Ilegal Anejo Mezcal 750ml

John Rexer began smuggling mezcal into Guatemala in the early 2000s to keep his bar, Café No Sé, stocked with something worth drinking, a resourceful hustle that eventually became the foundation for Ilegal. In 2006 he formalized the brand alongside Armando and Álvaro Hernández, fourth-generation mezcaleros from Santiago Matatlán whose family has produced mezcal for generations. Ilegal went on to help introduce the world to barrel-aged mezcal through its Reposado and Añejo lines, a category the brand continues to build on as it has grown into an internationally recognized name, now under full ownership of Bacardi.

This Añejo begins with mature Espadín agave roasted in traditional underground pit ovens, then crushed by a horse-drawn tahona and fermented using only airborne yeast, with nothing added to speed the process. The mash is double distilled in small copper pot stills before resting for thirteen months in a blend of medium-charred American oak, French oak, and used bourbon casks. That extended aging period softens the mezcal's natural smoke while drawing out deeper notes typically associated with fine aged spirits.

The nose opens with maple, clove, and bitter orange, while the palate turns rich with dark chocolate, sweet roasted agave, and a full, nearly creamy mouthfeel. The finish is smooth and long, closing with soft traces of oak and mesquite that linger well after the last sip.