Ilegal Mezcal
| Type | Mezcal |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ilegal Mezcal |
| Distributor | Bacardi |
| Country of origin | Mexico |
| Region of origin | Oaxaca |
| Alcohol by volume | 40% |
| Proof (US) | 80 |
| Flavour | Smoky |
| Ingredients | Agave |
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]
Reference
[edit]- ^ "The Story of Ilegal Mezcal - Ilegal Mezcal". December 19, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Emen, Jake (May 12, 2023). "Discovering the True Spirit and Community of Mezcal in Oaxaca". InsideHook. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Flicker, Jonah (January 20, 2023). "Ilegal Mezcal 7-year Añejo: Extremely Limited Release". Men's Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Flicker, Jonah (July 26, 2022). "This Bartender-Approved Coffee Liqueur Will Give Your Espresso Martini a Smoky Mezcal Kick". Robb Report. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "Great smoky mezcal options for fall and winter". The Manual. December 22, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Carruthers, Nicola (September 12, 2023). "Bacardi buys Ilegal Mezcal". The Spirits Business. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "Illegal". iba-world.com. April 29, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Alindahao, Karla. "13 Easy-To-Make Mezcal Cocktails For Winter". Forbes. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Carruthers, Nicola (September 12, 2023). "Bacardi buys Ilegal Mezcal". The Spirits Business. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Marikar, Sheila Yasmin (November 6, 2021). "If You Sell 'Oaxaca in a Bottle,' What Happens to Oaxaca?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "The Story and Influence Behind Liquor Brand Ilegal Mezcal - Coveteur: Inside Closets, Fashion, Beauty, Health, and Travel". coveteur.com. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Thomson, Adam (January 22, 2010). "The Last word: Smuggler-Turned-Entrepreneur Taps into Demand for Mexican Spirit". Financial Times. p. 16. ProQuest 250235682.
- ^ Hopkins, Amy (February 22, 2017). "Bacardi buys minority stake in Ilegal Mezcal". The Spirits Business. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "As The On-Premise Recovers, Mezcal Resumes Upward Trajectory". Shanken News Daily. April 11, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "Bacardi Acquires ILEGAL Mezcal – A Leading Artisanal Mezcal Brand In The U.S." Bacardi Limited. September 11, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "As The On-Premise Recovers, Mezcal Resumes Upward Trajectory". Shanken News Daily. April 11, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "North America Mezcal Market - Size, Growth & Share". www.mordorintelligence.com. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Carruthers, Nicola (September 12, 2023). "Bacardi buys Ilegal Mezcal". The Spirits Business. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Japhe, Brad. "After 20 Years Of Ilegal Mezcal, Founder John Rexer Talks What's Ahead". Forbes. Retrieved January 14, 2024.