Casamigos Mezcal is a premium, small-batch spirit crafted from 100% Espadín agave, roasted in earthen pits in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, and then double-distilled for a clean yet gently smoky profile.
Created by friends George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman as a companion to their award-winning tequila line, it offers an approachable gateway into mezcal, with notes of citrus, herbal mint, and subtle black pepper. Backed by Diageo’s global reach, yet still crafted by fourth-generation mezcaleros, it bridges the worlds of Hollywood cool and authentic Mexican tradition.
Casamigos Mezcal Review – Flavour and tasting
Lift the glass and you are greeted by wafts of tamarind and ripe pomegranate intertwined with fresh mint and dried oregano. A slow sip reveals layers of banana, mango and a touch of earthy mineral before a thread of gentle campfire smoke rises, laced with black pepper that lingers in a silky finish.
What sets it apart from many village mezcals is restraint. The roast character never dominates, and the texture is unusually smooth, given the 40% alcohol by volume, allowing the bright fruit and herb notes to shine. This makes Casamigos Mezcal an easy gateway pour for tequila fans, while still offering enough smoke and spice to mix confidently in cocktails.
The History of Mezcal Casamigos
Casamigos Mezcal traces its story from a backyard dream to global shelves. The timeline below highlights the key moments that shaped the smoky newcomer.
- 2013. Clooney, Gerber, and Meldman create Casamigos for friends, then release it to the public.
- 2017. Diageo buys the brand for up to $1 billion, with the founders staying involved.
- 2018. Casamigos Mezcal Joven debuts in Oaxaca, crafted from 100% Espadín agave.
- 2022. The brand is named the fastest-growing spirit on the planet.
- 2025. Casamigos Mezcal Joven wins a Silver Medal at the Bartender Spirits Awards.
Awards and recognition 2025
Apart from the silver medal at Bartender Spirits Awards Casamigos Mezcal have had a very succesfull year with silver at San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Apart from that they have won Gold medal at following events:
- Los Angeles International Spirits Competition
- LA Spirits Awards
- New York International Spirits Competition
- BEVERAGE TESTING INSTITUTE
- Sip Awards
How to buy Casamigos Mezcal Joven
Buying Casamigos Mezcal is simple both online and in stores. In the U.S., use the brand’s “Where to Buy” tool; enter your ZIP and see nearby shops or delivery links. Major retailers like ReserveBar and ShopSK also accept secure online payment and ship nationwide.
Across Europe, you’ll find bottles in many countries. Examples include The Whisky Exchange (UK), La Grande Épicerie (France), Urban Drinks (Germany) and El Corte Inglés (Spain).
Reception by Critics and Consumers
Professional judges have been kinder than die-hard agave geeks. At the 2025 Bartender Spirits Awards, Casamigos Mezcal Joven claimed a silver medal and 87 points for its light smoke and clean finish.
Lifestyle writers such as Forbes praise the spirit’s “uncannily smooth” feel and near-absence of burn, framing it as an easy entry for tequila fans. Thirty-One Whiskey scored it 3.5/5, calling it a well-executed mezcal that sips well yet really shines in cocktails, even if it falls short of greatness.
Enthusiast forums tell a different story. On MezcalReviews, the bottle averages just 1.19/5 from more than fifty users, with many complaining of medicinal aromas, overpowering smoke, and a premium price tag. The split verdict reveals that mainstream drinkers are embracing its polish, while purists miss the rustic punch.
Production Methods
Casamigos insists that its mezcal remains true to old-school craft while still being smooth enough for casual sipping. The team partners with a fifth-generation mezcalero family in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, and follows time-tested steps from field to bottle. The process is slow, almost ritual, and every batch is tasted by the founders before release.
- Agave selection: Only mature Espadín agaves aged eight to nine years are selected, providing high natural sugar for a rich flavor.
- Harvest and split: Jimadores remove the pencas, halve the heavy piñas, and haul them to the palenque the same day to preserve freshness.
- Pit roasting: Piñas cook for four to six days in earth ovens lined with volcanic rock. Oak fires smoulder beneath, infusing gentle smoke without scorching the hearts.
- Rest and crush: After a 24-hour cool-down, a stone tahona wheel, pulled by horsepower, macerates the soft agave into sweet fibres and juice.
- Wild fermentation: Fiber and mosto ferment openly in wooden vats for six to eight days, driven by ambient yeast and local climate.
- Double distillation. The mash is twice distilled in covered copper pot stills, refining flavor while keeping a measured 40 percent ABV.
- Rest and proof. Fresh spirit rests about a month, then is cut with mountain spring water, tasted, and bottled artfully by hand.
Other Casamigos Products
Casamigos began as a tequila house before it ever dreamed of mezcal. Today, the lineup covers classic agave spirits and convenient ready-to-drink cocktails.
- Casamigos Tequila Blanco delivers crisp Blue Weber agave at 40% ABV, ideal for bright citrus mixes.
- Casamigos Tequila Reposado rests for seven months in American oak, adding soft caramel and gentle cocoa notes.
- Casamigos Tequila Añejo spends fourteen months ageing, bringing rich vanilla, toasted oak and a long honeyed finish.
- Casamigos Cristalino Reposado starts as reposado, then undergoes charcoal filtration, emerging crystal clear yet subtly sweet and oaky.
- Casamigos Mezcal Joven is crafted from Espadín agave in Santiago Matatlán, offering restrained smoke with fresh herbal and fruity notes.
- Casamigos Margaritas RTD line features canned cocktails at 10% ABV in flavours such as Classic Lime, Strawberry Colima Lime, Passionfruit Prickly Pear and Guava Hibiscus.
