Updated July 2026.
There is no official cheapest mezcal. Price is not a NOM-070 class. Certified mezcal is 35–55% ABV in one of three process categories. Del Maguey Vida Clásico prints 42% ABV on the official page — an example, not a pick. Typical US bottles print 40%. A 1.5-ounce pour at 40% is one NIAAA drink; at 42% it is about 1.05 drinks.
Related: mezcal taste, Del Maguey labels, mezcal vs tequila strength.
Label vs pour
| Language | 1.5 oz drinks |
|---|---|
| “Cheap / best” | — |
| NOM-070 ABV | From labeled ABV |
| Vida Clásico | 1.05 |
| Typical US bottle | 1.00 |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks. Four pours are four drinks. Pour math: agave drinks.
Sources
- NOM-070-SCFI-2016. delmaguey.com Vida Clásico: 42% ABV.
- Typical US 40%. NIAAA December 2025.