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| Image from ilegalmezcal.com |
I had to drive an hour and a half, and drop over a bill to get the last bottle in the state. Still Ilegal Mezcal Anejo was a no brainer.
Ilegal Mezcal is an artisanal mezcal produced in Tlacolula, Oaxaca, Mexico. Destilled by Destileria Tlacolula NOM (O01X) and imported by John Rexer, the owner of the tequila/mezcal bar, Cafe No Se, in Antigua, Guatemala.
Because of a TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) regulation forbidding the importing of products with the name "Illegal" it's labeled for import as simply "Mezcal Joven", "Mezcal Reposado", etc. Produced for Ilegal Mezcal.
Ilegal is made from 100% Agave Espadin. The pinas are roasted in a conical earth pit, using both mesquite and eucalyptus wood. The cooked maguey is then crushed by a millstone.
The crushed agave, and liquid fermented in oak vats. Traditional the fabricas has these vats in open air in the during the fermentation process. Although part of a rich tradition this fermentation process is far from the clean factories of a major tequila producer like Sauza. After fermentation typically the brownish liquid, plant material and all are transferred to the still.Ilegal is double distilled in a handcrafted copper Alembic still. An Alembic still is the father of the modern pot still and dates back to the earliest documented spirit distillation.
Aging is done medium char French and American oak barrels. Ilegal is not blended for consistency, so each vintage will very to some degree. Vintage bottling is a growing trend in the world of Mexican spirits. I can find no reference to amount of time this mezcal is aged.
It is bottling in simple clear glass. Stopped with natural cork. Sealed with green wax and hand numbered. All steps of this process takes place in small batches. The initial 2010 Anejo vintage is only 1224 bottles.
It is bottling in simple clear glass. Stopped with natural cork. Sealed with green wax and hand numbered. All steps of this process takes place in small batches. The initial 2010 Anejo vintage is only 1224 bottles.
The mezcal has narrowly spaced slow legs, and is a light coppery color.
The nose starts out first with a light and smooth camp fire notes. Soon the charcoal notes fade into the background and you start to smell the familiar sweet and fruity notes of the good anejo tequilas. You only get alcohol when you breath quite deep.
The mouth feel is light and the smoke flavors are pervasive, but don't overwhelm. The finer fruit and oak flavors . After swallowing your mouth is left with a nice tingle, and the aftertaste is a pleasant charred oak. Probably because it is double distilled, Ilegal does not heat you up on the way down like the other mezcals I have tasted.
This mezcal is amazingly good. It is extremely well marketed. I don't know if this is the best mezcal on the market, it could be, and many say it is. I do know it's one of the most expensive.
Can't find or unwilling to pay the ilegal price? Try a mezcal which has received an equally good reception Del Maguey Mezcal Chichicapa. It's on my shopping list.
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