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
Review this bottle
Login or create an account to add your tasting notes
Mezcal_Newbie
1 reviewThis was my first bottle of Mezcal. Clearly this Mezcal is an acquired taste. I will probably never buy another Ilegal product after tasting this expression. The bizarre part was having to scrub the glass with soap to reduce the lingering smell.
I do not recommend for novices.
BlackBeard
7 reviewsIts feels like fire on my throat
Msims
1 reviewI 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
10 reviewsLot 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
2 reviewsI 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
6 reviewsLot 07 (bottle 1146/1470). Vanilla, slight smoke, smooth. Very easygoing and drinkable.
aarild
153 reviewsNice smoke, butterscotch and baked pear. A bit thin and metallic.
AgaveLover
8 reviewsThe 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
542 reviewsLot: 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
23 reviewsThis 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
2 reviewsDefinite 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
19 reviewssmells 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
385 reviewsDont get the love for this. Very little smoke, not many flavors you would find in other mezcals. Closer to a tequila
Tyler
668 reviewsSoft 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
A very nice crossover… Like a nicer tequila, without the bite, and a smooth caramel finish