Us vs. Them
Dos Gabachos vs. El Silencio
El Silencio built its name as an LA-founded craft mezcal. Here's who's actually running it now, and how the liquid compares.
Dos Gabachos
Still run by the three people who started it. Same founders, same relationships, since day one.
El Silencio
Founded in LA in 2013. Constellation Brands took a minority stake in 2019. Fully acquired by IJW Whiskey, a whiskey holding company, in 2025. Reporting indicates the original founders are no longer involved.
| Attribute | Dos Gabachos | El Silencio |
|---|---|---|
| Agave | Espadín, fully mature 8-year agave | Espadín, 7-12 years (Joven is a blend with Mexicano, Tobasiche) |
| Cook method | Underground earthen pit (horno cónico), 5-7 days | Earthen pit, roughly 4 days |
| Crush | Stone tahona, donkey-pulled, no machines | Tahona |
| Fermentation | Wild yeast, open-air wood vats, natural spring water | Open-air, roughly 3-4 days |
| Still | Copper, double-distilled, no machines | Espadín double-distilled; Joven blend's Mexicano and Tobasiche single-distilled |
| ABV | 45% (90 proof) | 40-43%, depending on expression |
| Tasting notes | Roasted tropical fruit, warm wood and spices, bright citrus, smooth dry finish | Subtle smoke, citrus, roasted agave, sweet potato; reviewers often call it a mixer-forward body |
| Maestro Mezcalero | Abel Martinez, Santo Domingo Albarradas | Pedro Hernandez, San Baltazar Guelavila |
The process on paper still looks traditional. What changed is who's behind it, El Silencio is now a line inside a whiskey company's portfolio, with none of its founders still there. Dos Gabachos is still built around the relationship it started with.
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
Are El Silencio's founders still involved with the brand?
No. El Silencio took a Constellation Brands minority investment in 2019 and was fully acquired by IJW Whiskey, a whiskey holding company, in 2025. Reporting indicates the original founders are no longer involved.
Who owns El Silencio mezcal now?
IJW Whiskey wholly owns Mezcal El Silencio as of 2025, after Constellation Brands' earlier minority stake was bought out.
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.