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Ray’s Bar | New York

Opened by John Rexer in the early 2000s, Café No Sé has become the beating heart of an international music scene in Antigua, Guatemala. This is the original home of Ilegal Mezcal + the first mezcal bar opened outside of Mexico.

Bar Ilegal is an experiential outpost of Café No Sé. After stops across the U.S, from Upstate NY in February, through to Florida, California, and Texas in the spring, Nashville, Montauk, and New Orleans in the summer, and back to Dallas in the fall, the Bar Ilegal 2022 tour came to an end November 17th with an absolute blowout at the iconic Ray’s Bar.

Originally planned for just the Basement at Ray’s but upgraded to a full bar takeover once the over 800(!) RSVPs came in, this was a party for the ages. The line wrapped around the block, Ilegal cocktails flowed at both the basement and ground floor bars, and Daniel Cotte provided free Ilegal flash at the tattoo station downstairs. And at 9pm, SUSU brought the packed house to its knees, with an electrifying set, full of crowd surfing, dancing on the bar moments.

We can’t wait to get back out there next year. Until then, plenty to see in the gallery below (photos by Anthony Batista).

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Ilegal Mezcal 7 Year Añejo Launch Party

Ilegal Mezcal helped introduce the world to aged mezcal with our Reposado and Añejo expressions, and our rare, new Limited Edition 7 Year Añejo expands our showcasing of barrel aged innovation and artisanal craft.

On a rainy New York night in November 2022, we gathered a small group of friends, downtown luminaries, and industry leadership into the opulent South Loft of the Soho Grand to commemorate this very special occasion.

Those in attendance were among the first in the world to try the 7 Year Añejo, with a celebratory toast from our Global Brand Ambassador Gilbert Marquez, who also curated the cocktail menu and, along with our dear friend Stefan Marolachakis, played host to the evening’s festivites.

DJ Alberto Pazzi helped set the mood, followed by a lively set from City of the Sun. A classic downtown night, and the perfect way to introduce this exceptional mezcal to the world.

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Jaxon Beer Garden | Dallas

Opened by John Rexer in the early 2000s, Café No Sé has become the beating heart of an international music scene in Antigua, Guatemala. This is the original home of Ilegal Mezcal + the first mezcal bar opened outside of Mexico.

Bar Ilegal is an experiential outpost of Café No Sé. In 2022, our tour has stopped through Hunter (NY), Florida, California, Texas, Nashville, and Montauk, and New Orleans. Our Dallas pop-up at Jaxon Beer Garden went down big, right in the middle of downtown’s AT&T Discovery District. Our bartenders were crafting delicious mezcal cocktails with mixers from our partners Fever-Tree. SUSU brought the fire in front of a giant Ilegal video display, Bar Ilegal tees were screenprinted on the spot, and tattoo artists Travis Smithhart and James Haynes provided the free flash.

See for yourself in our recap video and the gallery below (photos by Sarah Craig)

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Hot Chocolate


3 cups water

1 cup milk or alternative milk

1 bar chocolate (Ibarra)

/ Add ingredients to a pot and bring to a boil. Let boil until chocolate dissolves and let cool.

1.5 oz Ilegal Joven or Reposado

0.5 oz Ancho chili liqueur

2 oz hot chocolate mix

0.5 oz agave nectar

1 dash Angostura bitters

/ To coffee mug: add Ilegal Mezcal, agave, chili liqueur and bitters, fill with chocolate mix and garnish with cinnamon stick.

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Jello Shots

Light, bright, crushable mezcal cocktails you can try at home. Jello Shots ↓


1.25 cups orange juice

1 packet unflavored gelatin

0.75 cups Ilegal Joven

1 sprinkle Tajín

– Add orange juice to a pot and bring to boil
– Add packet of unflavored gelatin and stir until dissolved
– Add Ilegal Mezcal Joven
– Let cool
– Pour into shot glasses and add tajín
– Refrigerate

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