400 Conejos Joven Mezcal Espadín 750ml

Long before mezcal was a global craft-cocktail phenomenon, the Aztecs had already worked out a story to explain its intoxicating effects: agave spirits, they believed, were occupied by 400 rabbits — Centzon Totochtin, each with its own distinct personality, each capable of steering the drinker's mood and behavior in a different direction. Drink enough, and no one could say for certain which rabbit had taken hold of you that night. 400 Conejos takes its name directly from that legend, and it has gone on to become Mexico's best-selling mezcal — the bottle you're most likely to find on a back bar anywhere in the country, produced under the direction of maestro mezcalero Don Tacho in Santiago Matatlán, the Oaxacan town widely regarded as the world capital of mezcal itself.

Don Tacho works entirely with Espadín agave, selecting only plants that have reached full maturity at 8 to 10 years of growth. The piñas are roasted in a traditional stone oven, or horno, to develop the characteristic smoky sweetness that defines the category, then crushed using a horse-drawn tahona before natural fermentation and double distillation in copper stills — a genuinely traditional, artisanal process applied at a scale large enough to make 400 Conejos the most widely available mezcal in Mexico. That combination has earned real recognition: Double Gold at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Mezcal of the Year at the 2025 International Bartender Spirits Awards, where judges specifically praised its "approachable balance of smoke, cooked agave sweetness, and herbal complexity" — qualities that have made it both a bartender favorite and a genuine consumer staple.

Crystalline and colorless with shiny silver nuances and real body in the glass, the nose opens with campfire and ash, accompanied by faint ripe fruits, light herbal notes, and a hint of citrus. The palate is soft, with hints of fresh wood subtly combined with sweet notes of cooked agave, closing on a pleasant, gentle smokiness rather than an aggressive, medicinal burn. This is mezcal built specifically to be approachable — smooth enough for a first-time drinker, versatile enough for serious bartenders building a Mezcal Margarita, an Oaxaca Old Fashioned, or a smoky Paloma, and genuinely well-made enough to have earned some of the category's most credible awards along the way.

Origins & Craftsmanship

400 Conejos is produced in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca — a town so central to mezcal production it's known throughout Mexico as the world capital of the spirit — under the direction of maestro mezcalero Don Tacho. The brand takes its name from Centzon Totochtin, the 400 rabbit gods of Aztec mythology, believed to embody the varied and unpredictable effects of agave-based intoxication; the legend holds that everyone who drinks mezcal is, in some sense, taken over by one of the 400 rabbits, each with its own distinct personality. 400 Conejos is owned by Casa Cuervo and has become Mexico's best-selling mezcal brand, produced almost entirely from 100% Espadín agave.

Don Tacho selects Espadín agave only after it has reached full maturity, typically between 8 and 10 years of growth. The harvested piñas are roasted in a traditional stone oven (horno) to develop the mezcal's characteristic smoky sweetness, then crushed using a horse-drawn tahona — a traditional stone wheel method still practiced by artisanal producers throughout Oaxaca. The crushed agave undergoes natural fermentation before double distillation in copper pot stills. The finished spirit is bottled at 40% ABV for the United States market (38% ABV in Mexico) as a Joven, meaning entirely unaged — bottled directly after distillation to preserve the pure, unadulterated character of the roasted agave.

Critics Reviews

Mezcal of the Year — 2025 International Bartender Spirits Awards (IBSA)

Double Gold Medal — 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

400 Conejos official tasting notes:
"Crystalline colorless with shiny silver nuances and great body. Aromas of campfire and ash, accompanied by faint ripe fruits and light herbal notes. The flavor is soft with hints of fresh wood that are subtly combined with sweet notes of cooked mezcal. A pleasant and smoky finish."

Mezcal Reviews (independent community, balanced perspective):
"400 Conejos Joven is used mostly for mixed drinks and is one of the most commonly found mezcals in Mexico... This is the #1 entry level mezcal you will find in Mexico. I've gotten used to using it in cocktails, and for a sipper this is not the product I would choose personally. It does taste like a commercialized product, so no surprises. For the price point and what this was intended for, it's pretty good."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Crystalline and colorless with shiny silver nuances and real body in the glass. Campfire and ash lead the aromatic profile, accompanied by faint ripe fruits and light herbal notes. A distinct smoky character combines with fresh agave, complemented by a hint of citrus and a subtle floral undertone.

Palate
Soft and approachable, with hints of fresh wood subtly combined with sweet notes of cooked agave. Well-balanced throughout, delivering gentle warmth without ever becoming aggressive or medicinal — a genuinely smooth, easy-drinking profile.

Finish
Pleasant and smoky, clean and satisfying — inviting another sip rather than overwhelming the palate. A gentle, well-integrated close that reflects the brand's broader positioning as an approachable, versatile mezcal built for both sipping and mixing.

Quick Overview

Cocktail Suggestions

Mezcal Margarita
2 oz 400 Conejos Joven · fresh lime juice · agave nectar. The cooked agave sweetness and citrus notes integrate seamlessly with the smoky base.

Oaxaca Old Fashioned
Paired with reposado tequila and mole bitters, the smoky backbone adds depth without dominating.

Mezcal Paloma
2 oz 400 Conejos Joven · grapefruit soda · fresh lime. Grapefruit amplifies the tropical and herbal qualities while the smoke provides a savory counterpoint.