Bacardi Acquires ILEGAL Mezcal – a Leading Artisanal Mezcal Brand in the U.S.
11.9.2023 15:30:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held international spirits company in the world, announced today the completion of a transaction that makes the family-owned company the sole owner of ILEGAL Mezcal®, a leading super premium artisanal mezcal.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911109816/en/
Bacardi Acquires ILEGAL Mezcal, a Leading Artisanal Mezcal Brand in the U.S. (Photo: Business Wire)
The transaction follows a successful relationship in which Bacardi partnered with ILEGAL since 2015.
The super premium plus mezcal category is growing at a fast pace and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16% over the next five years according to IWSR. Between now and 2027, the agave category – which includes both mezcal and tequila – is expected to be the sixth largest category globally, and it recently overtook American Whiskey to become the second largest category (by value) in the U.S. At 86% of global market share, the United States dominates the super premium mezcal category. (Source: 2022 IWSR).
“We believe that ILEGAL has the credentials to own and lead the super premium mezcal category at a global level. ILEGAL perfectly complements our portfolio and bringing it into our business sets the brand up for even greater growth as mezcal captivates more and more consumers,” says Barry Kabalkin, Vice Chairman of Bacardi Limited.
“Bacardi and ILEGAL have a shared commitment to communities, quality, and environmental sustainability that we will build upon together as we look to invest for the long term. As a family-owned business for seven generations, we are always building for the future to maintain the legacy that is Bacardi,” says Mahesh Madhavan, Bacardi Limited Chief Executive Officer.
ILEGAL, recognized globally for its lifestyle branding, also prides itself on being a responsible and sustainable business. They work with fourth-generation maestros mezcaleros in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico. ILEGAL Mezcal is double distilled in small batches using 100% Espadin agave. ILEGAL Mezcal is 100% natural and uses no artificial colors, yeasts, flavors, or additives. It is certified as artisanal mezcal by the Consejo Regulador del Mezcal (CRM).
John Rexer created ILEGAL in 2006, after years of working with small distillers in Oaxaca to make mezcal for his bar in Guatemala. John’s goal has been to bring the finest artisanal mezcal to a global market. He has worked closely with the distillers in Oaxaca to create sustainable jobs, and to be a positive force in protecting the environment and preserving local culture. John will continue to guide the vision of the brand.
“We are excited about the next stage of the journey,” says John Rexer. “Success for ILEGAL goes beyond seeing more of our bottles on shelves; it’s about building our business the right way. We will always be committed to artisanal production, the Oaxacan community, and our core values. Being a part of Bacardi will bring ILEGAL to a larger audience while maintaining our commitment to sustainability and growing the business responsibly.”
ILEGAL Mezcal is available in Joven, a full-bodied agave flavor with a light smoke; Reposado, aged six months in medium-charred American oak; and Añejo, aged to taste for 13 months using a combination of new and used American oak, medium char barrels.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Bacardi Limited
Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held international spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, PATRÓN® tequila, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF® vodka. Founded more than 161 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 10 countries, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.
About ILEGAL Mezcal
ILEGAL Mezcal was founded in 2006 and is today one of the leading artisanal mezcals in the world. ILEGAL Mezcal is sold in over 40 countries and has won numerous awards for both quality and branding. The brand has won countless awards including a Gold Honor Shorty Award for Brand Identity and was named Agave Spirit of 2022 by Bloomberg. The company prides itself on bringing to market fine aged mezcals as well as its joven expressions. ILEGAL is produced and bottled in Oaxaca, Mexico. The production is 100% artisanal, using ripe espadin agave, pit ovens, tahona mills, and small copper stills. Visit www.ilegalmezcal.com or Instagram.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911109816/en/
Contact information
Jessica Merz, VP Global Corporate Communications, jmerz@bacardi.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
DCO Concludes 5 th General Assembly with Adoption of the Kuwait Declaration on Responsible AI for Global Digital Prosperity7.2.2026 17:41:00 EET | Press release
The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) has concluded its fifth General Assembly, with Member States adopting the Kuwait Declaration on Responsible AI for Global Digital Prosperity and agreeing on actions to advance inclusive, trusted, and scalable digital transformation in the AI age. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260207972901/en/ DCO concludes 5th General Assembly with adoption of the Kuwait Declaration on Responsible AI for Global Digital Prosperity (Photo: AETOSWire) Convened on 4–5 February 2026 under the Presidency of the State of Kuwait, the General Assembly brought together Ministers and Representatives of Member States, alongside Observers, partners, and guest countries, to review progress against the DCO 4-Year Agenda (2025–2028), take joint decisions on multilateral initiatives, and translate shared ambition on AI into delivery. Ministers and representatives reaffirmed their commitment to inclu
Rapid Medical™’s DISTALS Trial Overwhelmingly Positive, Demonstrating Superior Reperfusion with TIGERTRIEVER™ 13 in Medium Vessel Stroke6.2.2026 21:30:00 EET | Press release
Rapid Medical™, a leading developer of active endovascular devices, today announced late-breaking results from the DISTALS multicenter, randomized controlled trial showing that TIGERTRIEVER™ 13 achieved superior brain tissue reperfusion with an excellent safety profile when compared with medical management in medium vessel occlusion (MVO) stroke. The findings were presented in the main closing session at the 2026 International Stroke Conference (ISC). Top-line results showed that the TIGERTRIEVER™ 13 arm demonstrated 3x more successful reperfusion without symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) compared to medical management–86.3% vs 27.7% (p < 0.001). Notably, zero sICH events were reported in the randomized treatment arm treated with TIGERTRIEVER 13. By comparison, sICH rates reported with intravenous thrombolysis alone are higher, ranging from 2 – 6% in contemporary trials.1,2,3 “These results highlight what is possible when both the device and the trial are designed specifically
Al Barari Breaks Ground on The Cape, The Final Chapter of a Legacy6.2.2026 16:46:00 EET | Press release
Al Barari, Dubai’s pioneering nature-led community, has officially marked the groundbreaking of The Cape, its final signature residential development, celebrating two decades of visionary craftsmanship and a continued commitment to creating harmonious living environments rooted in nature. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260206475199/en/ Hazza Zaal, CEO of Al Barari Real Estate Group, alongside the Sales and Construction teams at The Cape Groundbreaking Ceremony, marking a milestone in Al Barari’s final signature development. (Photo: AETOSWire) The milestone ceremony signals the beginning of a landmark chapter for Al Barari, as The Cape represents the culmination of a 20-year legacy defined by intentional design, wellbeing-focused living, and immersive natural landscapes. Located within Dubai’s green heart, The Cape introduces an enriched lifestyle experience surrounded by lush botanical settings, gentle water
Quantfury and Sandwich Launch Commercial Series to Encourage Better Choices in Retail Trading6.2.2026 16:00:00 EET | Press release
Quantfury Trading Americas Limited (“Quantfury”), a global brokerage offering commission-free trading at real-time spot prices from major exchanges, has partnered with Sandwich, a leading creative agency for tech and product videos, to produce a Social Responsibility Commercial Series. The series of commercials incorporates clear, engaging storytelling to prompt viewers to think about common retail trading behaviors—especially high-energy marketing, gamification of speculation, and heavy focus on potential gains without equal attention to risks—and to choose more thoughtful, informed approaches. Lev Mazur, Founder of Quantfury, said: “It’s a pleasure to work with Sandwich, whose visual storytelling is outstanding. Since day one, Quantfury has aimed to question and improve the standard practices in the global retail trading industry.” Adam Lisagor, Founder of Sandwich, added: “A good investment is a story. Quantfury stood out by wanting to tell a real, interesting story first—rather tha
JSS: 2025 Sake Exports Grew Steadily, Reaching a Record 81 Markets6.2.2026 05:00:00 EET | Press release
Sake exports continued to expand in 2025 in both value and volume, with export destinations reaching a record 81 countries and regions. Export value increased 6% year on year to 45.9 billion yen, while export volume rose 8% to 33.55 million liters (3.73 million cases on a 9-liter basis), marking the second-highest export performance on record. The average export unit price per 750 ml bottle declined 2% year on year to 1,026 yen. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260205671686/en/ Sake Export Performance by Country (Top 10, 2025) Export value has nearly doubled since 2020, and the CAGR over the past five years reached 14%. This underscores sake’s position as a high-growth category globally. Asia remained the largest export destination, with export value totaling 28.8 billion yen, representing an 8% increase year on year and accounting for 63% of total export value. North America recorded exports of 12.4 billion ye
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom