Food & Wine / The Best Premium Mezcals, According to Professionals
Mal Bien is a label that highlights various mezcaleros from villages throughout Mexico. The clean, oily Mal Bien Alto is produced by mezcalero Don Isidro Rodriguez Montoya from Rio de Parras, Michoacán. "This mezcal, made from the Alto varietal, is bright, mineral-driven with notes of slate, and a touch of watermelon-rind sweetness," says Erik Lund, Bar Director at Pretty Dirty. "It's fermented in underground stone pits with a dash of pulque (fermented agave sap) for only 8-10 days before being distilled in wooden stills."
This expression is released in small batches, and is bottled at 46.58% ABV. Because only 244 bottles were produced, it can be a tricky one to source—as is the case with many premium mezcals—but ones on the market typically range from $90 to $150.