Best Mezcal We Found for Less Than $40

What you’ll find in this article: 

• What we look for in the best mezcal
• The best mezcal you can buy under $40
• The best mezcal under $20 (that happens to be the best mezcal for cocktails) 
• And more!

The best mezcal probably comes from a picturesque palenque in Oaxaca. But we can’t all take a couple of weeks off work and afford the travel required to seek out that platonic ideal of mezcal. What we can do, however, is taste some of the most available bottles in the U.S. and advise you on the best mezcal to buy for less than $40—and, in one case, under $20. 

Why is mezcal usually expensive?

Truly cheap mezcal is hard to come by. It’s a time intensive spirit that is typically small batch. It takes 7 to 15 years for an agave plant to reach maturity! And, after that, you have to roast the agave (that’s why mezcal is smokier than tequila—tequila is made with steamed agave). And then you have to press the roasted agave hearts (often with a stone tahona pulled by a horse). And then you have to ferment the juice. And then you have to distill it. It’s a whole thing. 

How we chose the mezcals for this taste test

I love mezcal and I’m happy to pay producers what they rightfully deserve. However, I also appreciate a good deal. And there are some good deals to be found in the world of mezcal. I gathered together a selection of mezcals under $40 to taste in search of the best cheap mezcal on the market—most hovered around $30. Most of them were pretty darn good. But some were truly delicious and worthy of the title of best mezcal. 

What we looked for in the best mezcal 

If you’re new to mezcal, you probably still know one thing about it: It’s smoky. But while mezcal is typically smokier than tequila, it’s not all distilled campfire. We searched for the best smoky mezcal, sure, but we also sought out mezcals that highlighted vegetal agave flavors and others that tasted more like tropical fruit than BBQ. 

For me, the best mezcal is complex and balanced and interesting to sip. It should be good straight at room temperature, excellent over ice, and potent enough to stand up to the bold flavors of Campari and sweet vermouth in a Mezcal Negroni or complementary of the citrus flavors in a Margarita. I’m looking for a lot, I admit it. But I found it. 

Best mezcals under $40, ranked

In this ranking, you’ll find not only the best of the best mezcal brands you can get for under $40, but also the best cheap smoky mezcal, the best budget mezcal for under $20, and more.

Best Smoky Mezcal

Rayu Maguey Joven Esapadin

Total Wine

If Ron Swanson asked me, “What is the best mezcal?” I would say, “For you, Ron? The best mezcal is Rayu.” And then I imagine he would pat me on the head and walk into the woods gnawing on a turkey leg. If you, like Ron, appreciate the funk and smoke of an Islay scotch, like Lagavulin, then this is also the best smoky mezcal for you. It’s funky and super smoky and a little bit briny—like the ocean. I love this stuff and I’ve been using it in Mezcal Negronis on a dangerously regular basis, but it’s not a starter mezcal.

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Reposado Mezcal

Se Busca Mezcal Artesanal Reposado

Total Wine

Reposado mezcal is defined as mezcal that has been “rested” in oak barrels for more than two months but less than a year. That time in the barrel softens out the spirit and adds some oaky, vanilla-tinged notes. And you definitely get those flavors in this reposado mezcal. I taste a lot of caramel flavor from the oak, which also softens the smokiness and vegetalness of the spirit. If you’re a regular whiskey drinker looking for the best mezcal to try, this is a great place to start. It’s also the best mezcal for cocktails like Mezcal Manhattans or Old Fashioneds.

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Cheap Mezcal

Espada Pechina Mezcal

Trader Joe’s

If you were searching for the best mezcal brands under $20, the picking is slim but there’s one worth your Andrew Jackson—and it’s sold at Trader Joe’s. This is my choice for a workhouse mezcal. Is it the best mezcal for sipping? No. It’s a bit too rough for that. But the earthy, orange-zesty flavors and hint of smoky brine—not to mention the budget-friendly price tag—make it some of the best mezcal for Margaritas or Mezcal & Tonics. It’s the best cheap mezcal that’s actually cheap. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Sipping Mezcal

Del Maguey Vida Single Village Mezcal

Total Wine

The most expensive of the bunch, Del Maguey is one of the best mezcal brands you can find. While I’ve enjoyed all the expressions I’ve tried from the brand, this one is particularly delightful. It’s a little sweeter than the others—almost like cooked agave syrup. It’s super easy to sip, with just a hint of salty smoke. Price point aside, it’s definitely the best mezcal for beginners. It’s gentle and tastes like vacation. You can use it in cocktails, but you’d be missing out if you didn’t try it straight first. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

400 Conejos Espadin Joven

Total Wine

In our taste test, we all unanimously agreed that this was the best mezcal of the bunch. And, at under $30, it also fits the best cheap mezcal requirement. It has a bright, vibrant, tropical jungle aroma. And the flavor tingles on your tongue. It has a great mix of wet earth and pineapple flavors—it really makes your mouth water. It’s some of the best sipping mezcal but it’s also some of the best mezcal for cocktails. It really can do it all.

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other mezcals we tried: 

Illegal, Las Tonas Coyote, Luminar Botanical