If you’ve ever wondered how mezcal began appearing in bars worldwide, you can pretty much look straight at John Rexer. It began in 2004, when all Rexer was trying to do was solve his mezcal supply problem by bringing the agave expression from Oaxaca to Antigua to supply his bar, Café No Sé. Solving that problem has since turned into Ilegal Mezcal, a brand, and founder known globally for its commitment to paying fair wages, biodiversity, and economic sustainability for Oaxacan communities. From the beginning, Rexer and Ilegal Mezcal’s partners, Mal de Amor, prioritized sustainability and biodiversity of the spirit by farming Espadín agave using traditional production methods without additives. Additionally, Ilegal supports environmental initiatives using 100% recycled glass for its bottles, which requires 30% less energy and emits less CO2 than regular glass.
