The best high-proof mezcal

Proof predicts quality better than price does; that is the single clearest finding in our data. These are the best bottles at 48% ABV and up, where the agave arrives undiluted, ranked by score with current average prices.

  1. Cruz de Diamantes Espadin (5.0/5, $40–90): A reference espadín. Buy in depth
  2. Cruz de Diamantes Mexicano (5.0/5, $40–90): Category-defining. Buy whenever one surfaces
  3. Maguey Melate Cupreata with Cumilin (5.0/5, $40–90): The rare abocado that redeems the format. Buy
  4. Fanekantsini Sierra Negra y Arroqueño (5.0/5, $40–90): Top-tier work. An instant purchase
  5. Cruz de Diamantes Jabali (5.0/5, $40–90): The second 5.0 from Santa María Sola. Buy immediately
  6. Cuish Ramírez (5.0/5, $40–90): A third consecutive 5.0 from García León. Buy the Ramírez on sight
  7. Real Minero Pechuga con Tobala, Largo, Barril (5.0/5, $40–90): Defines the upper tier. The category's upper bound
  8. Yuku Savi Jabali Cacheton (5.0/5, $40–90): No hesitation. A jabalí that earns the format
  9. NETA Tobala Capon (5.0/5, $40–90): Benchmark-level. If you see it, you buy it
  10. Pasión Ancestral Arroqueño-Tepextate (5.0/5, $40–90): Worth taking. A reference ensamble of two wild agaves
  11. Yuku Savi Candelillo (5.0/5, $40–90): No debate. A reference bottle in a rare category
  12. Del Maguey Tobala & Espadin (5.0/5, $40–90): The Del Maguey we didn't expect to score at the top

See the best mezcal at every price →

Scores come from the same five-agave rubric as every review; prices are current averages across the US retailers we track. The full method lives in The State of Mezcal.