Lot 478R
80 proof

Ilegal Reposado is aged for six months in a combination of new and used medium-char American oak barrels, giving it a rounder frame without burying its agave core. I love the balance here. The judicious oak treatment softens the edges, but not so much that you lose the point of drinking mezcal in the first place. My favorite barrel-aged agave spirits retain their original spirit and gusto, refusing to just play dress-up in whiskey’s clothes.

The nose here leans into caramelized pear and bitter orange, while the palate brings clove, butterscotch, and a touch of vanilla, and underneath all of that lies mezcal’s signature earthy, savory warmth. This is the one to pour for whiskey drinkers who are curious but hesitant, or for mezcal people who want something mellow enough to sip slowly. It is also excellent in an Oaxaca Old Fashioned, a reposado-style Margarita, or anything involving citrus, spice, and a salted rim.