Mezcal can be made from countless agave varieties, including tobalá, tepeztate, tobaziche, arroqueño, and, the most common mezcal agave, espadín. Even mezcals made with the same type of agave can have drastically different flavor profiles, though. One of the most prominent taste differences comes from how the agave piñas (the heart of the agave where most of the sugars are) are cooked. Traditionally, mezcal producers roast their piñas in conical pits in the ground, which adds a slightly smoky flavor on top of the usually agave vegetal sweetness, vanilla, spices, and other flavors.
If smoke is your thing, you’re in luck. While not all mezcals ramp up the smoke aroma and flavor, there are myriad options available. And the best part? You don’t have to pawn off any of your property to get your hands on a bottle. Whether you enjoy slow-sipping on cool evenings or mixing it into your favorite cocktails, there are many bottles available for less than $100. Keep scrolling to see which smoky mezcals you’ll want to add to your bar cart.
Montelobos Mezcal Espadin
This award-winning mezcal is made from 100% organic and sustainably harvested espadin agave. The result is a memorable, complex spirit that begins with a nose of vegetal agave, honey, orange peels, and gentle smoke. The palate is a mix of baked agave, vanilla, honey, citrus, gentle spices, and light smoke. The finish is warming, sweet, and has a light smoky note.
Buy: $48.99
Mezcal Vago Elote
Elote is Mexican street corn that is covered in a mayonnaise-based sauce and doused with chili powder, lime, cheese, and other ingredients. You’re probably wondering why that word is on a bottle of mezcal. Well, Mezcal Vago Elote is a unique spirit that is infused with roasted corn between the second and third distillation. This adds a nose of sweet corn, roasted agave, and robust smoke. Sipping it reveals vegetal agave, honey, tropical fruits, wood, and even richer smoke.
Buy: $57.99
Bozal Mezcal Cuixe
While Espadin is the most common agave variety used to make mezcal, it’s far from the only option. Bozal Mezcal Cuixe uses the cuixe agave variety that's grown in San Luis Amatlan, Oaxaca. Known for its firmer pina, mezcal made using cuixe results in complex aromas and flavors. Bozal Mezcal Cuixe begins with a nose of roasted agave, ripe tropical fruits, vanilla, honey, and light smoke. Drinking it brings forth notes of caramelized pineapple, roasted agave, honey, citrus peels, and a kick of rich smoke.
Buy: $66.99
Dos Hombres Mezcal Artesanal Joven
Dos Hombres is more than just a celebrity brand started by Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston. This is legit mezcal. Its flagship Dos Hombres Mezcal Artesanal Joven is a can’t-miss under $100 sipper. Made with 100% hand-picked espadin agave grown on the hillsides of Oaxaca, it’s known for its complex, well-balanced aroma and flavor. It all begins with a nose of orchard fruits, vanilla, tropical fruits, flowers, and smoke. The palate continues this trend with notes of roasted agave, rich wood, honey, citrus peels, spices, and gentle, enveloping smoke.
Buy: $54.99
Del Maguey Mezcal Chichicapa
There are few mezcal brands as well-known as Del Maguey. It’s the kind of brand that makes nothing but noteworthy expressions. Del Maguey Mezcal Chichicapa is no exception. Made from espadin agave that’s distilled twice in wood-fired copper pot stills, it’s a robust 96 proof. The nose is a symphony of candied orange peels, gentle spices, vanilla beans, tropical fruits, honey, and light smoke. Sipping it reveals flavors like roasted agave, tropical fruits, honey, citrus peels, dried cherries, and rich smoke. It’s the kind of mezcal you’ll want to sip slowly while you savor all the various aromas and flavors on an unseasonably cool evening.
Buy: $84.99
Ilegal Mezcal Añejo
This award-winning mezcal is matured for a full 13 months in a combination of new and used charred American oak barrels. This creates a very complex, nuanced sipping mezcal with aromas of fresh leather, honey, vanilla roasted agave, and rich smoke. The palate is a mix of roasted agave, earthy, mineral flavors, honey, tropical fruits, and light smoky flows throughout. This is the most expensive mezcal on this list (and, depending on local prices, might go slightly over the $100 target), but it's one worth paying for.
Buy: $99.97
