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Ilegal Reposado

Ilegal Reposado is aged for 4 months in American oak barrels. The barrel aging makes this a great Mezcal to serve to friends who don’t like Mezcal.

About this mezcal

Ilegal Reposado is aged for 4 months in American oak barrels. It has caramelized pear and bitter orange on the nose, and clove, toffee and hints of vanilla on the palate. The mouth feel is velvety throughout. Like its Ilegal Anejo cousin, this is a great Mezcal to serve to friends who don’t like Mezcal as the barrel aging provides a woody flavor that is familiar to whiskey and tequila drinkers alike.

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

2.46 out of 5

14 reviews

BlackBeard

BlackBeard

5 reviews
Rated 1 out of 5 stars2 days ago

Its feels like fire on my throat

Msims

Msims

1 review
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars8 months ago

I promise you i’m not over exaggerating when I say this is the worst thing i’ve ever tasted. Think burnt plastic and gasoline, it should be “Ilegal” to make and sell this…..

Suicide Squid

Suicide Squid

10 reviews
Rated 2 out of 5 stars1 year ago

Lot 155. Slight band aid smell giving way to Smokey pepper with some notes of agave in the background. Pepper and heat on the tongue. The alcohol heat begins to feel and taste like hot pepper. A little slick with with more peppery heat in back into finish. Way too peppery with agave flavors lost in that.

ericb

ericb

2 reviews
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars2 years ago

I set up an account just so I could comment on this.
Similar to the Joven, this smells and tastes like the exhaust from my 1979 Ford pickup. Gag.

(Lot 166)

tdhdk

tdhdk

6 reviews
Rated 3 out of 5 stars3 years ago

Lot 07 (bottle 1146/1470). Vanilla, slight smoke, smooth. Very easygoing and drinkable.

aarild

aarild

152 reviews
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars3 years ago

Nice smoke, butterscotch and baked pear. A bit thin and metallic.

AgaveLover

AgaveLover

8 reviews
Rated 2 out of 5 stars3 years ago

The one star review above that mentioned “dill” was on the right track only its not dill. Its the eucalyptus wood the agave is cooked with. It completely dominates and ruins this mezcal. So much so that after a shot of this it ruins whatever else (beer/wine) you are drinking. Its as if you just finished brushing your teeth. @$60 I’m a little pissed off.

Zack Klamn

Zack Klamn

542 reviews
Rated 1 out of 5 stars3 years ago

Lot: 145 (Bottle: 701)
Nose: Fresh dill. Butterscotch. Not a winning combo.

Palate: Pickles and cream. Watery. Notes of an aged so-so tequila. Metallic aftertaste.

Juriy

Juriy

23 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars3 years ago

This was my introduction to the world of mezcal. Coming from the whiskey side, this is still one of my favorite mezcals to sip on. Soft, smokey, good flavors.

Vinman

Vinman

2 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Definite notes of vanilla and a little caramel, I find this a particularly smooth sip, if a little too “polite” for my taste.

While I mostly concur with the other reviews claiming this is not a regular mezcal, I can totally enjoy it on its own merits. This is definitely a good introduction to mezcal for more timid dippers.

stepusin

stepusin

19 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars5 years ago

smells more like a tequila being agave forward but there is a subtle hint of smoke and pepper. taste is smooth, has hints of a typical mezcal but is also quite sweet and caramelly. the aftertaste resembles a typical mezcal with a more peppery linger. would only recommend if you want a less traditional mezcal with sweet notes, but under that billing it is quite enjoyable.

GreenspointTexas

GreenspointTexas

385 reviews
Rated 3 out of 5 stars5 years ago

Dont get the love for this. Very little smoke, not many flavors you would find in other mezcals. Closer to a tequila

Tyler

Tyler

636 reviews
Rated 3 out of 5 stars7 years ago

Soft roasted agave flavors with citrus, vanilla, and wood. Slight acetone finish. This lightly-aged espadin is a decent sipper, especially for those new to mezcal. One downside is that the quality of this mezcal is not worth the price of $50-$70 a bottle as charged in many stores.

Matt Bayuk

Rated 4 out of 5 stars8 years ago

A very nice crossover… Like a nicer tequila, without the bite, and a smooth caramel finish

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