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Ilegal Anejo

Ilegal Anejo is aged for 13 months in a blend of American and French oak. Its aging makes it a great Mezcal to serve to friends who don’t like Mezcal.

About this mezcal

Ilegal Anejo is aged for 13 months in a blend of American and French oak. It is gorgeous Mezcal rivaling the world’s finest scotches and cognacs. It has maple, clove, and bitter orange aromas, and dark chocolate and sweet agave on the palate. It is rounded, full, rich. When sipped and savored, this is much softer and smoother than the Reposado. It somewhat resembles the more rustic of the Tequila’s but with the intense Espadin fruit flavor.  Due to its aging, this is a great Mezcal to serve to friends who claim they don’t like Mezcal.

Ilegal Mezcal

Ilegal Mezcal was founded by John Rexer, who began smuggling this product to his Bar, Cafe No Se, in Antigua, Guatemala. Ilegal Mezcal launched in 2005, and the brand has grown substantially in recent years. Though Eric Hernandez was originally involved in the distillation, Ilegal Mezcal was most recently produced by Alvaro and Armando Hernandez.

The company had a very successful marketing campaign around the phrase “Donald eres un Pendejo” in 2016 for the US election. Bacardi purchased an undisclosed amount of minority shares in the company in February of 2017. In September 2023, Bacardi took full ownership in Ilegal for an undisclosed sum.

Review: Ilegal Mezcal on Drinkhacker

Member rating

3.9 out of 5

15 reviews

Bootlegger

Bootlegger

3 reviews
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars2 months ago

Subtle and multi-layered but somewhat flat at the finish. Holding the bottle you look and feel like a pirate, so extra points for that.

BobFV1

BobFV1

2 reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 stars7 months ago

If you have a collection of sipping Mezcal, you must have a bottle of this in your collection. Smoky but not overbearing with just the right amount of alcohol heat, it comes off more like a done Cognac than a Mezcal. This is a bottle that you keep for straight sipping on special occasions. Slight vanilla and complex heavy fruit notes – excellent Mezcal!

Alt

Alt

4 reviews
Rated 3 out of 5 stars1 year ago

A bit mixed on this one, overall it was okay but not my favorite

Ringstone

Ringstone

6 reviews
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars2 years ago

Mi first Mezcal (after many many Whiskys, some Rums and few Tequilas). Lot 172:
Ripe fruit on the nose, caramelized smoked pineapple, oak, cinnamon with ripe apples, hint of agave, brown sugar. Fruity-caramel-spicy on the palate, smoke (wood smoke, coal, ash), sugar cane, smoked caramelized tropical fruits, warming. Smoke on the finish, slightly spicy, some caramel and sugar cane, long (a lot of wood smoke remains). Great stuff!!!

Gregg T&T

Gregg T&T

100 reviews
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars3 years ago

Caramel, butterscotch and a bit of a flat finish.

Zack Klamn

Zack Klamn

542 reviews
Rated 3 out of 5 stars3 years ago

Lot: 93 (1182/1440)
Nose: Virtually no smoke. Vanilla. Smells like a great anejo tequila.

Palate: Pick up a lot of the oak barrel which dominates most of the benefit that comes with a solid espadin.

This is similar in quality to Casa Noble Anejo which is in the $50 range. Considering this mezcal is nearly double in price it really falls short in value. I enjoy it but I feel that it is way more tequila than mezcal.

dontimo66

dontimo66

5 reviews
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars3 years ago

Got this as a gift 1 year before writing this. First experience the alcohol profile was very aggressive and numbing. Left the bottle sitting for a year and revisited. Long pour into copita and then gave a sniff. Vanilla and burnt sugar play a leading role – the rest is tame and simple. The alcohol appearance is in-line with the 40% label. Almost no mint herbality in the flavor, alongside more vanilla sweetness and citrus.

Thankin_Hank

Thankin_Hank

11 reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 stars5 years ago

So far this is my favorite. It’s expensive but I love it. I had the Reposado and liked it then gambled on the anejo and it won. I haven’t cared much for Anejo Tequilas except El Jimador with a nice price point. Found that at Angler’s Inn, Lake El Salto, México.

GreenspointTexas

GreenspointTexas

385 reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 stars5 years ago

Shockingly good, especially since I didnt care for their other two offerings. One of the better agave spirits ive had. Def. would give to someone who is more of a tequila fan or is having their first foray into mezcal. Its smooth, complex, and has strong notes of caramel, toffee, oak, and butterscotch.

I typically dont care for aged mezcals, but this may change my mind. The best aged mezcal ive had, easily. Price isnt terrible either

NickSanford

NickSanford

23 reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 stars5 years ago

I really enjoyed this one. It pours in with a sweet rich buttery caramel and corn flavor and is as smooth as pie. Not really smokey at all, so a very good choice for to give to people who may be turned off my high smokey flavored Mezcals. A good alternative that’s slightly different.

TheAgaveFairy

TheAgaveFairy

169 reviews
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars6 years ago

Unknown lot, & lot 44

While this has some great dried orange peel, anise, brown sugar or treacle notes alongside a “safe” espadin sweetness and a gentle but present smoke, I think this falls flat of expectations, especially at just 40%. Decent body and light tannin grip. Maybe a cask strength single barrel expression could show more potential, but right now I just am reminded of why I’ve moved away from tequila. While this might be a good bottle to convert “brown liquor” drinkers, the price makes me shy away. The repo I like equally and thus is a better value.

Unknown lot, & lot 44
While this has some great dried orange peel, anise, brown sugar or treacle notes alongside a “safe” espadin sweetness and a gentle but present smoke, I think this falls flat of expectations, especially at just 40%. Decent body and light tannin grip. Maybe a cask strength single barrel expression could show more potential, but right now I just am reminded of why I’ve moved away from tequila. While this might be a good bottle to convert “brown liqu

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LosMuertos

LosMuertos

33 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars6 years ago

I enjoyed this a lot. Golden brown liquid. Notes of corn, honey, vanilla and chocolate muffins. On the palate I find a salty note and some violets.

Scent: 4/5
Mouthfeel: 4/5

PhilBrunski

PhilBrunski

25 reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 stars6 years ago

Liquid candy. Lots of vanilla without being overtly sweet and the perfect amount of smoke. The only aged mezcal I’ll drink and its worth every penny.

Tyler

Tyler

638 reviews
Rated 3 out of 5 stars7 years ago

This añejo espadin has strong flavors of butterscotch and honey. There are notes of apple and lemon. At 40% ABV it still packs a decent punch.

Sandy

Sandy

11 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars8 years ago

Get ready to pucker up for this sweet beaut. Very enjoyable, full body mezcal.

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