The best mezcal for cocktails

Cocktail mezcal is its own job: enough smoke and agave to read through citrus and sugar, no rough edges that clash, and a price you can pour twice. Every bottle here was tasted neat first and holds up in a shaker, ranked by score with current average prices.

  1. Mestiza Negra Espadin (4.5/5, $26): The $20 house pour; stock it
  2. Machetazo Espadin (4.0/5, $46): A small-producer espadín that earns its shelf slot
  3. Ánimas Espadin y Papalometl (4.0/5, $40–90): Pick one up. The Ánimas release most worth a look
  4. Banhez Espadin & Barril (3.5/5, $33): The default first bottle, with Mestiza Negra ($20 at Trader Joe's) as its rival
  5. Lola Mezcal (3.5/5, $37): A decent everyday pour from a brand worth supporting
  6. Paquera Espadin (3.5/5, $41): Worth reaching for. A reasonable Vida alternative
  7. Alma Libre Espadin (3.5/5, $40–90): A respectable value
  8. Koch Espadin Artesanal (3.5/5, $45): A step up from Del Maguey Vida for about the same price. The right house bottle
  9. Bozal Ensamble (3.5/5, $45): Reliable, not revelatory. Fine for the price
  10. Fidencio Clasico (3.5/5, $40–90): A sleeper pick. Worth doubling up on and give one away
  11. El Rey Zapoteco Espadin (3.5/5, $48): Fine as a cocktail espadín
  12. Agua Santa Angustifolia (3.5/5, $40–90): A credible Agua Santa pick

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.