The Squad Riders
Who to trust in the mezcal world. From the legends who built the culture to the shills who exploit it.
How We Rank
Our credibility score (1-10) considers: depth of production knowledge, transparency about brand relationships, consistency of recommendations, willingness to criticize bad actors, and years of genuine advocacy before mezcal became trendy.
The untouchables. Decades of credibility. Would never sell out.
Consistently reliable. Transparent about any conflicts.
Generally good, but verify their recommendations.
Some good content, but commercial interests cloud judgment.
Approach with skepticism. Financial conflicts likely.
Pure marketing. Zero credibility. Ignore completely.
LEGEND
out of 10
Ulises Torrentera
@insaboramezcalAuthor of "Mezcalaria" and founder of In Situ. The godfather of mezcal appreciation.
WHY THIS RANKING
Literally wrote the book on mezcal culture. Decades of advocacy before it was trendy. Never sold out.
GREEN FLAGS
- • Academic rigor
- • Producer relationships spanning decades
- • Never promotes industrial brands
out of 10
Silvia Philion
@mezcalogiaFounder of Mezcalogía in Oaxaca. Educator, advocate, and fierce defender of traditional mezcal.
WHY THIS RANKING
Her educational tastings have converted thousands. Refuses to carry anything that doesn't meet her standards.
GREEN FLAGS
- • Rejects paid promotions
- • Deep producer relationships
- • Calls out fakes publicly
out of 10
Erick Rodríguez
@faboramezcalMezcalero behind Fane Kantsini. Makes some of the most sought-after mezcal on earth.
WHY THIS RANKING
Doesn't need to promote - his mezcal speaks. Refuses to scale up despite demand.
GREEN FLAGS
- • Production over promotion
- • Keeps batches tiny
- • Community-focused
TRUSTED
out of 10
Lou Bank
@loubankFounder of SACRED (Saving Agave for Culture, Recreation, Education, and Development).
WHY THIS RANKING
Puts conservation and producer welfare above everything. Non-profit approach to advocacy.
GREEN FLAGS
- • Non-profit focus
- • Conservation work
- • Producer-first philosophy
out of 10
Mezcal Reviews
@mezcalreviewsComprehensive database of mezcal reviews and producer information.
WHY THIS RANKING
Transparent methodology, no paid placements, community-driven ratings.
GREEN FLAGS
- • No sponsored content
- • Transparent scoring
- • Calls out bad actors
out of 10
Susan Coss
@mezcoutingMezcal educator and advocate based in the US. Runs educational events and tastings.
WHY THIS RANKING
Consistent quality recommendations. Transparent about brand relationships.
GREEN FLAGS
- • Discloses partnerships
- • Focuses on small producers
- • Educational approach
SOLID
out of 10
Thirsty Agave
@thirstyagaveAgave spirits content creator with focus on tasting notes and education.
WHY THIS RANKING
Good palate, honest reviews, but occasionally features sponsored content.
GREEN FLAGS
- • Detailed tasting notes
- • Covers small producers
RED FLAGS
- • Some sponsored posts
- • Occasionally features mass-market brands
out of 10
Mezcal PhD
@mezcalphdAcademic approach to mezcal with focus on production science.
WHY THIS RANKING
Good technical content, though sometimes overly focused on big brands.
GREEN FLAGS
- • Scientific rigor
- • Educational content
RED FLAGS
- • Brand partnerships not always disclosed
MIXED
out of 10
Tequila Matchmaker
@tikilamatchmkrApp and content platform covering tequila and mezcal.
WHY THIS RANKING
Useful database but increasingly commercial. Paid placements affect rankings.
GREEN FLAGS
- • Comprehensive database
- • NOM verification
RED FLAGS
- • Paid brand placements
- • Ratings influenced by advertisers
- • Promotes industrial brands
out of 10
Various "Mezcal Influencers"
The growing wave of lifestyle influencers who discovered mezcal is trendy.
WHY THIS RANKING
Often prioritize aesthetics over authenticity. Promote whatever pays.
RED FLAGS
- • No production knowledge
- • Promote celebrity brands
- • Paid posts disguised as organic
SUSPECT
out of 10
Brand Ambassadors (Most)
Paid representatives of specific mezcal brands.
WHY THIS RANKING
Literally paid to promote one brand. Their job is marketing, not education.
RED FLAGS
- • Financial conflict of interest
- • Only promote their brand
- • Downplay competitors
out of 10
Bartender Influencers
Bartenders who pivoted to influencer content, often with brand deals.
WHY THIS RANKING
Some are genuine, but many are pay-to-play. Hard to distinguish.
RED FLAGS
- • Undisclosed sponsorships
- • Promote whatever pays
- • Limited production knowledge
SHILL
out of 10
Celebrity Brand Promoters
Celebrities promoting their own mezcal brands or paid to promote others.
WHY THIS RANKING
Zero knowledge, zero credibility. Pure marketing exploitation.
RED FLAGS
- • No mezcal knowledge
- • Promote industrial products
- • Profit over authenticity
- • Often on Wall of Shame
out of 10
Paid Review Sites
Websites that charge for reviews or placement.
WHY THIS RANKING
Pay-to-play model means reviews are advertisements.
RED FLAGS
- • All reviews are positive
- • No disclosure of payment
- • Promote mass-market brands heavily
A Note on This List
Rankings are based on observable behavior, disclosed relationships, and consistency over time. We welcome corrections and updates. The mezcal world is small - reputations are earned through years of genuine advocacy, not bought through marketing budgets. If you think we've missed someone or misjudged, reach out with evidence.