Reviews / Ilegal Joven
Review · · by The Editors
Ilegal Joven
The liquid didn't write the story. The marketing did
Score: 2.0/5 agaves
- Producer: Ilegal Mezcal
- Maestro: Alvaro Hernandez, Armando Hernandez Lorenzo, Eric Hernandez
- Region: Tlacolula, Oaxaca
- Agave: Espadin
- ABV: 40%
- Price: $70 ($$)
Verdict
Ilegal is a credible first mezcal for someone who still thinks 'smoky' is a warning. Past that, the 2.6 consensus is generous. You're paying for the bottle, the story, and the music-festival marketing. The liquid is fine; fine is a ceiling.
A gateway bottle dressed up as a premium one
Tasting notes
Nose: Soft smoke, lemon peel, cooked agave, a faint commercial sweetness
Palate: Round, approachable, industrial in the way mid-proof commercial mezcal can't help being. Less rustic character than the price suggests
Finish: Clean, slightly sweet
The bottom line
Fine. At $54, fine is a ceiling
Where to buy online
We found this bottle at 5 US retailers. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.