Mezcal | Uncrate

IZO Mezcal

The different agaves used to craft Mezcal is what makes it one of the most complex spirits in the world. IZO uses a wild agave called Cenizo for their Mezcal which is grown in the high-altitude mesas of Durango, Mexico. This unique approach translates to the handsome packaging as well, with a bottle that has a smoke effect that pays tribute to the smoking of agave hearts that is an essential part of the Mezcal process. The label is hand-pressed on a 19th-century letterpress machine, and the stopper is made from onyx stone sourced from the mountains surrounding the distillery in Durango.

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Rey Campero Sierra Negra Mezcal

Founded by mezcalero Romulo Sanchez Parada, Rey Campero Mezcal helps to represent the culture, tradition, and art of Candelaria Yegolé: a small town located in the Southern Highlands of Oaxaca. This rare expression uses Sierra Negra agave, a plant that grows wild and takes around 25 years to mature. It's no longer commonly used to make Mezcal, and this bottling was only released in Mexico, though some bottles have found their way into the United States. The artisanal mezcal is bottled at 97.2% ABV and has a smoky, fruity flavor upfront that makes way for a spicy, black pepper finish.

Learn More From Rey Campero / $150

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Real Minero Pechuga Mezcal

Typically produced in small amounts and reserved for personal consumption or special occasions — like Diá de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) — Pechuga is made by redistilling a finished mezcal with a mix of wild fruits, grains, and a raw chicken breast. The chicken is suspended over the percolating distillation, and steam cooks through the bird while fat and juices drip into the mezcal. This unique method, combined with the fruit and grains helps soften the smokiness and provide a mouthfeel and taste typically not found in mezcal. Real Minero makes one of the best you can buy, utilizing Angustifolia Haw agave that has been matured for ten years before being distilled in clay pots.

Buy From Real Minero / $200

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Casamigos Mezcal

Casamigos is under new ownership, but George Clooney's name is still on the bottle, and Clooney and his partner still taste every single batch. And now, the Casamigos brand is launching their first Mezcal; a Blanco made from 100 percent Espadin agave from Santiago Matatlán in Oaxaca, Mexico. It's made the traditional way; twice distilled and finished with mountain spring water after 30 days. An old-school touch is applied to the matte-black bottles as well, which are handcrafted before spending time in a 190-degree oven to ensure each one is unique.

Learn More From Casamigos / $60

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Cementerio Mezcal

Some of the best mezcals in the world honor an old tradition of aging the precious spirit in glass, underground. These limited stocks are unearthed for special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and baptisms. Cementerio Mezcalero is the first release in a series of mezcals that recognizes that tradition, aged in glass underground and bottled in very limited quantities. Only 435 bottles of Cementerio are being released, and a portion of the sales will be donated to purchase tourism equipment to promote the mezcal unearthing traditionally held during the celebration of Día de Muertos (The Day of the Dead).

Learn More / $279

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Montelobos Joven Mezcal

Founded by one of the world's foremost agave experts, Iván Saldaña, Montelobos Mezcal is artisanal mezcal made using 100% organically certified agave spray. The Joven expression is made with espadin agave and using traditional production methods and is a well-balanced mezcal with plenty of agave and smoke that blends well in cocktails as you celebrate the end of the summer.

Buy From Master of Malt / $50

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Corte Vetusto Mesquite Smoked Mezcal

There are some big differences between mass-produced Mezcal and artisanal Mezcal, and the folks at Corte Vetusto are betting you'll notice the differences. Hand-crafted by Juan Carlos Gonzalez Diaz, a fourth generation master distiller, this Mezcal uses wild Agave Tobala. The process involves cooking the agave in a conical earthen oven with mesquite wood to impart specific flavors. It's then milled by a volcanic stone before naturally fermenting. The spirit is finally distilled twice using both copper and clay pot stills before bottling.

Learn More From Corte Vetusto / $119

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Bozal Ancestral Mezcal

The masses are still slowly being exposed to Mezcal, and that exposure stands to grow with the release of Bozal Ancestral Mezcal. The Bozal line aims to uncover different agave varieties, such as the extremely limited maguey Papalote used in this special batch. Papalote is wild agave grown on the mountain slopes of the Río Mezcala basin in Chilapa, Guerrero, and is harvested by the mezcaleros using traditional techniques to create this artisan, handmade mezcal. Packaged in this handsome, dark bottle meant to pay homage to the terra cotta copitas used for drinking mezcal.

Alacran Mezcal

Handmade in Oaxaca, Mexico, Alacran Mezcal is not only a complex, sought after drink, but it also scores points for its beautiful glass bottle with white matte coating. The spirit itself — made from the maguey plant — packs a smoky flavor expected with a Mezcal, but adds a complexity that makes it just as welcome sipped neat as it is in a cocktail.

Ilegal Mezcal Anejo

As Mezcal continues to rise in popularity, the contenders are starting to separate themselves from the pretenders. One of those contenders is Ilegal Mezcal Anejo. The Anejo is aged for 13 months in a blend of American and French oak. It's made from 100% Agave Espadin, is stopped with a natural cork, sealed with green wax, and individually hand numbered. The result is a smooth, balanced drink, with just enough agave flavor and smoke.

Espadin Marca Negra Mezcal

Mezcal is a unique, ancient, and quite amazing spirit that has yet to break through to the mainstream. You could say it's a relative of tequila, because both use agave, but that's where the similarities end. Mezcal is best described by the term it is derived from, "oven-cooked agave", a process that gives this spirit it's unique qualities. Espadin Marca Negra Mezcal ($100) is a great place to start, especially if you enjoy the smoky qualities found in scotch. Marca Negra (Black Hand) might be one of the smokiest Mezcal's around actually, making it a fine candidate to pair with a fine cigar on a cold night.