The story behind Ilegal
Ilegal is mezcal, not tequila, and the distinction matters. Tequila comes from Blue Weber agave in Jalisco; Ilegal is made from 100% Espadin agave in Oaxaca, around Santiago Matatlan and Tlacolula. John Rexer started carrying unbranded mezcal to his bar, Cafe No Se in Antigua, Guatemala, around 2004 and formalized the brand in 2006. Bacardi Limited acquired it in 2023.
The house style is deliberate: agave forward, smoke kept low and balanced, so it sips neat from a clay copita and still works in a Mezcalita. Agave is roasted in earthen pits, crushed on a stone tahona, fermented in pine vats, and double distilled in small copper stills. Aged expressions rest in medium char American oak.
Explore the Ilegal range
Four bottles we keep on the Ilegal shelf, all 80 proof, from the unaged Joven to the 13 month Anejo.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilegal Mezcal Joven 200mL | Joven, unaged | 80 | Bright agave, light smoke, citrus peel, easy mixing |
| Ilegal Mezcal Joven 750mL | Joven, unaged | 80 | Green agave, gentle smoke, black pepper finish |
| Ilegal Mezcal Reposado 750mL | Reposado, 4 to 6 months oak | 80 | Vanilla and caramel over agave, soft smoke |
| Ilegal Mezcal Anejo 750mL | Anejo, 13 months oak | 80 | Dark chocolate, dried fruit, oak, long warm finish |
Which Ilegal is right for you?
Pricing runs from the 200mL Joven at $16.99, a low risk way to try the house style, to the 750mL Joven at $49.99. The Reposado sits at $59.99 and the Anejo at $95.99, which is fair money for 13 months in American oak. Buy Ilegal online here and we will have it ready at the counter in Commack, or send it out for local delivery.
Oak and dark chocolate reward a slow pour in a copita after dinner.
Light smoke and clean agave hold up in a Mezcalita without burying the lime.
Small bottle, small commitment, enough for two rounds of tasting.