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Discover the ultimate smoky sip with 12 best mezcals for 2025
Upgrade your margarita with our expert's pick of the best bottles
Tested by Callum BlackFood and Drink Testing Manager
Ready to upgrade your margarita? Introducing mezcal, tequila’s smokier cousin.
Mezcal is made from the agave plant but offers a wider flavour palette, ranging from bright and grassy to rich, earthy and complex. Unlike tequila, which must be made with blue weber agave, mezcal can be crafted from dozens of agave varieties, each bringing its own personality to the glass. The traditional production process – roasting agave in underground pits and distilling in small batches – adds a signature smoky note that’s become its calling card.
But mezcal isn’t just for sipping neat in serious settings. It’s a wonderfully versatile spirit that’s making its way into exciting cocktails, from smoky margaritas to elevated old fashioneds, adding instant depth to your drinks. Whether you’re a seasoned spirits enthusiast or simply mezcal-curious, there’s a bottle out there to suit every palate.
Best mezcal for 2025
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You'll find more details on how we review alcohol at the Good Housekeeping Institute below our full reviews, but our expert panel tried 21 bottles for this test, analysing each one on aroma, flavour and finish. These are the best mezcals to try in 2025, according to our experts.
Score: 86/100
Co-founded by George Clooney (and now part of the Diageo empire), Casamigos is made with a fifth-generation mezcal-making family in Oaxaca.
Our experts think it’s a top choice for tequila fans keen to explore mezcal. With delicate smoky undertones and fragrant agave notes, the hints of tropical fruit make it a perfect pick for mezcal margaritas.
The Lost Explorer Mezcal Tobalá
Score: 83/100
Granted, this is an investment purchase. However, if you’re already a major mezcal fan, or are looking for an extra special gift, we think it’s worth the splurge. It’s made from the slow-growing tobala agave, a plant known for its complex flavour.
Our experts were won over by the clean, herbaceous quality, and fresh notes of eucalyptus and citrus, underpinned by smoke and leather.
Score: 83/100
For something a little fruitier, try Ojo De Dios. On the nose, there’s a lovely mix of apples, pear and fragrant florals, with a whiff of smoke. Spicy cinnamon and black pepper come through on the palate, making it ideal for a fiery picante.
Score: 82/100
Zacal is an artisan mezcal, hand-distilled from the unique manso agave, found in the Michoacan region, an area with volcanic soil that gives this spirit its distinct minerality.
With notes of bonfire smoke, roasted pineapple and lime citrus, it would make an excellent fruit-flavoured mezcal margarita.
Score: 82/100
If you're looking to dip your toe into mezcal, Dangerous Don is an approachable place to start. With vibrant notes of fresh-cut grass, sweet agave and a twist of citrus, it strikes a lovely balance without tipping into the intense smokiness often associated with this spirit.
That subtle character makes it a hardworking addition to your bar cart – perfectly suited for classic cocktails with a twist, such as a mezcal old fashioned.
Score: 82/100
This mezcal makes a bold first impression, starting with a gentle whisper of smoke on the nose, followed by rich notes of ripe agave and dried orange peel.
Take a sip and you're met with juicy tropical fruit, and a touch of minerality with a smoky flourish that fans of peaty Islay whiskies will love. It’s a confident pick for cocktails – think a mezcal old fashioned or smoky margaritas with serious character.
Score: 82/100
Celebrity spirits can be hit or miss, but Breaking Bad stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have struck gold with Dos Hombres. This artisanal mezcal is full of flavour; you’ll find mineral-rich layers, aged agave and a touch of earthiness, with hints of sweet vanilla and caramel adding softness. This leads to tropical fruit like pineapple and mango, a touch of bay leaf, and perfectly balanced smoke to round things out.
Whether you’re sipping it neat or serving up a chic cocktail, this approachable mezcal is a standout bottle for newcomers and aficionados alike.
Score: 81/100
As the only reposado in our round-up, you’ll find a very different flavour profile in this honey-coloured spirit. It’s a super smooth sipper with rich, dried fruit, caramel and a whiff of smoke, all wrapped up in a sweet, creamy finish.
We recommend giving it a go in an Oaxacan old fashioned: stir with agave nectar and bitters, pour over ice, and finish with an orange twist.
Score: 77/100
If you’re ready to explore mezcal beyond the expected, Vago is where things get exciting. By infusing roasted corn between distillations, this inventive bottle adds an irresistible layer of sweetness that sets it apart – think toasted popcorn, caramel, and buttery richness with a smoky kick.
This one isn’t for the faint-hearted, but it’s a must-try for adventurous sippers.
Score: 76/100
If you prefer your mezcal on the gentler side, this delicate expression is a great choice. With a more restrained aroma reminiscent of freshly cut grass, along with a citrus hit of orange and lemon, minerality, and just a kiss of smoke on the finish, it’s a clean and subtle introduction to the spirit.
Try it in a clean, crisp and thoroughly refreshing Tommy’s margarita.
Score: 75/100
This mezcal leans confidently into fresh green pepper, cut grass, peppery spice and distinctive cooling menthol and eucalyptus.
While there’s a slightly medicinal edge and the alcohol can feel a bit sharp, the overall effect is fresh, punchy and unmistakably agave-driven. It might not be for everyone, but for fans of vibrant, vegetal spirits, it’s a compelling sip.
Score: 75/100
Straight from Oaxaca’s mezcal heartland, Quiquiriquí is a bold yet approachable introduction to the spirit. With hints of fennel, dill and smoke, it's beautifully balanced.
On the palate, sweet notes are quickly followed by a spicy prickle and vegetal depth – think roasted padrón peppers. It's punchy, aromatic and the ideal base for a citrus-forward Paloma.
How we test mezcal
Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute put 21 mezcals to the test in our state-of-the-art facility in Feltham. The panel is made up of WSET accredited spirits experts, who try each product neat, and again with water, to allow the full flavour spectrum – from sweet and citrusy to smoky and complex – to be assessed.
The samples were also blinded to avoid brand bias. Feedback was collated on the mezcal’s aroma, flavour and finish.
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing products for over 100 years, which means we've got a century of learnings to inform our reviews.
Whether it’s beauty devices, home appliances, health and wellness products or those all-important parenting buys, our dedicated teams are experts in their fields. They design strict testing protocols to ensure fair and unbiased results.
Senior food and drink editor, Stacey Smith, looks after all food and drink reviews, drawing on her extensive knowledge of the wine and spirits industry. She works closely with Callum Black (our food and drink testing manager) who puts them through their paces in the lab, and together, they find the best bottle for every budget.
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What are the different types of mezcal?
Mezcal can be produced in 10 Mexican states, and is categorised as either standard mezcal, the more highly regarded ‘artesanal’ or the more traditional ‘ancestral’ (which accounts for just one percent of mezcal production).
After this, the ageing process follows a similar classification system to tequila.
Joven (or blanco) – Clear and aged for under two months, here you’re trying mezcal in its most natural state. Expect a smoky, earthy flavour, with herbaceous, citrus-spiked notes.
Reposado – Aged in oak for two to 12 months, you’ll find a bit of colouration here. It also starts to develop vanilla and spice notes, on top of the smoky agave base.
Añejo – Aged for one to three years, so a smoother, richer more complex spirit starts to develop.
Extra Añejo – As the name implies, this is even older, and aged for a minimum of three years. This extra time in barrel is reserved for the most premium bottles, and these are therefore more expensive. You should expect an even more well-rounded spirit from these bottles.
Madurado en vidrio – Meaning “aged in glass”, you won't find this term used in reference to tequila. These spirits don’t take on the flavour profile that you get from being aged in oak, so have a purer finish as a result.
Mezcal is also classified by agave variety, as unlike tequila, this spirit can be made with over 30 types, each giving its own distinct style to the finished drink. Most mezcal is made with Espadín, but we've also included a few more premium Tobalá styles, made from a slow-growing, wild agave that demands a higher price tag.
Verdict
Casamigos took the crown for its winning joven mezcal, which is an excellent all-rounder, whether sipping neat or making cocktails.
Just dipping your toe in the water? Ojo De Dios Mezcal is our best budget buy, offering you fruity, floral and smoky notes, with change from £45.
Or, if you’re after a real knock-out gift, we’d invest in the swoon-worthy The Lost Explorer Mezcal Tobalá.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
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