In little over a decade, Mezcal, tequila’s wild cousin, has risen from a rarely spotted bottle to one of the hottest spirits on the planet. With its timeless allure and artisanal charm, Mezcal has become a fixture on the cocktail menus of some of the world’s top bars and has become the latest must-have bottle for spirits collectors.
That demand has led to a veritable gold rush for one of Mexico’s oldest known distilled spirits. First documented in 1608, Mezcal for centuries quietly existed in local taverns in Oaxaca, Mexico, the state where over 90% of it is produced. But the cocktail renaissance that has swept the globe since the dawn of the new millennium changed everything for a spirit famed for its fruity, earthy, and smokey flavors.
A recent NielsenIQ data report showed that while U.S. tequila sales doubled between February 2020 and February 2023, Mezcal sales jumped 143% to 59.5 million. This is in addition to another report from the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. showing that agave-based spirits could overtake vodka as the top seller nationwide.
So, if you are a lover of Mezcal, life should be perfect, except any massive rise in the popularity of any alcohol product, which can lead to enormous consumer overload. Just look at the seltzer explosion a few years ago. The market is flooded with new Mezcal’s, leading to crowded shelves, dubious claims, and general confusion for drinkers and collectors alike.
Luckily for drinkers, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition just released their list of the five best Mezcals from their 2024 tastings. Known as the “Oscars of the Spirit World,” over 5,000 products were blind taste tested this year across a wide variety of categories. Making their finalist list for the Best of Awards that will be announced in October is an ultimate achievement for any brand. For a consumer, it cuts through the chaff and shines a light on some exceptional bottles that should be sought out. Here are the finalists in no particular order.
Chagual Jabali Mezcal
Made by Chagual, a producer famed for its limited-release bottles, this Mezcal is crafted from the rare Jabali agave. Known for its distinctive flavor profile and scarcity, Jabali-based mezcals are highly sought after. Awarded a double gold medal, the judges noted its smoky earthiness and hints of tropical fruit. It’s bottled at 45% alcohol and retails for $199.
Mala Mia Mezcal Tepeztate
A black-owned first-year brand, this Mezcal has been turning heads at numerous competitions. Made from the Tepeztate agave, a notorious plant that can take up to 28 years to mature and weigh over 800 pounds, it is a rare Mezcal varietal not often found on the market. Known for being intensely herbal, something the judges noted, it’s a floral mezcal that is destined to quickly become an industry favorite. It’s bottled at 45% and costs $130.
Mezcal Vago Ensamble en Barro
A small-batch mezcal known for each batch being distinctively different from the one before, it resembles a fine wine, with collectors searching out each bottling for their collections. Crafted in a clay pot distillation in the heart of Oaxaca, the Mezcaleros of Mezcal Vago pay meticulous attention to each step of their distillation process and have garnered numerous awards. A double gold award winner, like all the others on the finalist list, it is bottled at 50.5% alc and costs $70.
Fidencio Mezcal Clásico
An organic and biodynamic mezcal, this spirit is crafted following old-school methods that harken back to when the spirit was made for local consumption. Every agave is roasted in a stone-lined pit for three days before being ground down on a horse-powered mill to make the liquid. The judges called out its complex flavors, clean finish, and a hint of saltiness, something that happens due to the distillery being located near the Pacific Ocean. It’s bottled at 47.8% alc and costs $42.
Perro Verde Mezcal Tobasiche
Every competition must have its mystery, and this is it in the mezcal category. Virtually unknown, Perro Verde Mezcal Tobasiche is a brand-new brand that is just starting to hit the market. Made from the Tobasiche agave plant that grows in the highlands of Oaxaca, it is a premium spirit that the judges awarded double gold in its very first time in the competition. They noted its smooth complexity of flavor, highlighted by smokey, earthy, and fruit notes. Bottled at 42% alc, it costs $350.