The 8 Best Mezcals Under $60 You Can Buy Right Now

Mezcal’s defining characteristic is variability. Unlike most spirits, where consistency is the goal, mezcal production is tied to specific agave varieties, individual producers, geographic microclimates and traditional methods that vary drastically from producer to producer and even batch to batch. That variability is a feature, not a flaw — and the sub-$60 shelf has never offered a more compelling range of expressions for the curious drinker to explore.

The eight bottles below are ranked by The Daily Pour’s Critics’ Score, a proprietary metric that aggregates and averages ratings from the internet’s most trusted beverage critics, with a minimum of two reviews required per bottle.

8. Montelobos Espadín Mezcal Joven

ABV: 43.2% | Price: $45

Developed by agave researcher and botanist Iván Saldaña in Santiago Matatlán — the self-proclaimed mezcal capital of the world — Montelobos is built on 100% organic Highland espadín agave roasted for five to seven days, crushed by a mule-drawn stone tahona, naturally fermented and distilled in small wood-fired copper pot stills. The extended roast and tahona crushing extract more agave complexity than faster, mechanized production methods allow. Wine Enthusiast finds a vegetal midpalate in tones of bell pepper, mouthwatering and brisk with a slight sweetness, peppery fade and a hint of juniper — a profile that is simultaneously traditional and precise.

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7. Bosscal Mezcal Joven

ABV: 42% | Price: $54

Bosscal takes an unusual production path: the agave is ground by hand axe rather than by tahona or mill, fermented in oak vats and double distilled in stainless steel stills rather than the copper pot stills used by most traditional producers. The result is a distinctly lighter style of mezcal — Drinkhacker describes a gentle fruit-wood smoke on the nose, followed by applesauce, a touch of cinnamon and floral notes that develop with time in the glass. For drinkers who find most mezcals too aggressively smoky, Bosscal is a compelling alternative that still maintains genuine agave character.

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6. El Señorío Mezcal Joven Con Gusano

ABV: 40% | Price: $46

Made from espadín agave in Oaxaca and double distilled before being infused with an agave worm, El Señorío Joven Con Gusano is a traditional expression of a style that has been unfairly dismissed by the premium mezcal market. The gusano — the larva of a moth that lives in the agave plant — contributes a subtle savory depth that integrates into the spirit rather than dominating it. Difford’s Guide finds a nearly creamy mouthfeel with cigar leaf, chili chocolate dusted with cacao, white pepper and smoked red bell pepper spice, mellowing to chicory wood dryness on the finish. It is a genuinely complex bottle at a fair price.

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5. Mezcal Vago Espadín by Joel Barriga

ABV: 50% | Price: $58

Mezcal Vago’s model is built around transparency — each bottle identifies the maestro mezcalero and the production location. This one comes from mezcalero Joel Barriga in Hacienda Tapanala, Oaxaca — espadín agave, tahona-crushed and double distilled in copper stills. Where Jarquín’s expression leans toward fruit and earth, Barriga’s is more herbaceous: Distiller describes it as having a sappy, fresh palate of sandalwood, lavender and mixed garden cuttings.

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4. Mezcal Vago Espadín by Emigdio Jarquín

ABV: 50.2% | Price: $58

A second Vago expression on this list, which speaks to the brand’s consistent quality. This expression is crafted by Emigdio Jarquín in Miahuatlán, Oaxaca, using espadín agave crushed and distilled in a copper refrescadera still. Bottled at 50.2% ABV, it delivers elevated intensity without sacrificing balance. In its review, The Auditor noted fruit, savory spice and earthiness woven together cohesively — a structured, producer-specific expression at a price that reflects the craft behind it.

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3. Los Vecinos Del Campo Mezcal Espadín

ABV: 45% | Price: $31

At $31, Los Vecinos Del Campo is the most affordable bottle on this list and one of the strongest values in the category. Produced in the Valles Centrales of Oaxaca by a collective of 10 mezcalero families — a collaboration between Sazerac and Casa San Matías — it is made from locally grown espadín, pit-roasted, stone-ground, fermented in wooden vats and double distilled in copper pot stills. The 90-proof bottling is a textbook espadín: approachable, smoky and well-made, with a production process that is transparent and traceable.

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2. San Cosme Mezcal Joven

ABV: 40% | Price: $39

Founded in 2010 by Gernot Allnoch, Erik Lozano and José Julián Carrera, San Cosme is produced in Oaxaca from 100% Espadín agave, double distilled and bottled at 40% ABV. At $39 it is one of the more accessible entry points on this list. Wine Enthusiast detects a lemony fragrance with a warm almond hint, brown sugar tones lifted by cinnamon, clove and cayenne, with a long, mouthwatering finish — a profile that works as well in a cocktail as it does neat.

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1. Madre Mezcal Ensamble

ABV: 45% | Price: $50

Produced by the Garcia Morales family at their palenque in San Dionisio, Oaxaca, Madre Mezcal Ensamble blends Espadín and Cuishe agave — hand-harvested, pit-roasted, tahona-crushed, wild-yeast fermented and copper pot-distilled. The Cuishe component adds a vegetal, mineral complexity that espadín-only expressions typically lack. Drinkhacker finds the finish slightly overripe with a touch of astringency on the fade, but rates the overall package as a stellar example of a punchier mezcal style. At 45% ABV and $50, it delivers more intensity than most bottles at this price.

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Rankings are determined by The Daily Pour’s Critics’ Score, a proprietary metric that aggregates and averages ratings from the internet’s most trusted beverage critics, with a minimum of two reviews required per bottle.