Ilegal Mezcal Explained

Ilegal Mezcal
Type:	Mezcal
Abv:	40%
Proof:	80
Manufacturer:	Ilegal Mezcal
Distributor:	Bacardi
Origin:	Mexico
Flavour:	"Smoky"
Ingredients:	Agave
Region:	Oaxaca

Ilegal Mezcal is a mezcal brand, established in 2006 in Antigua, Guatemala.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]} The mezcal is distilled twice and created using Espadín agave.^[6] The brand is also known for its namesake cocktail, the "Ilegal."^{[7] [8] [9]}

The company originally began in 2004 as an operation to import mezcal from Oaxaca, Mexico across the border into Guatemala.^[10] By 2006, the company established a formal brand, marketing itself as "Ilegal."^[11] In 2010, the company signed a United States distribution contract.^[12] In 2017, multinational spirits company Bacardi acquired a minority stake in the business,^[13] with the intention of establishing national distribution.^[14]

By 2020, the mezcal producer crossed the industry standard threshold of 40,000 cases to be considered a craft distillery as defined by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), and was similarly officially certified by Mexico's National "Consejo Regulador del Mezcal" (CRM) ("Mezcal Regulatory Council").^[15] In 2022, the company sold ~174,000 cases, representing a 37.4% market share by case volume and the highest market share for any mezcal brand in the United States, per research completed by Shanken's Impact Databank.^{[16] [17]}

In 2023, Bacardi publicly announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire Ilegal.^{[18] [19]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2018-12-19 . The Story of Ilegal Mezcal - Ilegal Mezcal . 2024-01-14 . en-US.
2. Web site: Emen . Jake . May 12, 2023 . Discovering the True Spirit and Community of Mezcal in Oaxaca . 2024-01-14 . InsideHook . en-US.
3. Web site: Flicker . Jonah . 2023-01-20 . Ilegal Mezcal 7-year Añejo: Extremely Limited Release . 2024-01-14 . Men's Journal . en.
4. Web site: Flicker . Jonah . 2022-07-26 . This Bartender-Approved Coffee Liqueur Will Give Your Espresso Martini a Smoky Mezcal Kick . 2024-01-14 . Robb Report . en-US.
5. Web site: 2023-12-22 . Great smoky mezcal options for fall and winter . 2024-01-14 . The Manual . en.
6. Web site: Carruthers . Nicola . 2023-09-12 . Bacardi buys Ilegal Mezcal . 2024-01-14 . The Spirits Business . en-US.
7. Web site: 2021-04-29 . Illegal . 2024-01-14 . iba-world.com . en-US.
8. Web site: Alindahao . Karla . 13 Easy-To-Make Mezcal Cocktails For Winter . 2024-01-14 . Forbes . en.
9. Web site: Carruthers . Nicola . 2023-09-12 . Bacardi buys Ilegal Mezcal . 2024-01-14 . The Spirits Business . en-US.
10. News: Marikar . Sheila Yasmin . 2021-11-06 . If You Sell 'Oaxaca in a Bottle,' What Happens to Oaxaca? . 2024-01-14 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
11. Web site: The Story and Influence Behind Liquor Brand Ilegal Mezcal - Coveteur: Inside Closets, Fashion, Beauty, Health, and Travel . 2024-01-14 . coveteur.com . en.
12. News: Thomson . Adam . January 22, 2010 . The Last word: Smuggler-Turned-Entrepreneur Taps into Demand for Mexican Spirit . . 16 . .
13. Web site: Hopkins . Amy . 2017-02-22 . Bacardi buys minority stake in Ilegal Mezcal . 2024-01-14 . The Spirits Business . en-US.
14. Web site: 2022-04-11 . As The On-Premise Recovers, Mezcal Resumes Upward Trajectory . 2024-01-14 . Shanken News Daily . en.
15. Web site: Limited . Bacardi . 2023-09-11 . Bacardi Acquires ILEGAL Mezcal – A Leading Artisanal Mezcal Brand In The U.S. . 2024-01-14 . Bacardi Limited . en.
16. Web site: 2022-04-11 . As The On-Premise Recovers, Mezcal Resumes Upward Trajectory . 2024-01-14 . Shanken News Daily . en.
17. Web site: North America Mezcal Market - Size, Growth & Share . 2024-01-14 . www.mordorintelligence.com . en.
18. Web site: Carruthers . Nicola . 2023-09-12 . Bacardi buys Ilegal Mezcal . 2024-01-14 . The Spirits Business . en-US.
19. Web site: Japhe . Brad . After 20 Years Of Ilegal Mezcal, Founder John Rexer Talks What's Ahead . 2024-01-14 . Forbes . en.