It's a great story - to stock at his bar, Café No Se in Antigua, Guatemala, John Rexer began smuggling artisanal mezcal from Oaxaca in Mexico into Guatemala in 2004...
It's a great story - to stock at his bar, Café No Se in Antigua, Guatemala, John Rexer began smuggling artisanal mezcal from Oaxaca in Mexico into Guatemala in 2004. It didn't take long for word to get out about this smooth and smoky spirit that was only available from the backroom at Café No Se. Soon, this mezcal was being carried in the luggage of travellers passing from Guate to America and beyond. In late 2009, Ilegal Mezcal became legal and today is sold in over 25 US states, in Europe, the Caribbean even Australia.
Mezcal -'vino de mezcal' as it was named by the Spanish - has always been an artisanal product of distinct character, made in limited quantities each year and shows character relating to a particular harvest. Like the original mezcals, Ilegal is produced and hand bottled in small batches, with each bottle receiving it's own number within a specifically numbered lot.
Ilegal predominantly uses the Espadin Agave. Unlike tequila, mezcal is not constrained to use just Blue Agave. Mezcal can use a much greater variety of agave species giving rise to the broader style and flavour profiles found within the mezcal category.
Production utilises the traditional pit oven in which the agaves or "pinas" are roasted beneath the earth over volcanic rocks. The roasted hearts are then crushed using the traditional tahona. Airborne yeasts then ferment the cooked and crushed agave, and distillation takes place in small alembic stills. The placement of mesquite and eucalyptus to heat the ovens is done in such a way that the pinas will have less direct contact with the coals and thus create a more even and consistent roasting. The result is a distinct flavour profile where the agave flavour is complimented rather than dominated by subtle smokey aromas and flavours.
There are three products in the Ilegal range. The unaged joven, the 4 month aged reposado and the 13 month aged anejo.
Ilegal Joven Mezcal
On the nose the first thing you will notice is the combination of sweet and subtle smoky notes. Giving an aroma that only agave can, these characteristics continue to develop to reveal savoury vegetal notes with a lovely rounded aroma of ripe green pepper. The mouth feel is extremely smooth, savoury, sweet and smoky characteristics all evolving on the palate with hints of green apple, eucalyptus and pepper. A fresh and long finish, sweet agave notes giving way to a subtle smokiness.
Ilegal Reposado Mezcal
Aged for 4 months in American oak barrels this reposado has more body and complexity than the joven. On the nose you will still find a subtle smokiness but the sweet characters are now more similar to vanilla and butterscotch. Again extremely smooth on the palate, the flavours are however more developed with hints of tobacco and caramalised stone fruits. Again a fresh long, soft smoky finish is present.
Ilegal Añejo Mezcal
Aged for 13 months the influence of the oak is very evident. The sweet, fruity aromas are complimented by notes of vanilla and a little spice all wrapped up in a light smokiness. Dried figs and currants on the palate, complimented by hints of chocolate and a subtle spiciness in the background.
|
091749 |
Ilegal Reposado Mezcal |
40% |
50cl |
|
091759 |
Ilegal Añejo Mezcal |
40% |
50cl |
|
091769 |
Ilegal Joven Mezcal |
40% |
50cl |