106 Responses

Page 1 of 3 Next →
  1. H. Haskell at |

    I just tried La Nina del Mezcal Madrecuixe.
    I’m have had better but I’m not disappointed.
    Anybody try it?

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      I have no tried it but thanks for contributing!

      Reply
  2. Douglas at |

    Note to clarify:
    Mijes is not made by Scorpoion Mezcal, Doug French , but it is imported by Caballeros, Inc , Douglas Frenches USA import company. Mijes is made by Patricia Campos .
    Also:
    Maria is not made by Doug French either . It is imported by Caballeros, Inc again my import company . It is made by Eric Hernandez who also makes Ilegal, Los Amantes and Metl. He is an excellent and prolific master distiller.
    I am a prolific distiller , but I only make Scorpion Mezcal .
    Due to the shortage of agave , I have had to reduce production of mezcal . In this dead time I am experimenting with making rum and I am eager to try my hand at making a whiskey. I shall try distilling some whiskey in the summer.

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Thanks for the corrections and information. I will update the post accordingly.

      Reply
  3. […] stores for your convenience.  This list by no means contains every brand you can find (I have another post on that), and I stopped it at $75 because we are clearly getting past the entry level at that […]

  4. Onno at |

    Forgot to mention that it was the reposadas that that I drank 🙂

    Reply
  5. Onno at |

    Finding a good mescal is a taste bud affair. Zignum is mentioned with a soso rating, but my tongue was absolutely delighted. I have had some of the others mentioned here including Scorpion which I found awful.

    Now I have been looking for the following brand, which I bought one bottle of while in Mexico. According to my pallet the best I have ever tasted: JOYAS OAXAQUEÑAS

    If you know where I can get it that would be awesome because so far I have not been lucky over the last 4 years.

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      You are right that everyone has a different palate. For me the knock on Zignum is on many levels. Read my post entitled “Mezcal, Bacardi, Zignum and Sustainability” for more. As a consumer I would have trouble supporting it even IF I liked it. We need to vote with our wallets.

      As for Joyas, I have only seen their Gran Reserva here – I have it and am not impressed. You can find it online. If you like aged mezcals, there are many better out there like Los Amantes, Los Nahuales, Sacacuento, Agave de Cortes, and Ilegal to name a handful.

      Thanks for commenting and reading!

      Reply
  6. Ron at |

    Attn All,

    I just spent 4 days in San Miguel de Allende, In my 4 days there I Found a corner bar, jumped in too see the action and wow!! what a selection of Mezcal’s, I tried 4 while I was there and My favorite, Los Danzantes Joven. I’m a Tequila Guy but this mezcal was incredible!! it had the traditional smokey smell but it by far was the smoothest sipping Mezcal I have ever had. If someone finds this product for sale in the states let me know, if not I’ll open up a distributor business and treat this product like gold..

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      You are in luck my friend. In the U.S. this mezcal goes by the name Los Nahaules produced by the Los Danzantes distillery. They had some copyright issue with the name in the US and had to change the name several years ago. If you like that, you should also look for the Mezcalero brand which is made by the same distillery. They put out new releases every 6 months or so- they are all blends of differing agaves and all great. Very small batch stuff. Perhaps you will be changing your handle to “ronmasmezcal”……

      Reply
      1. Amatuer Mezcal Drinker at |

        I’ve tried 4 so far. Los Nahaules is by far the best I’ve had….

        That smokey flavor…….

        Reply
        1. Mezcal PhD at |

          Keep working your way through the list! There are many excellent mezcals on the market. You probably have to buy most of them online, but they can be had….

          Reply
  7. Hoth at |

    Soo…. I printed out your list of Mezcals and went to my local “high end” liquor store. The only Mezcal they had (I asked) was Monte Alban. I saw that it was listed under “less than premium”, but thought to myself, “that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s bad.” Unfortunately I neglected to read the comments following your post that would have informed me that in this particular case that, yes, it is bad. Now I find myself facing a dilemma that I’m hoping you can help me with. Do I dump this turpentine tasting crap down the drain before it turns me off to Mezcal forever, and write it off as a $23 lesson learned, or do I hang onto it and only use it as a substitute for tequila in mixed drinks?

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Pour it out and start over. It is basically a bad tequila. Order online since your local blows. Buy one or more of the premiums on my list and you will be just fine!

      Reply
  8. Emma at |

    To add to your already extensive list, is a new brand called Derrumbes. Not sure if they’re available in the US yet, but they are in Europe and Australia so look out for it!

    Reply
  9. Brian at |

    You didn’t mention Mezcal Jaral de Berrio.. which I like. I’d like to know what your thoughts are.

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      I am unaware that it can be found in the U.S. If it can be, please let me know where. Thanks!

      Reply
  10. Stacy at |

    http://www.tastings.com/scout_spirits.lasso?id=195893

    Mezcal El Malpais, produced in the state of Durango! You should definitely try it. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Have not tried it but hope to do so someday…

      Reply
  11. Eugenio García at |

    I just tries the beneva, nothing to call home about.

    FYI – Alipus is the more artisanal brand of Los Danzantes

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Concur on Beneva. They also produce Monte Alban which is about all you need to know. Los Danzantes changed their name to Los Nahuales (something about a trademark infringement). And I would actually say that Alipus is the lower price point than Los Nahuales – but yes, same producer. Both good and artisanal on the premium mezcal spectrum!

      Reply
  12. Mike at |

    Beneva is made in the state of Oaxaca.. they have a retail showroom/tasting room in Huatulco. They make a blanco, repo & anejo. I still believe Joya deserves to be on your premium list.

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      You know, I have the Joya Gran Reserve Extra Anejo and it is just not that good. It is perhaps premium, but not according to my taste buds!

      Reply
  13. Charlie at |

    Mezcal Zacatecano,is made in Huitzila,Zacatecas.
    Last year it was awarded several prizes in the San Francisco,Ca.Spirits Expo or something like that.Pretty good actually,i ran out fast.

    Reply
  14. Mezcal PhD at |

    Appreciate it. Keep coming back. If you hit the “subscribe” button, you will get an email when I put up a new post.

    Reply
  15. california woman at |

    how can you call yourself a ‘PhD’ in mezcal when there are so many that you “know nothing about” or just diss outright without having ever even tasted the product (just because it’s inexpensive)?? WTH??

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Hmmm…where to begin? Maybe “Mezcal PhD is kind of tongue in cheek? Maybe? You think?
      1. That said, I know a lot about Mezcal but I also know many people that know more. If you are one of them and can add educational content to the blog, which many people have done, that is welcomed and celebrated.
      2. It’s true that there are many brands that I know nothing about and there are many reasons for that. First, my funding and storage capacity has its limits. Second, the only reason I even know that some of these exist is through exhaustive Internet searching, cross-referencing, etc. They do not promote their brands through social media, have no websites, FB page, Twitter, advertising, do not show up in the press, and are not written about on other blogs or anywhere else I can find. So I admit that I know nothing about them. Find me the person that does. I’d love to meet them!
      3. By “diss” I guess you mean the category of Less Than Premium is a diss. That does not mean that it sucks and I don’t say that. I have tried many of these and they are indeed less than premium in taste, though I am not trying to get into specific reviews on this post (clearly). And like it or not, in Mezcal, and most spirits, premium is usually defined by price point. You just can’t make a beautiful, artisanal, hand-crafted Mezcal and sell it in the US for $10-20 a bottle. It’s not going to be premium in taste. That does not mean it is horrible. There is no shame in being less than top shelf, and hundreds, if not thousands, of spirit brands specifically are trying to hit a mid-tier or low price point and they don’t expect to win spirits competitions. I am sure many of these mezcals are doing just that.
      4. Blogs offer many opinions, as do I. The goal of the post was to put together a comprehensive list of mezcals that can be found in the US. I could have put them in alphabetical order, but that wouldn’t be as helpful in my view as trying to give some guidance. Also, if you read more of this blog, you will see it is focused on premium mezcals.

      So that’s about it. I try to keep it real and have fun, but these are my opinions. If you have specific objections let me know and I will try to pick up a bottle and try it. Someone from Don Amado did just that, and I bought a bottle and moved it to premium after that.

      I hope this explanation helps. In the meantime, drink some mezcal…it takes the edge off.

      Reply
      1. Pez at |

        I commend you for putting the list together. However; I have to disagree with you that just because a beverage is marketed as premium and is sold at a high price point it does not mean it is of good quality automatically. Patron tequila and Grey Goose are prime examples of “premium” beverages that connossieours dismiss. In wine there are countless such examples as well. With that said, I just tried the Beneva mezcal and boy do I regret buying it. $24 down the drain!

        Reply
        1. Mezcal PhD at |

          Funny. Great comment on Beneva. This list is not strictly using price as a basis for premium. I have personally tried many of the mezcals on this list, especially the premiums plus many others (except where clearly noted that I know nothing). Where I have not tried them and they are of a low price point, I either put them into “less than premium” or “premium or not” and this was done somewhat on word of mouth opinions of the brands and sometimes price. But the list is by no means perfect. I will say that I don’t think I have ever had a mezcal that is priced below $30 a bottle that is very good. It is a shame, and I am not being a snob here, it is just a fact. I wish it weren’t true because I like to save money too! But it expensive to produce mezcal in the traditional, artisanal, hand-crafted way.

          In the end, these are my classifications – not perfect and largely my opinion. An informed opinion, but still an opinion. I have moved several of these around based on user comments, so if you have specific suggestions, please advise. In the meantime, pour out the Beneva (they also make Monte Alban) and buy a premium mezcal, however you define that!

          Reply
  16. Fred G. at |

    Last minute purchase at Hotel gift shop in Chicken Itza
    “Mixteco Mezcal ( with worm ) 250 ml… 150 pesos
    Did I get ripped off ?.

    Reply
    1. MezcalPhD at |

      That’s about $12-$13 USD so no matter how bad it is, the rip off is not too painful. Sounds like a lot though for what is likely a pretty crappy mezcal. Let me know how it tastes….

      Reply
      1. Fred Gregory at |

        Dr Mezcal

        Haven’t cracked it but I’ll let you know if it is horse piss of the God’s elixir. Do you have a direct email

        I did find a photo of a mini bottle of it
        http://www.mezcalbottles.com/database_public/view.php?id=1069

        And amazingly it is the Mezcal shown at Mezcal Wikipepi in light of the fact that another source told me it went off the market in 2011. He provided link to sjuport it’s demise No reason provided

        Salud

        Reply
        1. MezcalPhD at |

          Thanks or the info. Keep your expectations low on that stuff. You can email me at [email protected]. But what you really need to do is go out and buy one of the brands in the premium category from this post. I doubt any of them will disappoint….

          Reply
  17. arqmasiu at |

    Just a comment…Mezcal Mano Negra is now called Mezcal Mancha Negra. They apparently had problems with the original name.
    Cheers,

    Reply
    1. MezcalPhD at |

      Thanks for the tip. I will check it out!

      Reply
      1. Carlos Sada at |

        Hi. It’s actually Mezcal MARCA NEGRA.

        Cheers!

        Reply
  18. Jake Lustig at |

    Don Amado Mezcal was established in 1994 and has been in continual production since… made entirely in ceramic pot stills and sold in both Mexico and in 10+ states around the US (NY, IL, CA, WA, NV…). It is in every sense a “Premium” mezcal.

    Also, please note our other ceramic pot-distilled brand, Mina Real Mezcal.. selling very well in both countries, albeit at a lower price point.

    Reply
    1. MezcalPhD at |

      Thanks for the note. Don Amado is indeed on my wish list, and I will pick up a bottle when I see one. I look forward to trying it, and am happy to move it to the premium category upon examination!

      Reply
  19. Mario Yrun at |

    Regarding La Fogata from the Premium List: I brought a La Fogata (“the campfire”) Anejo back from Guadalajara in ’98. I’m sure I cajoled you into trying it with me at least. Coincidently enough I seem to remember its character as kind of a head-crash into a campfire. I haven’t seen it since. Is the smoke clearing and does it ring a bell now?

    Reply
    1. MezcalPhD at |

      The one I have is the anejo and it is not as drastic as you describe, though it is not particularly good for the price. As for that mezcal we tried in Guadalajara, I kind of Fogata-bout-it……

      Reply
  20. Andrew at |

    What a great list!

    For stores, I’d surely suggest Blackwell’s in S. CA. Really nice folks, great prices and while they don’t have a lot – they’ll get something if you ask.

    And, as for the Delirio, I received a bottle today, and it’s damn tasty. Damn sweet, too. And, reasonably-priced.

    Reply
    1. MezcalPhD at |

      Thanks for the tip on Blackwell’s. I will check it out. Should I move Delirio to the premeium list? Sweet in a mezcal is interesting. To me, the Del Maguey Tobala has sweetness, but can’t think of another…

      Reply

Post Comment