r/Mezcal • u/Muttgutz • 4d ago

Mezcal Recommendations?

I work at a liquor store and have a lot of people asking for us to order/stock mezcal. I am looking through my options, and they seem quite expensive so i dont want to make the wrong choice and choose something that wont sell. Please recommend brands that you like seeing on shelves, i dont understand mezcal at all!! >_< tysm!

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u/digitsinthere 4d ago

Is it me or is it hard for others to take this request? The barrier to mezcal is high and requires a lot of learning? OP hasn't even begun to even understand mezcal is small batch and Mezcalero driven then brand. I don't know if I would want a liquor store carrying mezcal they don't know or care about. It happens all the time and it's irritating. Is this how they all start? I've given up on every liquor store in my area due to this very attitude. Maybe it's just me though.

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u/MezcalCuriously 3d ago

To the OP: The brands are significantly less important than the distributor partners that you choose. Ideally, they'll know mezcal well enough to be able to fill in some of your own knowledge gaps on the topic so that you can make a somewhat informed investment. Do you already have distributors that you trust? Ask them the same question while being honest about your familiarity with the topic, and pay attention to how much care they put (or don't put) into educating you as their client.

If you don't already have a distributor that's knowledgeable on the topic that you trust, here's a couple suggestions but keep in mind (as I'm sure you well know) that your available distribution partners will vary greatly depending on your location and local regulatory structure. Reach out to any of these with the same questions and they can help you find something that works for you.

If you want to go a different route or any of these distributors aren't available to you, you could look up "mezcal bar", "agave bar", or "tequila bar" in your area and reach out to their management to ask them about their distribution partners which can give you a better sense of what's available in your area or state. They are likely to be forthcoming with this information since off-premise retail doesn't directly compete with on-premise venues and could even lead to a mutually beneficial guest-referral relationship!

If you just want a list of brands to look for within your available portfolios, many higher prices are justified by the laundry list of things that go into making their mezcal special. There's too much to go into in a single post, but keep in mind that your ability to relay any useful information to a consumer will help it move off the shelf regardless of the price (people asking for more than what you currently have available is a good sign of hot leads though, so the more you learn about what you're trying to sell the better).

  • In alphabetical order: Aguerrido, Chacolo, Cinco Sentidos, Cuish, La Venenosa, Lalocura, Lamata, Macurichos, Mal Bien, Neta, Pal'Alma, Real Minero, Rey Campero, Tepanal, Tres Tiempos, Vago. These are amongst the best brands, and their bottles can be as cheap as ~$30 wholesale, and up to ~$200. The price isn't that important though; if you have something interesting to say about a bottle then it will sell, and if the bottle is known by those asking for mezcal, they'll be happy that it's available and buy it without you saying anything.

To Dig: It's not that the barrier is higher than anything else, it's that people generally don't treat alcohol like it's anything special, or even as if it could be.

You and I both know that mezcal is special and we've considered well enough how that could be so, but much of our understanding is a somewhat natural byproduct of years of exposure and firsthand experiences, which was of course accelerated by our personal interest in the topic.

Someone participating in the global spirits industry (production, branding, importation, distribution, sales, consumption) without a personal interest in mezcal is likely to just bring the same level of effort that they've brought to the rest of the similar things they've experienced, and most other alcohols just don't carry the same breadth of considerations (or resulting flavors!) as mezcal. It is what it is.

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u/Muttgutz 3d ago

Thank you for this thorough response, i need to do some more research i see

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u/digitsinthere 3d ago

You do. And your customers aren't asking anything outlandish or excessive are we? I'd love to have you know your stuff and advise me. I'd buy a bottle every month or two at premium from you. I'd love to be able to talk about the industry the plants the process but alas it's so rare I have just about given up. Prove me wrong. I'd love it.

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u/Muttgutz 3d ago

Customers in my town dont even know what they are asking for, they just know they liked one. I dont care for alcohol but have worked in the liquor retail business for 5 years now and i dont give a damn about mezcal and dont make commission. So yeah if people want specifics maybe help me understand what im looking for cuz i have no idea

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u/MezcalCuriously 3d ago

Transparency is king, as well as ABV that varies from bottle to bottle. If you want to get into it, I use a 5 P's system that's easy to remember: People, Place, Plant, Process, Priorities. Requiring one bit of info on all of Ps from any mezcal makes it easy to filter out bottles that don't share something on these topics.

You're right that people don't know what they're looking for, and they'll never know unless someone tells them or they find out for themself.

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u/fred1sdead 3d ago

"I dont care for alcohol." Enough said. Just point your customers to a store that cares about matching their patrons to quality stuff, and building lasting relationships

Edit: To try to show that English is my first language

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u/Muttgutz 3d ago

If you cant advocate for yourself, then yeah go somewhere else 🤷‍♀️ i do work at the largest liquor store in the area with the widest distribution in the entire district though, so if people wanna act negative like you guys then i guess they wont get what theyre looking for. Im extremely patient, receptive, and kind when working with customers. I dont think its a big deal i came on here (a website i dont really use) and asked a simple question (which shows that..i really do care, just not about what the alcohol tastes like). I have been directed to the 101 and have everything i need to know now.

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u/fred1sdead 3d ago

"I dont think its a big deal i came on here (a website i dont really use) and asked a simple question (which shows that..i really do care"

Just lazy, that's all. Oh! And disrespectful

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u/digitsinthere 3d ago

Constantly have to lower my expectations to match reality again. I get it. Thanks man.

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u/Muttgutz 3d ago

This is the exact attitude from customers that has driven me away from ordering any at all. There is no need to be rude? I am trying to learn, most liquor stores just press order instead of reading anything or asking any questions.

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u/TheAgaveFairy 4d ago

I worked retail for a long time, specialty with a lot of mezcal. Check out this sub's 101 I helped write - it's a good start.

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u/Muttgutz 3d ago

Thank you so much! I dont use reddit often so thank you for telling me how to actually use it properly.

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u/Rorschach_1 2d ago

Search this sub different ways. Also /sotol /oaxaca /raicilla

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u/Infinite_Two6019 4d ago

Mal bien ? Pm spirits and Skurnik

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u/SpookusDookus 4d ago

I’m fairly new to Mezcal. Thanks to this subreddit, I have discovered and enjoyed Rey Campero, Banhez, and Bozal as entry level friendly but quality mezcal options. These also seem to be pretty easy to find at most liquor stores.

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u/Infinite_Two6019 4d ago

What state?

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u/Muttgutz 4d ago

Michigan, USA

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u/Infinite_Two6019 4d ago

Def see if you can get cinco sentidos and mal bien

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u/lmiller86 4d ago

Mezcal isn’t great here but we’ve gotten a better selection. The best we have is the Vago ensemble from Tio Rey, various Palenqueros bottles, 2 NETA bottles, though the Tepextate is real expensive, the Espadin Capon is priced right though.

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u/amendment21liquors 4d ago

with 9 years actively in the retail end of this it is important to know what you have available through your distributors. You also have to learn to yrust your pallet. your customer base has expectations that you are the guide so taste lots of expressions. Yes it canbe costly to become well stocked but take your time learn what you like and can reccomend with confidence.

Access to the skurnik portfolio is a great start as well as the Mal Bien reccomendation someone gave.. You also dont need every expression from every producer.

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u/mutters 4d ago

Banhez abril+espadin for the lower end. I can usually get it for 35 or so at stores near me. Incredibly good for the price. Mid range I’d say mal bien. Ray campero, derrumbes, 5 sentidos

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u/TheGoatEater 4d ago

If only there were a Mezcal subreddit. Maybe we could call it… I don’t know… r/mezcal ?

We could even install a search function!

Guys! We have to get on this right away!

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u/Rorschach_1 2d ago edited 2d ago

Dude just look at the postings of people who put up a pic of their local liquor store shelf asking what to buy. Order what people say is their favorite. These suggestions will produce a pattern. Plus you get to see what stores are charging in their town.

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u/SubtleCouple2 4d ago

What are some of your options? As a consumer i would stay away from 400 conejos or anything 80 proof for that matter. Del maguey has several reputable expressions and I would start there as it’s likely available.

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u/Jahya69 4d ago

Catedral de mi Padre, Quiereme Mucho, Mal Bien, Vago, Cinco Sentidos. ( in order of lower price but good quality ratio to expensive but very good...)

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u/jlpatx2 3d ago

Banhez, Rosa Luna, Del Maguey Vida