What are the best mezcal brands in the USA (and beyond)? This is a question I often get. It’s actually a bit tricky because most of the mezcal brands sold in the USA or abroad, aren’t the bottles that we purchase locally in Oaxaca. So this will be a guide to how to buy mezcal online outside of Mexico, and I mean the good stuff. I’m very picky.
Just to be clear, these are mezcals that have been produced in Mexico, but have been exported for the foreign market.
There are a couple reasons why the mezcal available abroad varies from domestic mezcal in Mexico. Mezcal is traditionally made by small family farms in small-batch productions. For these smaller family operations there are many costs involved in getting the mezcal certified, bottled, labeled, and ready for export, not to mention all the costs in the receiving country. This can be unattainable for many small operations. And the small-batch, traditional family farm is part of what makes mezcal so special, makes every batch unique and delicious.
The mezcal brands in the USA and abroad are generally either produced and sold by large companies with large mezcal farms, or companies that can purchase the mezcal from palenqueros and handle the financing of all the other aspects.
While I think the best mezcal in the world is found in Oaxaca and other parts of Mexico, best sipped at the farm with the smell of roasting agaves and fresh mountain air, you can still find some quality bottles to buy mezcal online abroad.
Caveat: This list won’t be exhaustive, but is a list of mezcal brands in the USA and beyond that sell quality versions that I trust. This is just my opinion, and I’ll try to keep this list updated!
Quick How to Buy Mezcal Online FAQ:
Espadin – the type of agave that most mezcals are made from. This agave is generally cultivated and is ready to be harvested in 7-10 years. This is a good standard mezcal to start with.
Silvestres – these are wild agave varieties like tobala, tepeztate, cuishe, madrecuishe, chino, coyote, and many more. These are usually harvested in communal land in the mountains. These can be super delicious and fun to try because they all have wildly different flavors. But these agaves are also at the most risk for extinction. It’s important to support brands that are replanting agaves if they are taking them from the wild.
ABV – this is the alcohol content. Mezcal should be above 40%.
Region – 9 Mexican states are allowed to make and name their liquor mezcal. Oaxaca is the leading producer of mezcal.
How to Drink Mezcal – this drink is for sipping, not shooting. If you choose to make cocktails, choose a simple mezcal espadin and save the most complex varieties for drinking straight, so you can notice the subtleties.
For a closer look into how traditional mezcal is made step-by-step, or to learn about how to take a Oaxaca mezcal tour, check out my post visiting some of my favorite palenques, or my post for the must-visit mezcalerias in Oaxaca.
You can also check out lots more posts about Mexican food + mezcal, or mezcal cocktail recipes.
Best Mezcal Brands in the USA and Beyond: Buy Mezcal Online
Mezcal Union Joven
Mezcal Union is a collective of 20 small farmers and producers.
Agave: Espadin & Cirial
Where it’s made: A collective of several families in and around San Baltazar Guélavila, Oaxaca
ABV: 38%
Sustainability Note: As of today, they have planted 750,000 agaves along the mountains, in an effort to only use what they have planted.
$39.99
Mezcal Union El Viejo
Agave: Espadin & Tobalá
Where it’s made: A collective of several families in and around San Baltazar Guélavila, Oaxaca
ABV: 45%
Sustainability Note: As of today, they have planted 750,000 agaves along the mountains, in an effort to only use what they have planted.
$49.99
Gem & Bolt: Buy Mezcal Online
This mezcal has the addition of a native and traditional plant called Damiana that’s said to be an aphrodisiac and a mood booster.
Agave: Espadin
Where it’s made: Oaxaca
ABV: 40%
Sustainability Note: Organic and sustainable agave
$49.99
Agave de Cortes: Best Mezcal Brands in the USA and Beyond
Oaxaca family owned company with 3 mezcal brands: Nuestra Soledad, El Jolgorio, and Agave de Cortes. Agave de Cortes is the house mezcal made by the Cortes family who owns the company. Few exported mezcal brands are owned by the families that produce them.
Agave: Espadin
Where it’s made: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
ABV: 45%
$45.99
Nuestra Soledad Ejutla
Oaxaca family owned company with 3 mezcal brands: Nuestra Soledad, El Jolgorio, and Agave de Cortes. Nuestra Soledad is focused on single village/farm mezcals as flavors vary based on the soil, the water, the wood and the mezcalero.
Agave: Espadin
Where it’s made: Ejutla, Oaxaca
ABV: 46%
Sustainability Note: Agave is sustainably cultivated
$56.99
Nuestra Soledad San Luis del Rio
Agave: Espadin
Where it’s made: San Luis del Rio, Oaxaca
ABV: 46%
Sustainability Note: Agave is sustainably cultivated
$59.99
More Nuestra Soledad varieties here.
El Jolgorio Tobala
This is the 3rd brand in the Oaxacan-owned Casa Cortes line of mezcals, alongside the above Agave de Cortes and Nuestra Soledad. This brand focuses on wild agave varieties from all over the state of Oaxaca.
Agave: Tobala
Where it’s made: San Baltazar Guélavila & Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
ABV: 47%
Sustainability Note: Wild agave production is cycled between different regions to avoid over-stressing harvesting.
$139.99
El Jolgorio Pechuga: Buy Mezcal Online
Agave: Pechuga
Where it’s made: Santa Maria Zoquitlan & Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
ABV: 48%
Sustainability Note: Wild agave production is cycled between different regions to avoid over stressing harvesting.
$143.99
See lots more Jolgorio varieties here.
Piedre Almas Tobaziche: Best Mezcal Brands in the USA and Beyond
Agave: Tobaziche
Where it’s made: San Baltazar Guélavila & San Luis del Rio, Oaxaca
ABV: 47%
Sustainability Note: Their reforestation program replants agaves that have been depleted.
$129
Pierde Almas Tepeztate
Agave: Tepeztate
Where it’s made: San Baltazar Guélavila & San Luis del Rio, Oaxaca
ABV: 55%
Sustainability Note: Sustainability Note: Their reforestation program replants agaves that have been depleted.
$139
Gracias a Dios Cuixe: Best Mezcal Brands in the USA and Beyond
Gracias a Dios is a brand started by mezcaleria owners from Querétaro who partnered with a master mezcalero in Matatlán, Oaxaca to create their brand. The mezcal is also bottled by a women’s cooperative.
Agave: Cuishe
Where it’s made: Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca
ABV: 45%
Sustainability Note: They allow 20% of their agaves to flower so that they can use the seeds to replant.
$85
Gracias a Dios Mexicano
Agave: Mexicano
Where it’s made: Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca
ABV: 45%
Sustainability Note: They allow 20% of their agaves to flower so that they can use the seeds to replant.
$95
More Gracias a Dios varieties here.
Los Amantes
Agave: Espadin
Where it’s made: Tlacolula, Oaxaca
ABV: 40%
$58.99
Los Danzantes: Buy Mezcal Online
Agave: Espadin
Where it’s made: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
ABV: 42%
Sustainability Note: They have a reforestation and conservation program called Proyecto Maguey.
$61.59
Rey Campero Espadin
Agave: Espadin
Where it’s made: Zoquitlán, Oaxaca
ABV: 48%
Sustainability Note: They have a reforestation initiative that replants wild agave varieties each year.
53.99
View more Rey Campero varieties here.
5 Sentidos Sierra Negra
5 Sentidos is a mezcal brand started by the owners of El Destilado restaurant in Oaxaca centro. Their mezcal varieties are sourced from small producers in Oaxaca and other states.
Agave: Sierra Negra
Where it’s made: Santa Catarina Albarradas, Oaxaca
ABV: Variable
$119.88
More 5 Sentidos here, here and here.
Cuish Espadin: Best Mezcal Brands in the USA and Beyond
Cuish was one of the first mezcalerias in Oaxaca to promote the diversity of agave varieties, especially wild varieties.
Agave: Espadin
Where it’s made: Oaxaca
ABV: 48%
$64.99
Other Cuish varieties here.
Banhez Joven
Banhez mezcal is made by a collective of 36 families that produce traditional mezcal.
Agave: Espadin
Where it’s made: Ejutla, Oaxaca
ABV: 42%
Sustainability Note: Sustainable and fair trade. Made by a farmer owned cooperative.
$29.99
More Banhez varieties here.
Lalocura Tobaziche: Buy Mezcal Online
Lalocura is a brand from a palenque in Santa Catarina Minas. They adhere stricly to traditional methods, focus on creating a self sustaining system within their operation, and make 20+ varieties of mezcal
Agave: Tobaziche
Where it’s made: Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca
ABV: 49%
Sustainability Note: Lalocura has a nursery where they grow small agaves of various varieties to replant. Their palenque is a self sustaining system.
$159.99
More Lalocura varieties here.
Del Maguey Chichicapa: Best Mezcal Brands in the USA and Beyond
Del Maguey specializes in single-village mezcals that are produced in traditional palenques.
Agave: Espadin
Where it’s made: San Baltazar Chichicápam, Oaxaca
ABV: 48%
Sustainability Note: Reforestation initiatives, local community projects, fair trade.
$72.99
More Del Maguey varieties here.
What’s your favorite mezcal brand? Or your favorite mezcal agave? Let me know below!
If you’re thinking of heading to Oaxaca, learn about how to take a Oaxaca mezcal tour, and the must-visit mezcalerias in Oaxaca.
And lots more posts about Mexican food + mezcal, or mezcal cocktail recipes.
Cassie
Great list! Think I’ll have to build my bar up with this info until I can get back to Oaxaca! <3
Susan
Thanks, Cassie! Some real good ones in there. Hope it tides you over til your next visit. 🙂
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Eric Lopes
400 Conejos reposado is one of my favorites. Hard to get in US. Do you know why ?
Susan
Not sure, sorry! Good luck.