Ultimate Mezcal Gift Guide for Skeptics, Die-Hards and Adventurous Drinkers in 2023
The rich, varied world of mezcal can be a difficult place to navigate even for die-hard enthusiasts. At the liquor store, you may be forced to choose between upwards of 30 agave varietals, above-ground or underground ovens, “smokey” or “sweet,” or perhaps even the rare aged statement.
With the holidays fast approaching, we’ve rounded up nine mezcals ranging from $35 to $130 perfect for collectors, home mixologists and skeptics alike.
Low Smoke, High Return
Desolas Mezcal
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Recently backed by Miami Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson, Desolas Mezcal is distilled from 25-year agave Salmiana, frequently dubbed “The Green Giant” due to its towering 8-10 foot size.
Desolas attributes its low-smoke profile to above-ground roasting, a tradition of mezcal production that has held strong for centuries in the city of San Luis Potosi. The resulting spirit packs in earthy, terroir-driven flavors of lemon peel, basil, mint and light grassiness. You can find our full interview with founder GG Marvis explaining the history and production of Desolas here.
Retailing at $52, Desolas is the mezcal to seek out if you’re hungry for a bite of lush greenery.
Mezcal Campante
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Described as a “mezcal for the curious,” Mezcal Campante readjusts the smoke in favor of botanical-inspired flavors like eucalyptus, mint and rosemary.
Fret not, this is by no means a gin. Campante is produced from a mix of agave Barril and Espadin roasted together in above-ground ovens, distilled separately then cold blended back into one. The process imbues a silky texture just as comfortable within cocktails as it is on the rocks.
If you’re looking to expand your bar cart or convert one of your mezcal skeptic relatives, Mezcal Campante retails for around $60.
Smoke, Spice and Everything Nice
Mal Bien Espadin
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Similar to industry mainstays like Del Maguey and 5 Sentidos, Mal Bien acts as a curated collection of small-batch agave spirits sourced from throughout Mexico.
The brand’s flagship expression — available for $35 — dials up the complexity without sacrificing its price tag. On the nose, Mal Bien Espadin offers sweet cream, lemon zest and pepper followed by a palate chock full of stone fruit and minerality. This expression is a great deal more complex than the average mezcal Espadin, aided in part by its high alcohol content of 45.5% ABV.
If you’re mixing cocktails, this is an easy substitute for Del Maguey Vida and an all-around winner in its own right.
La Luna Cupreata
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Over 80% of commercially available mezcal in the United States is produced in Oaxaca. Though the region’s spirits are acclaimed for good reason, Oaxaca’s enormous output tends to overshadow the equally fantastic distillates of Mexico’s other nine mezcal-producing regions.
Distilled from 15-year-matured agave Cupreata in the canyons of Michoacán, this bottling from La Luna floats with a sweet and ashy combo of lemon custard, coconut, black pepper, grapefruit and what our reviewer describes as “Starburst sweetness.” From a brand that once released an alligator and coconut mezcal, it’s no wonder that La Luna Cupreata excels in the unexpected.
While many of La Luna’s bottles sell in the $100-$150 range, La Luna Cupreata comes in at a nice affordable $38.
Nuestra Soledad Ejutla
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Nuestra Soledad Ejutla is grown and distilled at a palenque 5,000 feet above sea level in the highlands of Oaxaca.
While lowland agave typically delivers herby spice, highland agave tends to lean sweet and fruity. This expression is no exception — on the palate, Ejutla (Nahuatl for “place of abundant green beans”) balances melon, sweet almond, green peppers, mango and a light lingering smoke.
Ejutla sells for $47, and, coincidentally, is bottled at 47% ABV. You get what you pay for with this one.
Unexpected Flavors Galore
Bozal Coyote Reserva
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Bozal Coyote Reserva is crafted in the ancestral tradition, using wild-harvested agave Coyote distilled exclusively in clay pot stills.
The time-intensive process gives birth to a potent spirit (bottled at an unusually high 52.8% ABV) that piles on heaps of unorthodox flavor. You’ll taste sweetened pineapple and mango right alongside savory hints of vinegar, brisket meatiness and a wallop of agave stank.
This is a fantastic pick if you’re looking to explore the breadth and depth that unconventional mezcals have to offer. At 90$, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than similar recommendations within the category.
La Medida Tobala
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Agave Tobala is one of the smallest varietals in the mezcal-making kingdom, taking 12-15 years to grow just one meter in height. The species, increasingly rare, is much sought after for its signature sweet-and-funky palate.
Distilled by Maestro Antonio Cortes Aragon from a 2019 agave harvest, La Medida Tobala packages up all the expected flavors and then some. On the nose, you’ll find sugary notes of cotton candy, blueberries and perfume. On the palate, a powerful combo of plantain, sweet cream, raspberry and ash.
Equal parts savory, honeyed and smokey, this bottling does well to justify its $125 price tag.
Montelobos Pechuga
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If you’ve never heard of mezcal de pechuga, let us briefly introduce the concept. Following the first round of distillation, a raw protein such as chicken or pork is hung above the bubbling still, dripping down juices that add flavor, thickness and viscosity to the final product.
Montelobos Pechuga uses one of the most popular choices of meat, turkey breast. Though it’s certainly not vegetarian-friendly, you can expect rich notes of orange rind, pine nut, mole poblano and pecans.
There are a lot of fantastic mezcal de pechuga options on the market. The major caveat is: most will cost you somewhere between $200 to $400. At $129.99, Montelobos Pechuga isn’t exactly cheap, but it offers amazing bang for its buck within the category.
Single Cask Nation Mezcal Fidencio Reposado
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Aged mezcal often gets a bad rap. Understandably so; subtle flavors of agave Espadin, Tepeztate and Cupreata are easily drowned out by time in the cask, resulting in a swash of whiskey aftertaste and little else.
Distilled by acclaimed mezcalero Enrique Jimenez then matured 10 months in Wild Turkey barrels, this innovative “mezcal reposado” from Single Cask Nation changes up the narrative. Mezcal Fidencio’s rich mouthfeel packs in flavors of roast agave, barbeque smoke, lime and white pepper combined with a hearty, oak-driven finish.
Though this bottling leans hard to find, a few sellers have popped up online in the $130 range. For bourbon lovers, it’s a must.
Read More:
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