the three drinkers mezcal

Ten Mezcals Perfect for Sipping

mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

Let’s talk about Mezcal - the world's fastest growing spirit! One of Mexico’s most epic exports! A spirit drenched in history, ancestry and rich, deep culture! Mezcal is more than just a spirit in Oaxaca, Mexico (where about 80% of the stuff is made), it’s a way of life. Bottles of Mezcal grace every dinner table at every family gathering; it flows freely in restaurants and even sits as an offering on the intricate altars that honour lost loved ones every year during Dia De Los Muertos. 

For only a few years now, Mezcal has been drip-fed to the western world. As the collection of expressions, agave styles and regions has fallen into the hands of bartenders, so has expanded the diverse array of cocktails sprouting up in the world’s most high end joints every other day. However, what do the master distillers behind Mezcal brands think about these mixological delights? Well, it is not an uncommon answer to receive something along the lines of: “I like the cocktail. I’d rather just drink the Mezcal.” 

Great Mezcal should be ‘sipped with kisses’, just like one might enjoy a fine single malt - no lime and salt in sight! Mezcal is traditionally served at room temperature, and when enjoyed the right way, might open your mind to the huge variety of spirit styles that can be created from the over forty agave species that are distilled into Mezcal! Most - but not all - Mezcal have a smoky, vegetal and herbaceous quality, but the final product comes down to the style, agave species, region and choices made by the distiller, or Maestro Mezcalero. 

There’s a Mezcal for every occasion. We’ve collected ten Mezcals perfect for sipping. Sit back, relax, and delight in the wonders of the ancestral agave spirits of Mexico.

Quiquiriqui Espadin

Quiquiriqui Espadin mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

Handcrafted and made to order, Quiquiriqui (try saying that three times fast) is a shining, affordable example of what family run, artisanal Mezcal has to offer. Espadin is the most common agave variety to be found in Mezcal, and offers vegetal, woody and peppery notes to the final product. The fibres of the plant are cooked in huge stone pits and then crushed with a Tohana - a huge stone wheel - which is then fermented and distilled. What we’re trying to say is, Mezcal takes an incredible amount of work, attention to detail and effort, and Quiquiriqui provides a fantastic place to start on your Mezcal neat sipping journey.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £36

Lost Explorer Espadin

Lost Explorer Espadin mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

The Lost Explorer harnesses the power of travelling through alcohol. When you sip the gently smoky liquid from Oaxaca, you are transported, at least in part, to the place and time that it was made. With Mezcal, the flavour emerges from the soil, the terroir and biodiversity of the region, not to mention the eight years it takes for Espadin agave to reach the required maturity to make Lost Explorer Mezcal. Lost Explorer helps promote biodiversity by planting three new wild agave for each plant they harvest.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £62.65

Koch Tepeztate

Koch Tepeztate mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

Tepeztate Agave takes a whole 15 years to reach maturity. That’s 15 whole years before Koch can even begin to cook, ferment and distil the heart of the plant to make their deliciously herbaceous and floral Mezcal. Hailing from the region of San Baltazar Guelavila in Oaxaca, Koch El Mezcal considers their liquid offering to be an art form, and when one considers the historic value of Mezcal, it’s hard to disagree with them. Enjoy sipping this agave spirit knowing that those that create them are dedicated to the survival of the niche agave plants they use, and the biodiversity of the soil in which it grows. Densely smoky, oaky and brimming with herbaceousness. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.8%
Find here: £52.91

Picaflor Espadin

Picaflor Espadin mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

A celebration of the Hummingbirds role in the pollination of Agave Espadin, Picaflor exclusively uses this agave varietal. Distilled in copper pot stills and completely unaged, this Mezcal offers everything and more that one may want from a Oaxacan Espadin. Expect mild smoke, tropical fruits and citrus. Picaflor operate with a “hand to hand” philosophy, meaning the bottle travels from producer, to distributor, to consumer with as little alteration as possible. What you find in and on this bottle is as you’ll find it in the San Luis Del Rio region of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42.9%
Find here: £40.81

Don Amado Mezcal Rustico

Don Amado Mezcal Rustico mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

Distilled in Oaxacas highlands, Don Amado is crafted by the Arellanes family, who have been producing Mezcal for well over 300 years. This Mezcal is steeped in tradition and boasts a generational craftsmanship that makes this both complex and approachable. This particularly ashy, nutty Mezcal is fantastic served neat. The Agave Espadin is slowly roasted in firewood embers and distilled in traditional clay pot stills. They’re notoriously difficult to maintain, and make some of the finest spirits one will ever come across.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: £64.49

Mina Mezcal Blanco

Mina Mezcal Blanco mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

Mina really sets itself apart from other Mezcal by way of its production method. A truly sustainable product, Mina is cooked in a brick kiln that doesn’t require any firewood to fuel, and yet still boasts pronounced smoke and vegetal, earthy aromas. A true triumph of both modern and traditional techniques makes this Mezcal a unique sipping experience, but also provides a real ethical choice. Despite being bottled at 46%, this Mezcal is smooth, lightly citrusy with a chocolate finish. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £45.49

Casamigos Mezcal

Casamigos Mezcal mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

You’ll find most Mezcal comes from a long line of family-run distilleries, producing the finest of liquids using traditional techniques passed down through the bloodline. Casamigos is a 5th generation Mezcal, and the agave cooks for a whole 6 days in a pit of volcanic rock making for a particularly smoky, peppery flavour profile. Celebrity inclusion is a source of controversy in the world of agave spirits, but George Clooney’s faith in this distillery has proven not only profitable, but propelled a fantastic family led Mezcal into the global market. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £62.45

Del Maguey Vida De Meurtas

Del Maguey Vida De Meurtas mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

Produced in the small single village in the beautiful town of San Luis Del Rio, this limited bottling celebrates the ancestral traditions of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and is dense with rich berry notes, spice and red chilli. In their own words - “A perfect choice for those who wish to explore a mezcal that unites tradition with moments of reflection and festivities” - we couldn’t agree more! Celebrate the life of the dead today with this delicious sipper. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £48.31

Sin Gusano Espadilla and Papalome

Sin Gusano Espadilla and Papalome mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

With different agave varieties comes endlessly unique expressions of Mezcal, this blend is mostly Espadilla Agave, but also uses 10% Papaolome in the roasting and fermentation. It has that complex quality one tends to get from traditionally clay pot distilled Mezcal, and, fascinatingly, the distilled spirit is condensed down in a hollowed out tree trunk before being bottled for your sipping enjoyment! Expect a delightfully mellow, minerally spirit with chocolate and citrus peels. 

Size: 500ml
ABV: 45.8%
Find here: £50.59

Dangerous Don Joven

Dangerous Don Joven mezcals perfect for sipping the three drinkers

This award winning Artisanal Mezcal has one goal in mind - bringing people together! Mezcal is a communal experience in Oaxaca, something to be enjoyed with those you love, and Dangerous Don provides the perfect vessel for an evening with those who mean the most to you. In a male dominated industry, Dangerous Don is proudly female run and owned, and has a commitment to supporting the family led traditions of Mezcal. Richly aromatic, smoky and vegetal.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £49

You’ve learnt a lot about sipping Mezcal, now, what to mix it with? Why not check out these Six Stunning Margarita Variations.

By Miley Kendrick

miley kendrick drinklusive the three drinkers

6 Mezcal Cocktails Perfect for Autumn

6 mezcal cocktails perfect for autumn the three drinkers

Mezcal is hitting the mainstream and it makes the perfect cosy cocktail for Fall, so if you want to try a new serve this Autumn, try mezcal.

If you’re not sure what mezcal is, then check out our article, ‘Tequila vs Mezcal: What’s The Difference?’ In short, it covers all agave-based spirits, whereas tequila is only Blue Weber. It tends to be smokier and more savoury than tequila, which is usually smooth and a little sweet, but just like its more famous partner, it’s malleable during production and the bottled liquid varies hugely.

Trying it in a cocktail is always the best introduction, so let’s indulge in these delightful concoctions that explore mezcal and embrace the season.

Mezcal Martinez

mezcal martinez 6 mezcal cocktails perfect for autumn the three drinkers

Mezcal replaces gin here for a delicious twist on a classic. It’s a rich combination of cherry and vanilla with herbal undertones and wafts of smoke., balancing sweetness and bitterness perfectly.

Ingredients
50ml mezcal
30ml sweet vermouth
15ml Maraschino liqueur
3 dashes of Angostura
Absinthe rinse
Garnish: orange zest

 Method
Stir everything with ice and strain into a chilled glass that’s been rinsed with absinthe, finishing with fresh zest or an orange slice.

Mezcal Cider

mezcal cider 6 mezcal cocktails perfect for autumn the three drinkers

This harmonious balance will warm your soul. Inspired by the Margarita, it brings sweet and sour flavours together with the sugary fruits of apple cider and brandy, the sour zip of lemon, the earthy, charred Mezcal and warming aromatics of cinnamon. Delish.

Ingredients
50ml mezcal
20ml apple brandy
70ml apple cider (sweet)
20ml lemon juice
1 dash of Angostura
Garnish: cinnamon, sugar, and apple slice

Method
Use the lemon to wet the rim of the glass and roll it in a cinnamon sugar mix. Next, shake everything else with ice and strain over fresh ice before finishing with an apple slice.

Mezgroni

mezgroni 6 mezcal cocktails perfect for autumn the three drinkers

The Negroni might be the best cocktail in the world for adaptations, and replacing gin with an agave spirit adds amazing flavour. The smoky sweetness locks horns with the herbal bitterness of the Campari, bringing that vermouth and citrus through more noticeably. Simple to make, but complex on the nose and palate.

Ingredients
30ml mezcal
30ml sweet vermouth
30ml Campari
Garnish: orange wheel

Method
Add ingredients to a mixing glass full of ice and stir until thoroughly chilled, before straining into a rocks glass with large ice cubes. Don’t leave out the orange wheel here, it makes all the difference.

Mezcal Mule

6 mezcal cocktails perfect for autumn the three drinkers

Mezcal pairs with the spice of ginger beer deliciously – smoke and spice are paired all the time in food, so why not in mixology?

Ingredients
50ml mezcal
30ml lime juice
120ml ginger beer
Garnish: lime wheels and/or fresh mint

Method
If you’ve got a gorgeous Mule mug then fill it with ice, mezcal and lime juice. Stir until it feels chilled, top up to the top with ginger beer and finish your creation with a lime wheel or sprig of fresh mint. Voila!

Oaxacan Chocolate Hug

oaxacan chocolate hug 6 mezcal cocktails perfect for autumn the three drinkers

Oaxaca is one of the Mexican states most associated with mezcal... but also chocolate, and they just so happen to be a dreamy marriage. On particularly cold Autumn days, the hot chocs start to appear, and the peppery earthy character of mezcal balances against the rich sweetness divinely. Coffee brings some complimentary bitterness for balance, and a gentle dash of citrus rounds it off.

 Ingredients
30ml mezcal
30ml coffee liqueur
120ml hot chocolate (dark works well)
A tablespoon of heavy cream
3 dashes of Angostura

Method
You can make hot choc however you usually do, but we like dark chocolate chips added to hot milk, so make this and set it aside. Pour mezcal, liqueur and bitters into a glass or even better, mug. Next, add your hot choc and finally, pour some heavy cream over the back of a spoon slowly and gently, creating an appetising marbling effect.

Mezcal Jackson

mezcal jackson 6 mezcal cocktails perfect for autumn the three drinkers

Adapted from a Sean Lisik recipe, the Mezcal Jackson has incredible depth of flavour. You might not expect them to fit that well together, but boy do they – smoky almonds, delicate coconut, and luxurious sweetness. Totally unique.

 Ingredients
30ml mezcal
30ml amaretto (preferably Disaronno)
30ml coconut rum
3 drops bitters (Bob’s Abbotts)

Method
Simply stir everything with ice and strain over a large chunk of ice and it’s a thing of beauty.

Well, now you just need the most important thing. You can flick through some of our go-to mezcal bottles here!