Del Maguey has captured the hearts of mezcal enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike, including us, for its exquisite balance of rich sweetness and captivating smoky character.
But along with a range of Del Maguey releases is the hard part of choosing the best-bottled agave spirits. So we ranked the best Del Maguey mezcals to help you decide on the great bottles to try.
Top 15 Best Del Maguey Mezcal Bottles (Ranked)
15. Del Maguey Vida Mezcal
Average Price: around $37.99/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 42% ABV
Nose: Vanilla, pineapple, with citrusy notes
Palate: Agave with smokey and fruit notes
How To Drink It: Cocktails
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
Why We Like It: Made from agave espadin, Del Maguey Vida mezcal exudes smoky undertones and complex flavors.
“Unlock Mexico’s essence sip by sip through Del Maguey mezcal.” – Liquor Laboratory
This is a perfect addition to mixed drinks. However, we find its complexity intense for sipping.
14. Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal
Average Price: around $39.99/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Nose: Roasted pear and vanilla
Palate: Almond, apple, coffee, and pineapple
How To Drink It: Cocktail
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
Why We Like It: This is a sweet take on the San Luis Del Rio mezcal, achieved by infusing honey during the distillation in copper stills.
13. Del Maguey Chichicapa
Average Price: around $69.99/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 46% ABV
Nose: Roasted agave, peppermint, and lime peels
Palate: Citrus, tropical fruit, almonds, and agave plant
How To Drink It: Neat
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Why We Like It: We always return to Del Maguey Chichicapa for its balanced flavor profile. Its pleasant aroma, velvety mouthfeel, and delicate finish make it a great sipping mezcal. But how should you drink mezcal?
12. San Luis del Río Mezcal
Average Price: around $75.99/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 47% ABV
Nose: Smoke, oregano, and herb notes
Palate: Fresh fruit, vanilla, and lime
How To Drink It: Neat, Rocks
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Why We Like It: San Luis Del Rio mezcal, produced in Oaxaca and made in blue agave, boasts a smooth and herbaceous flavor with a hint of citrus. We like its authentic flavor, perfect for savoring neat or over ice.
11. Del Maguey Minero Mezcal
Average Price: around $79.99/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Nose: Fig and granite aromas
Palate: Green herbs, honey, with citrusy hints
How To Drink It: Neat, Cocktails
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Why We Like It: Del Maguey Minero artisanal mezcal is crafted using traditional methods, cooked in underground pits, and distilled in clay pot stills, which impart its unique earthy nuance.
10. Santo Domingo Albarradas Mezcal
Average Price: around $69.99/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 49.2% ABV
Nose: Citrusy with salinity
Palate: Tropical fruit, toasted pear, and salt
How To Drink It: Rocks, Cocktails
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Why We Like It: Made by Espiridion Morales, this renowned mezcal balances salinity, spicy, citrusy, and woody hints. We like the dry and clean finish, giving a decent drinking experience.
Read: How is Mezcal Made?
9. Del Maguey Papalome Mezcal
Average Price: around $74.99/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 48% ABV
Nose: Earthy, clay, and smokey
Palate: Leather, black olive, and meat
How To Drink It: Rocks, Cocktails
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Why We Like It: This mezcal is exotic and intriguing, with earthy notes—a rare find, capturing the essence of Oaxaca.
8. Santa Catarina Minas Mezcal
Average Price: around $94/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 48% ABV
Nose: Floral, fig, and vanilla
Palate: honeyed lemon
How To Drink It: Cocktails
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Why We Like It: Made from agave [1] Espadin, this mezcal bottle exudes sweet-tasting notes, another excellent distilled product from the Mexican State of Oaxaca.
7. Del Maguey Madrecuixe Mezcal
Average Price: around $99.95/750ml
Alcohol Content: 47% ABV
Nose: Herb, peat, and dry earth
Palate: Dried fruit, agaves, and apples
How To Drink It: Neat, Cocktails
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Why We Like It: We find the tasting notes of Madrecuixe Mezcal rare and aromatic, oozing with herbal and earthy notes. It’s complex yet delightful, best savored neat or in cocktails.
6. Del Maguey Arroqueno Mezcal
Average Price: around $119.99/750ml
Alcohol Content: 49% ABV
Nose: Melon, lemon, and cilantro
Palate: White pepper, cocoa, and chickpea
How To Drink It: Neat, Rocks
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: This agave spirit is crafted in Santa Catarina de Minas, near Oaxaca in Mexico. We find this bottle one of the best Mexican liquors for its delicious and creamy texture.
5. Del Maguey Wild Jabalí Mezcal
Average Price: around $114.99/750ml
Alcohol Content: 45% ABV
Nose: BBQ charcoal and baked pie
Palate: Baked apples and roasted peppers
How To Drink It: Neat, Rocks
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: We like Wild Jabali mezcal for its balanced tasting notes oozing with a smooth, lingering finish. This is a must-try if you’re seeking bold, untamed delights. But are mezcals really stronger than tequilas?
4. Del Maguey Pechuga Mezcal
Average Price: around $199.95/750ml
Alcohol Content: 49% ABV
Nose: Fruit, basil, ocean, and fruit
Palate: Chicken broth, salt,
How To Drink It: Neat, Cocktails
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: This is exceptional mezcal with fruity complexity. In making Mezcal Pechuga [2], adding plums and wild apples adds a delightful savory touch. It is highly recommended.
3. San Pedro Taviche Mezcal
Average Price: around $119.99/750ml
Alcohol Content: 49% ABV
Nose: Green peppers with citrus notes
Palate: Agaves with metallic, orange peel, and spice
How To Drink It: Neat, Rocks
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: The tasting notes of San Pedro Taviche boast a balance of spiciness and citrus hints. We grab this bottle if we want something bold to savor.
2. Del Maguey Tobalá Mezcal
Average Price: around $129.99
Alcohol Content: 45% ABV
Nose: Fruity and floral notes
Palate: Cinnamon, mango, and bites of salt
How To Drink It: Neat, Rocks
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: Del Maguey Tobala mezcal exudes a light nose with a delicious wheel of flavors in the mouth. Its long and creamy finish makes it the best mezcal for consuming neat.
1. Del Maguey Iberico
Average Price: around $215/750ml
Alcohol Content: 49% ABV
Nose: Grilled pineapples and fresh peaches
Palate: Baking spices, ash, and butterscotch
How To Drink It: Neat, Cocktails
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: This is a rich and indulgent mezcal, blending steam with sweet and savory flavors.
“To understand traditional mezcal and Del Maguey’s portfolio, you have to understand that you’re going to be a planet away from everything that we consider liquor in the US. And that includes tequila.” – Eva Pelczer, Del Maguey’s Director of Brand Education
We recommend this distilled spirit for discerning palates.
Note: Prices are based on Drizly, Total Wine, and the official product websites. The star rating was determined based on a blind taste test, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest rating. Each product was evaluated on its overall quality, flavor profile, complexity, smoothness, and overall enjoyment.
FAQs
Is Del Maguey’s mezcal smokey?
Del Maguey’s mezcals are smokey. It’s made using ancestral methods, including roasting the agave plant in earthen pits and distillation in copper stills, imparting a distinct smokiness to the final product.
What does Del Maguey mezcals taste like?
Del Maguey’s mezcals taste smoky, earthy, and fruity with herbal notes. Each expression, like Del Maguey Tobala, San Luis Del Rio, and Del Maguey Vida mezcal, has unique tasting profiles, appealing to various palates. You can also check out this Madre Mezcal review.
How do you drink Del Maguey mezcals?
You can drink Del Maguey Mezcals best neat or over ice. But you can also incorporate mezcal into cocktails, particularly San Luis Del Rio and Del Maguey Vida.
What sets Del Maguey Mezcal apart from other mezcal brands?
Del Maguey Mezcal is distinguished by its focus on traditional, small-batch production methods, using hand-harvested agave and traditional earthen pit roasting techniques, resulting in mezcal with unique and complex flavor profiles.
Which agave varieties are used in Del Maguey Mezcal production?
Del Maguey Mezcal utilizes various agave species, including Espadín (commonly used in mezcal production), as well as rarer varieties such as Tobalá, Tobaziche, and Pechuga, each contributing to the diversity of flavors in their mezcal offerings.
What are some notable expressions of Del Maguey Mezcal?
Del Maguey offers a range of mezcal expressions, including its popular Vida Mezcal, which is accessible and versatile, as well as single-village mezcals like Chichicapa, San Luis del Rio, and Minero, each showcasing the unique terroir of their respective regions.
Are there any special production techniques used by Del Maguey?
Del Maguey employs traditional production techniques, such as roasting agave hearts in earthen pits lined with volcanic rocks and distilling in small, wood-fired copper stills, which contribute to the distinctive flavors and character of their mezcal.
What flavor profiles can I expect from Del Maguey Mezcal?
Del Maguey Mezcal offers a wide range of flavor profiles, from smoky and earthy to fruity and floral, with nuances of roasted agave, herbs, citrus, and spice, depending on the specific expression.
Is Del Maguey Mezcal sustainably produced?
Yes, Del Maguey is committed to sustainable and ethical mezcal production, working closely with local farmers and ensuring fair labor practices while promoting environmental conservation and agave biodiversity.
In Summary
Del Maguey stands out as a pioneer in the mezcal world, offering an array of exceptional expressions.
Among them, Del Maguey Iberico reigns supreme, captivating us with its decadent, smokey indulgence, perfectly balanced by sweet and savory nuances.
So, if you want to elevate your mezcal journey, we highly recommend Iberico for an ultimate drinking experience.
References:
1) https://www.kew.org/plants/blue-agave
2) https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/mezcal-de-pechuga-chicken-breast-mexico
3) https://www.britannica.com/plant/Agave
4) https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2022-01-19/stop-calling-it-smoky-everything-you-need-to-know-to-be-a-better-mezcal-drinker
