink mezcal……
| 1 | 3 Pueblos Reposado | Espadin |
| 2 | Agave de Cortes – 3yr Anejo | Espadin |
| 3 | Agave de Cortez Reposado with Worm | Espadin |
| 4 | Alipus San Andreas | Espadin |
| 5 | Alipus San Juan | Espadin |
| 6 | Banhez | Barril |
| 7 | Benesin | Tequilana |
| 8 | Bosscal Mezcal | Durangensis |
| 9 | Bruxo No. 3 | Barril |
| 10 | Bruxo No. 4 | Espadin, Barril, Cuishe |
| 11 | Cielo Rojo | Bacanora |
| 12 | Cuish | Mexicano |
| 13 | Cuish | Cierra Negra |
| 14 | Cuish | Tobaziche |
| 15 | Cuish | Arroqueno |
| 16 | Cuish | Cirial |
| 17 | Del Maguey | Tepeztate |
| 18 | Del Maguey | Tobala |
| 19 | Del Maguey | Pechuga |
| 20 | Del Maguey | Papalome |
| 21 | Del Maguey Chichicapa – Cask Finish | Espadin |
| 22 | Del Maguey Crema | Espadin |
| 23 | Del Maguey San Luis del Rio Azul | Tequilana Weber |
| 24 | Destileria Tlacolulu Special 3 | Tobala |
| 25 | Destileria Tlacolulu Special 4 | Arroqueno |
| 26 | Destileria Tlocolula Special 1 | Espadin with cannibus infusion |
| 27 | Destileria Tlocolula Special 2 | Madrecuixe Pechuga |
| 28 | Don Amado Rustico | Espadin |
| 29 | El Amor Del Diablo | Papalote |
| 30 | El Buho | Espadin |
| 31 | El Cortija | Maguey Pulquero |
| 32 | El Jolgorio | Arroqueno |
| 33 | El Jolgorio Special Bottling | Tepeztate |
| 34 | El Silencio | Ensemble |
| 35 | Enmascarado 55 | Espadin |
| 36 | Espiritu Lauro Joven | Espadin |
| 37 | Espiritu Lauro Reposado | Espadin |
| 38 | Fidencio | Madrecuixe |
| 39 | Fidencio | Pechuga |
| 40 | Fidencio Sin Humo | Espadin |
| 41 | Gracias a Dios Mezcal | Tobala |
| 42 | Gracias a Dios Mezcal | Espadin |
| 43 | Gran Reserva Joya Anejo | Does Not Say |
| 44 | Hacienda de Chihuahua Sotol Anejo | Sotol |
| 45 | Ilegal Anejo | Espadin |
| 46 | Ilegal Anejo – Special Bottling 2yr | Espadin |
| 47 | Ilegal Joven | Espadin |
| 48 | Ilegal Joven Special Bottling – 47% | Espadin |
| 49 | Ilegal Reposado | Espadin |
| 50 | Ilegal Wine Barrel Aged | Espadin |
| 51 | In Situ | Tepeztate |
| 52 | In Situ | Tepeztate |
| 53 | Koch el Mezcal | Cirial, Tobasiche, Tobala, de Lumbre |
| 54 | La Fogata Anejo | Espadin |
| 55 | Los Amantes Reposado | Espadin |
| 56 | Los Danzantes Reposado | Espadin |
| 57 | Los Nahuales Anejo | Espadin |
| 58 | Luis Mendez Special Bottling | Coyote |
| 59 | Luis Mendez Special Bottling | Arroqueno |
| 60 | Mestizo Anejo | Espadin |
| 61 | Metl Reposado | Espadin |
| 62 | Mezcal Buen Viaje | Madrecuixe, Espadin |
| 63 | Mezcal Embajador Reposado | Unlabeled |
| 64 | Mezcal Koch | Tepeztate |
| 65 | Mezcal Koch | Tobasiche |
| 66 | Mezcal Marca Negra | Bicuishe, Espadin, Madrecuixe |
| 67 | Mezcal Marca Negra | Tobala |
| 68 | Mezcal Marca Negra | Arroqueno |
| 69 | Mezcal Marca Negra | Espadin |
| 70 | Mezcal Marca Negra | Dobadan |
| 71 | Mezcal Olla Zapoteca | Cuise |
| 72 | Mezcal Olla Zapoteca | Madrecuixe |
| 73 | Mezcal Rio Revuelto | Espadin, Madrecuishe |
| 74 | Mezcal Rojas Reposado | Cenizo |
| 75 | Mezcal Tosba | Espadin |
| 76 | Mezcal Tosba | Tobala |
| 77 | Mezcal Union | Espadin, Cirial, Barril |
| 78 | Mezcal Vago | 77% Blanco, 23% Sierra Negra |
| 79 | Mezcal Vago | Cuixe, Espadin |
| 80 | Mezcal Vago | Espadin |
| 81 | Mezcal Vago | Coyote, Espadin, Mexicano |
| 82 | Mezcal Vago | Mexicano (93%), Espadin (7%) |
| 83 | Mezcal Vago | Tobala |
| 84 | Mezcal Vago | Tobala en Barro |
| 85 | Mezcal Vago Elote | Espadin |
| 86 | Mezcal Ven A Mi | Espadin |
| 87 | Mezcalero 10 | Sierra Negra |
| 88 | Mezcalero 11 | Madrecuishe, Bicuishe, Espadin |
| 89 | Mezcalero 2 | Espadin, Tepeztate, Tobala |
| 90 | Mezcalero 3 | Espadin, Mexicana |
| 91 | Mezcalero 4 | Sierra Negra, Tepeztate |
| 92 | Mezcalero 5 | Espadin, Tepeztate |
| 93 | Mezcalero 6 | Mexicano, Madrecuixe, Bicuishe |
| 94 | Mezcalero 8 | Mexicano, Madrecuixe, Tobala |
| 95 | Mezcalero 9L | Arroqueno |
| 96 | Mezcales de Leyenda Durango | Durangensis |
| 97 | Mezcales de Leyenda Guerrero | Cupreata |
| 98 | Mezcaloteca | Tepeztate |
| 99 | Mezcaloteca | Coyote |
| 100 | Mezcaloteca | Espadin Con Mole |
| 101 | Mezcaloteca | Tobasiche |
| 102 | Mezcaloteca | Paplome |
| 103 | Mezcaloteca | Amarillo |
| 104 | Mezcaloteca | Cuixe |
| 105 | Mezcaloteca | Madrecuishe, Bicuishe, Espadin |
| 106 | Mezcaloteca | Madrecuixe |
| 107 | Mezcologia | Espadin |
| 108 | Mistique | Tepeztate |
| 109 | Mistique | Arroqueno |
| 110 | Mistique | Barril, Espadin |
| 111 | Nizabisahio | Arroqueno |
| 112 | Nuestra Soledad – Ejulta | Espadin |
| 113 | Ocho Cientos Sotol Reposado | Sotol |
| 114 | PapaDiablo | Espadin, Bicuise, Madrecuixe |
| 115 | Pierde Almas | Espadin |
| 116 | Pierde Almas | de Lumbre |
| 117 | Pierde Almas | Espadin & Mexicano Pechuga |
| 118 | Pierde Almas | Tequilana Weber |
| 119 | Pierde Almas | Dobadaan |
| 120 | Pierde Almas Botanicals | Espadin |
| 121 | Real Minero | Largo |
| 122 | Real Minero | Espadin, Largo, Tripon, Barril |
| 123 | Real Minero | Arroqueno |
| 124 | Rey Campero | Jabali |
| 125 | Rey Campero | Mexicano |
| 126 | Rey Campero | Cuishe |
| 127 | Rey Campero | Tepeztate |
| 128 | Sacacuento | Espadin |
| 129 | Sacacuento Anejo | Espadin |
| 130 | Secretos de Yegole | Mexicano Pebca Largo |
| 131 | Shawi | Espadin |
| 132 | Sien Piedad | Espadin |
| 133 | Siete Misterios | Arroqueno |
| 134 | Vicio | Espadin |
| 135 | Viejo Indecente | Madrecuixe, Espadin |
| 136 | Wahaka | Espadin Manzanita (apple infusion) |
| 137 | Wahaka | Espadin Botaniko (botanicals infusion) |
| 138 | Wahaka | Tobala |
| 139 | Wahaka | Ensemble |
| 140 | Wahaka – Vino de Mezcal | Wild Espadin Pechuga with Mole Poblano |
| 141 | Wahaka – Vino de Mezcal | Lechuguilla |
| 142 | Yuu Baal | Madrecuixe |
That collection blows my mind!
Have you noticed the taste of your mezcals changing over time as they “age in glass”.
One mezcal I’m really enjoying right now (out of many) is the Lágrimas de Dolores Joven from Durango. Unfortunately not sold in the US. Worth checking it if you’ve never tried it.
Any update on the t-shirts?
Thanks for another fun post!
Thanks Tyler. The collection is ever growing. My more bottles now! I have not had the brand you mentioned. I am in Oaxaca soon so will be on the look out! Keep drinkin’ mezcal!
I’m new to the party, but I’ve got 23 – so far 😉
SO FUN.
Yay, mezcal!
Where in Ohio are you, Eric Gunn? I’m in Columbus
23 is pretty good. Nothing to sneeze at! Keep building!!
I have 54 different expressions here in Oaxaca….not a huge collection but the turnover rate is high (alarmingly so sometimes!) While not large in number- rich in diversity- some odd ones such as Belato, Cucharilla, a Henequen- made here in Oaxaca from Maguey brought from Campeche, Horno and Mexicanito from the Mixteca , Pulque Chino and a few different Puntas . Cheers!
54 is nothing to sneeze at – even in Oaxaca. So nicely done and I get that turnover rate! I envy those odd ones and look forward to getting together in Oaxaca next time I am there!
Currently have 39 unique bottles. Do I get bonus points for living in Ohio where there only offer five offerings available anywhere in the state (DM Vida, Ilegal x3, & Monte Albon)? Thank agave for online liquor stores & out of state friends. Hopefully I’ll take my first pilgrimage to Mecca (I mean Oaxaca later this year or early next) and that number will grow.
Eric, that is a good total and bonus point worthy! You have out performed your state by miles! But as for free T-shirts you have some people ahead of you. Still, you can probably say you have the largest private mezcal collection in Ohio I would bet. Serious bragging rights! Thanks for counting them up and sending it in.
I’m about the same as Max — just did a quick and dirty count, and, not including samples, I’ve got about 30-ish mezcals kicking around amongst 100-ish other bottles at the moment. Wish I could call it a “bar,” though — it’s really just piled up in boxes in my pantry 🙁
Thanks for the shout out! Hmmm, mezcal, bacanora, raicillia, sotol, but not tequila (a mezcal of the blue weber Tequiliana variety). We have lots. Haven’t counted them yet, but since we’re still relatively new to mezcal, the not tequila agave spirits, the count isn’t near as much as mezcal’a cousin. ” Too much tequila/mezcsl is enough!” That said, the only caveat is quality over quantity. Saludos!
I love the Agave Idiots! You guys have more tequila than most brands and you don’t mess with the cheap stuff! But you need more mezcal my friend…..
…that would be 85….could have been over 90 had I not already consumed many 250ml bottles brought back from Oax in Jan….how can I post the spreadsheet of my inventory?
How ’bout uploading it to Google docs, make the spreadsheet public, and post a link?
Will do
I have always enjoyed mescal but today I am a diabetic and restrict what I embibe. How much sugar is mescal? If you declare it to be a drinkable product for diabetics than you increase sales by millions of dollars. Just a thought.
Bud Dana
Sorry I cannot help you with the medical questions, but thanks for reading.
Like the Editor, I’m unqualified to help with medical questions, but that won’t stop me from playing TV doctor….I think the liver sees alcohol and sugars similarly
The problem with diabetes and spirits isn’t the amount of sugar; it’s the alcohol itself that’s the problem. Alcohol interferes with many of the medicines used to control diabetes. It affects the liver which in turn plays havoc with your blood sugar. And it has a tendency to cause hypoglycemia which can be dangerous if you’re taking insulin. Sorry, but it’s best for diabetics to avoid alcohol altogether.
Alas my personal collection pales in comparison to yours John. I suspect that I may not have more than 100 bottles in my bar including rare expressions of Montenagran grappa and San Franciscan grappa. The mezcal portion of the bar cycles rather continuously but I don’t count more than 40, probably closer than 30. I’m sure that number will bloom considerably once I return from Mexico in the coming weeks but still nothing to rival the McEvoy Collection of Mezcal (MCM).
Next question, what’s your organizing principle? Alphabetical by maker? Dewey decimal variant? Regional? Label color?
Max, I am sure your collection, while a bit smaller than mine, is one to envy! As for my organizing principles, they are virtually non-existent. I do have a growing collection of unopened bottles that I am putting away for another time. Rare bottles, most silvetres, but some others. These will be more difficult to find in the future I am guessing and/or they just won’t taste the same as they do today. And then i have some that I just know I will never really drink because they are no very good. Those two collections are non on display anywhere and “in the back room” so to speak. Other than that, the ones on the bar cart in the living room stay fresh with things that I like to drink and new arrivals. When I get to 500 bottles maybe I will get more systematic on the storage system!
Thanks for contributing!
After re-reading your post, by your rules I can indeed count my 200ml and 250ml “little guys” of which I brought back so many. Unfortunately, most are gone now.
*sigh* So, much mezcal, so little time.
I can’t imagine there’d be many out there that could challenge that list. Curiously though, my minuscule collection does have four bottles not found on your list.
Four bottles not on my list? Varietals of brands that I have or I don’t have the brands? Please advise. Also, I may had had them in the past…..consumption is heavy at my place! Let me know.
A couple are varietals you’ve certainly had, but a couple may be unique:
Siete Misterios (barril)
Wahaka Joven (espadin)
Zacbe’ Joven (50% espadin, 50% cirial)
Bronco Matateco Pechuga
Cool. Never seen that Siete in the US (only the amazing Arro). Wahaka joven has come and gone many times. Great for cocktails that is why I have used it a bunch. Never tried Zacbe – is it available in the US? And never heard of the last one. Again, available in the U.S?
The Siete was brought back from Mexico by a friend. It reminded me of some of the Pierde Almas I’ve tried but with definite briny notes.
Info on the Zacbe’ can be found here: http://www.proof66.com/exotics/zacbe-joven-mezcal.html. My wife picked this one up in Veracruz, but the bottle appears to be labeled for distribution in the US.
The pechuga was also acquired in Veracruz and bottled for sale only in Mexico. It is triple distilled with the third distillation with fruits in the still and a turkey breast hung above. The fruits are very apparent in the nose and flavor, but I can only occasionally detect hints of the turkey in the body. This one was embarrassing inexpensive.
All sounds good to me! Thanks for contributing!
I’ll trade you two bottles of mezcal and all you can drink to inventory my collection.
Ha! Would love to see it. Even though you are in the business, the personal collection counts. No deep dive inventory needed but a bottle count is required. You may just win a T-shirt for the Mexico category. Exciting!
My collection was so big I needed a website and a warehouse! But that was Mexico so I guess that means I’m disqualified =/
You ar not disqualified if it is a personal collection. You can rule the Mexico category! But if your personal collection has become your commercial business, that would disqualify you since your business is kind of like a liquor store.
So what do you have at HOME these days? Be fair.
Wow ! I’ll be very surprised if I learn someone in the US has a larger collection. Mezcaloteca maybe… In Situ maybe… Nobody else could possibly come close John. Your collection is 12 times larger than mine. I want to come to NYC and drink mezcal with you in your billiard room.
I agree with you about the little bottles. If you open one up, its gone.
Mike
I look forward to drinking with you in my ummmm….ahhhhh….billiard room. Yeah, that’s it. Billiard room!
In Situ has more unique bottles for sure but they are in the bar category. Let’s see if any individuals show up with more!
…outstanding! …but little bottles if unique ought to be a category…my count forthcoming and nice quantizing!
Hmmm on the little bottles. Just feels like cheating. Buying a real bottle is making an investment into your mezcal portfolio. Buying a little bottle is like buying a lottery ticket- no real investment. It’s a throw away.