Mezcal: three categories, several classes
Under NOM-070-SCFI-2016, every mezcal label states one of three categories — Mezcal, Mezcal Artesanal or Mezcal Ancestral — depending on how the agave is cooked, crushed, fermented and distilled. Labels also show a class such as Blanco or Joven, Madurado en Vidrio, Reposado, Añejo, Abocado con or Destilado con, plus the agave species. Certification is administered through the Consejo Regulador del Mezcal (opens in a new tab), and the protected territory covers specific states and municipalities that have been expanded over time.
Destilado de agave
Spirits made from agave outside the mezcal or tequila certification systems are commonly labelled “destilado de agave”. In our catalog this group is large — 117 listings — and includes many traditionally made spirits from Oaxaca, Guerrero, Puebla and Michoacán. They cannot be sold as mezcal, so your importer must use the correct product name and classification.
Raicilla
Raicilla is an agave spirit from western Jalisco. Its denomination of origin was published in Mexico's Diario Oficial de la Federación on 28 June 2019 (opens in a new tab) and covers 16 municipalities in Jalisco plus Bahía de Banderas in Nayarit. Our catalog includes 19 raicilla listings; confirm whether each product is certified under the denomination or labelled differently.
Sotol and bacanora
Sotol is distilled from Dasylirion, the desert spoon — a plant related to agave but not one — and is associated with Chihuahua, Coahuila and Durango. Bacanora is an agave spirit from Sonora with its own denomination of origin. Our catalog lists 15 sotols and 2 bacanoras, plus a bacanora liqueur.
What to confirm before importing
- The exact sales name and category on the label, and whether your market recognises it.
- Plant species, region, producer and batch or lot number.
- Bottle count available in the lot and whether the expression will be repeated.
- ABV and bottle size accepted in your destination.
- Certification documents and certificate of origin for preferential duty.
Browse the mezcal and raicilla, sotol and agave distillates categories, or read how we label Mexican origin.
General information only, not legal, tax or customs advice. Requirements change; confirm current rules with the relevant authorities and your customs broker.