Agave spirits are surging in the U.S., with consumers flocking to Mexican exports in droves. Brands across the pricing spectrum are rising as consumer knowledge grows and a class of connoisseurs helps develop the high end of the market. While Tequila, Mexico’s largest spirits export, has been the driving force and chief beneficiary of this blooming interest, mezcal has also seen a tremendous boom. Since 2015, mezcal exports to the U.S. have exploded, growing fivefold to reach over 500,000 cases in 2019, according to an estimate from Impact Databank. Producers and retailers alike are bullish on the category’s future, as consumers embrace home cocktail-making and grow more familiar with mezcal. Globally, mezcal exports reached 827,000 cases in 2019, adding 170,000 cases over 2018.
Retailers see potential for the segment, even…