Us vs. Them
Dos Gabachos vs. Dos Hombres
Dos Hombres is a celebrity-backed mezcal brand built by two actors from a television series. Here’s how our approach compares: craft, process, and philosophy.
Dos Gabachos
Dos Gabachos is owned by its three founders: David Martin Jr., Richard Policastro, and Victor Castillo. Built independently from the ground up. Born from the Los Angeles hospitality industry and rooted in Mexican heritage, Dos Gabachos combines decades of bar experience with firsthand relationships with the mezcaleros who craft every bottle.
Dos Hombres
Founded by actors Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston, Dos Hombres entered the spirits market with celebrity recognition behind the brand. Since then, Constellation Brands acquired a minority stake in the company. The brand has since expanded beyond mezcal into tequila.
| Attribute | Dos Gabachos | Dos Hombres |
|---|---|---|
| Agave | Single-estate Espadín from Abel Martínez in Santo Domingo Albarradas. Fully mature 8-year agave, bottled one batch at a time. | Espadín sourced from multiple family producers in San Luis del Río, blended across batches to meet national retail volume. Agave harvested between 6 and 8 years. |
| Cook method | Underground earthen pit (horno cónico), for 5 days | Underground earthen pit ovens for 4 days |
| Crush | Stone tahona, horse-pulled, no machines | horse-drawn tahona wheel |
| Fermentation | Wild yeast, open-air wood vats, natural spring water, 12 to 15 days | Wild yeast, wooden tubs, mountain spring water, 7 to 10 days |
| Still | Copper, double-distilled, no machines | Copper, double-distilled |
| ABV | 45% (90 proof) | 42% (84 proof) |
| Tasting notes | Roasted tropical fruit from Santo Domingo Albarradas, spiced wood, earth tones, bright citrus, smooth, dry finish | (per their marketing & reviewers) Apple, mango, local Oaxacan fruits, wood, light smoke |
| Maestro Mezcalero | Abel Martinez, Santo Domingo Albarradas | Gregorio Velasco, San Luis del Rio |
Dos Hombres set out to create a mezcal brand. We traveled through Mexico, discovered mezcal, and fell in love with the craft, the culture, and the people behind it. While they built a celebrity-backed spirits brand, we went deeper into Oaxaca, building lasting relationships with the families and mezcaleros who have dedicated their lives to this tradition. For us, mezcal was never a trend to join; it was a found passion and tradition to respect. The difference is in the glass. Their flagship Espadín is bottled at 84 proof, the safe choice: easier to sell at scale. Our flagship Espadín is bottled at 90. Proof doesn't make flavor; it reveals it. At 90, there's no water to hide behind, so the cuts have to be clean and the agave has to be right. We harvest only fully mature agave, cut the heads and tails at distillation, and use no machines in the process. That's why ours tastes the way it does. We think one sip settles it. Taste them side by side and decide for yourself. The mezcal will tell the story.
Beyond the Flagship
Three maestros, four agave varieties, and the refrescadera, a single-distillation method almost no one else still uses.
Wild Tobalá
15-year wild agave, single-distilled using the refrescadera method by Maestro Eugenio López García.
Wild Tepeztate
Same single-distillation refrescadera method and maestro. Notes of black cherry, licorice, vanilla.
Wild Cuishe
13-15 year agave, made by fifth-generation Maestro Rodrigo Martínez.
Pechuga
Triple-distilled with seasonal fruit and a chicken breast suspended over the still, the ancestral method for celebratory mezcal.
Rose
Rested 45 days in red wine barrels, colored naturally with cochineal.
Common Questions
Who owns Dos Gabachos Mezcal?
Dos Gabachos is independently owned by its three founders, David Martin, Richard Policastro, and Victor Castillo. No outside investor, no corporate parent.
Is Dos Hombres mezcal owned by a big company?
Dos Hombres was founded by actors Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston in 2019. Constellation Brands, the beverage conglomerate behind Svedka and the US Modelo business, took a minority stake in 2021.
Is Dos Hombres a small, independent brand?
It was founded independently in 2019, but since 2021 Constellation Brands, one of the largest beverage companies in the world, has held a minority stake in the company.