Mezcal ranges from 70 to 110 proof (35% to 55% ABV). Most bottles you’ll find at a bar or liquor store sit around 80 to 90 proof, though plenty of traditional expressions push well above that. Mexican law sets both the floor and the ceiling: anything labeled “mezcal” must fall within that 35–55% ABV window to earn certification.
The Legal Range: 35% to 55% ABV
Mexico’s official standard for mezcal, known as NOM-070-SCFI-2016, requires that the spirit contain between 35% and 55% alcohol by volume, measured at 20°C. In proof terms, that’s 70 to 110. This applies equally to all three production categories: ancestral, artisanal, and industrial (simply labeled “mezcal”). There is no separate ABV rule for a clay-pot-distilled ancestral mezcal versus one made in a column still. The same range governs them all.
The regulatory body that enforces these rules is the Consejo Regulador del Mezcal (CRM). Every certified bottle must display its ABV on the label alongside other required details like the agave species used, the state of production, and the lot number. If a spirit distilled from agave falls outside that 35–55% window, it cannot legally be sold as mezcal.
What Most Bottles Actually Clock In At
While the legal range is broad, most commercial mezcals cluster between 40% and 48% ABV (80 to 96 proof). Del Maguey Vida, one of the most widely available brands, bottles at 42% ABV (84 proof). Many export-focused brands land right around that 40–45% sweet spot, which balances the spirit’s smoky intensity with approachability for cocktail use.
Higher-proof mezcals in the 48–55% range do exist and are prized by enthusiasts. These tend to come from smaller producers making artisanal or ancestral mezcal in limited batches. At higher proof, the spirit carries more of the aromatic compounds that give mezcal its complexity: roasted agave, fruit, earth, and smoke all come through more vividly.
How Mezcal Compares to Tequila
Tequila shares the same legal ABV ceiling of 55%, but its floor is also 35%. In practice, though, the two spirits diverge. The vast majority of tequila sold worldwide sits at exactly 40% ABV (80 proof), the minimum required for sale in the United States. Mezcal is more likely to be bottled at 42%, 45%, or even higher. If you’re used to tequila, expect mezcal to hit a little harder on average, not because the legal limits differ, but because producers and consumers tend to favor a fuller-strength product.
Distilled to Proof vs. Diluted
One reason mezcal often lands at a higher proof than tequila is a traditional practice called “distilling to proof.” In large-scale tequila production, distillers typically produce a high-proof distillate and then add water to bring it down to the target ABV. Many mezcal producers, especially artisanal and ancestral ones, instead control their distillation so the spirit comes off the still at or near the final bottling strength, with little or no water added afterward. This preserves more of the flavor compounds created during fermentation and distillation.
Mezcaleros have a centuries-old technique for checking alcohol content without any lab equipment. They pour a thin stream of the distillate into a small cup or hollowed gourd and watch the bubbles, called “perlas” (pearls). Between roughly 45% and 55% ABV, the bubbles form in a distinctive, long-lasting pattern. Outside that range, they shrink and pop quickly. Experienced distillers can gauge the ABV to within about 1% just by reading the pearls. This method is still used in small-batch production today, though modern mezcal must ultimately be verified against lab standards to earn certification.
Why Proof Varies Between Batches
Because most mezcal production isn’t fully industrialized or automated, variation between batches is normal and even expected. The species of agave, the sugar content of a particular harvest, the fermentation conditions, and the distiller’s decisions about when to make cuts during distillation all influence the final ABV. Two batches from the same producer, using the same process, can taste noticeably different. This is part of what draws people to mezcal: each bottle reflects a specific moment in a specific place, rather than a perfectly uniform industrial product.
If you’re shopping for mezcal and proof matters to you, always check the label. The ABV is required to be printed on every certified bottle, so you’ll never have to guess.