VinePair: We Asked 12 Bartenders: What’s the Best New Mezcal That’s Earned a Spot on Your Bar? (2023)

It wasn’t too long ago that in the United States, enjoying agave spirits meant all tequila, all the time. Nowadays, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the small-batch mezcals now lining bars across the country. Mezcal has outgrown its American reputation as being purely a vehicle for adding intensely smoky notes to cocktails: The spirit can offer many flavor profiles, from vegetal to floral, or even savory and spiced, depending on how and where it is made. To learn about some of the coolest bottles on the U.S. market right now, we asked bartenders across the country to share the bottles they’re the most excited about adding to their lineups.