The best mezcal under $50

Fifty dollars buys real mezcal. Our data study found that price explains about 8% of quality, and this list is the proof: every bottle here scores 4.0 or better at an observed price under $50, ranked by score with current average prices.

  1. Mestiza Negra Espadin (4.5/5, $26): The $20 house pour; stock it
  2. Legendario Domingo San Luis Potosí (4.5/5, $47): SLP verde that repays attention. Peak Legendario Domingo
  3. Legendario Domingo Oaxaca Espadin (4.0/5, $36): The daily pour the category needs. Reliable 48% everyday espadín
  4. La Luna Cupreata (4.0/5, $39): Michoacán azul, presented as itself
  5. Burrito Fiestero Cenizo (Ancestral) (4.0/5, $39): The Burrito Fiestero cenizo to buy
  6. Los Cuerudos Reposado (4.0/5, $41): The reposado is the Los Cuerudos bottle to reach for
  7. Metiche 49 (4.0/5, $44): Worth hunting down the 49. The 40% version isn't the one to buy
  8. Los Ocotales Espadin (4.0/5, $45): An above-average house espadín. Worth the shelf slot
  9. Derrumbes San Luis Potosi (4.0/5, $45): The most educational single bottle in the Derrumbes range
  10. Derrumbes Durango (4.0/5, $45): An excellent case for mezcal beyond Oaxaca
  11. Machetazo Espadin (4.0/5, $46): A small-producer espadín that earns its shelf slot

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.