Ilegal Mezcal Joven

Ilegal Mezcal Joven is made from 100 percent Espadin in Tlacolula, Oaxaca, the brand started in 2004 when founder John Rexer began carrying mezcal up to his Cafe No Se bar in Antigua, a story still printed on the back of every bottle. It is a clear, unaged mezcal, hand made and bottled straight after a double distillation, with each bottle numbered and sealed in wax.
This is pitched as a properly smoky mezcal, the smoke coming from the underground pit roast rather than anything peat related, and that roasting character frames the rest of the profile. The nose offers eucalyptus and mineral aromas alongside green apple and fresh citrus, while the palate brings the smoke together with sweet agave and those same crisp apple and citrus notes. Bottled at 40 percent, it stays approachable while leaning more openly into the ember and ash than many entry jovens.