Mezcal’s popularity has been blowing up over the past decade or so. The Mexican spirit, which can be made with more than 20 diverse varieties of agave, boasted a market value of $338 million in 2022, according to Straits Research. The market intelligence company projects that value to soar to a whopping $2.1 billion by 2031. Wine Enthusiast has similarly noted the growing number of varied mezcals turning up in the U.S. Of the 147 mezcals we’ve tasted since the magazine started reviewing the category in 2006, over 25% (39 bottles) were reviewed in the last year alone. “No doubt, the category has been absolutely skyrocketing,” says Writer-at-Large Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast’s resident spirits reviewer. “New bottlings seem to be coming on the market every day. A large part of that is the ongoing tequila boom, which has stoked interest in all kinds of agave spirits, and mezcal in particular.” You May Also Like: Your Guide to Mezcal—And Why Agave Type Matters The arrival of celebrity-backed mezcal brands hasn't hurt either, she adds. Beloved names—like Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston (whose Dos Hombres made the list below), Lebron James (founder of Lobos 1707) and Cheech Marin (Tres Papalote)—have also drawn more attention to the category. But famous people aside, there’s a reason the world has finally started paying attention to mezcal to the level it deserves. Like wine, there are many different elements that impact the flavor of each bottle: the type of agave used, individual microclimates, differing soil types, plant ripeness, fermentation, distillation techniques and more. “This is an amazing time to be learning about and enjoying mezcal,” says Newman. “Although Mexico has a long tradition of mezcal varieties and expressions, we have never had access to such a wide collection here in the U.S. as we do now.” While all this choice and diversity is great for aficionados, for those who are just dipping their toes into the world of mezcal, choosing a bottle can be incredibly confusing and difficult. Don’t fret: The following picks, which hail from our list of the Top 100 Spirits of 2023, represent the best of the best and are a great place to start. These wide-ranging selections range from a seven-year, French-oak-aged añejo that’s scented with lots of smoke to a 98-point espadin (made with the agave that’s responsible for at least 80% of mezcal sold) that’s macerated for two weeks with a family mole recipe. While any of these picks would certainly elevate a margarita or Oaxacan Old Fashioned, most are ideal for sipping straight up. “Personally, I wouldn't want to mix a $100-and-up mezcal into a cocktail,” warns Newman. Ready to dig in? Let’s go. Best Vegetarian Pechuga Mezcal Best Añejo Mezcal Best Mezcal for Cocktails Best Espadín Mezcal Best Durangensis Mezcal Best Tobalá Mezcal