Us vs. Them
Dos Gabachos vs. El Silencio
El Silencio built its name as an LA-founded mezcal. Here's who's actually running it now, and how the liquid compares.
Dos Gabachos
The founders, the maestro relationships, and the ownership structure are unchanged since the first bottle.
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 | Single-estate Espadín from Abel Martínez in Santo Domingo Albarradas. Fully mature 8-year agave, bottled one batch at a time. | Espadín from multiple farms across the region, blended across harvest batches for wide-scale distribution. Agave 8 to 12 years. |
| Cook method | Underground earthen pit (horno cónico), 5-7 days | Earthen pit, roughly 4 days |
| Crush | Stone tahona, horse-pulled, no machines | solar-powered, mechanical arm tahona wheel |
| 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 |
| ABV | 45% (90 proof) | 43% (86 proof) |
| 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 |
El Silencio was built in Los Angeles, and Constellation Brands bought a stake in 2019. A whiskey holding company acquired it outright in 2025. The founders are gone; the name remained. Dos Gabachos operates the way it began: the same three owners and the same maestro, Abel Martinez, behind every batch of our Espadín since the first.
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.