Ilegal Mezcal adds Reposado Caribbean Cask Finish
The new limited expression from Ilegal Mezcal was finished in Caribbean rum barrels.
To craft Reposado Caribbean Cask Finish, Ilegal Mezcal was aged in American oak barrels for four to six months. It was then transported to 215 barrels that previously held eight-year-old Caribbean rum, where it rested for up to two months.
"We’ve always welcomed the challenge of what we can create in the mezcal category and are proud of the achievements we and our longtime palenque partners have made in aged mezcal,” said founder John Rexer.
“Ilegal Caribbean Cask Finish takes our Reposado to a new place and speaks to the community-blending spirit Ilegal was founded on, marrying the agave-forward character of Ilegal with the vibrant influence of Caribbean rum casks. We look forward to sharing with our fans far and wide.”
Reposado Caribbean Cask Finish is bottled at 42% ABV and priced at US$50. It will ship via the Ilegal Mezcal website from 16 September and will also be available at select retailers.
On the nose, the mezcal shows notes of caramelised pear and orange, while the palate brings butterscotch and a light wisp of smoke. The rum casks lend tropical fruit and warm spice notes, with a subtle hint of caramel sweetness and butterscotch.
In September 2023, Bacardi purchased Ilegal Mezcal, six years after the company initially took a minority stake in the brand. The two companies have worked together since 2015, and so it was perhaps only a matter of time before rum casks finishing came into play.
