Us vs. Them
Dos Gabachos vs. Ilegal Mezcal
Ilegal has a genuinely good founder story: an American bar owner smuggling mezcal into Guatemala in guitar cases. It's also now a Bacardi brand, top to bottom.
Dos Gabachos
Owned by its three founders. No conglomerate, no board.
Ilegal
Founded by John Rexer, who began bringing mezcal into his Guatemala bar in the mid-2000s. Bacardi took a minority stake in 2015-16 and became full, sole owner in 2023.
| Attribute | Dos Gabachos | Ilegal |
|---|---|---|
| Agave | Espadín, fully mature 8-year agave | Espadín, roughly 10 years |
| Cook method | Underground earthen pit (horno cónico), 5-7 days | Earthen pit, 5-7 days |
| Crush | Stone tahona, donkey-pulled, no machines | Tahona, horse-drawn |
| Fermentation | Wild yeast, open-air wood vats, natural spring water | Open-air, natural yeast, 7-10 days, pine vats |
| Still | Copper, double-distilled, no machines | Copper, double-distilled |
| ABV | 45% (90 proof) | 40% |
| Tasting notes | Roasted tropical fruit, warm wood and spices, bright citrus, smooth dry finish | Sweet agave, eucalyptus, green apple, citrus, deliberately light smoke |
| Maestro Mezcalero | Abel Martinez, Santo Domingo Albarradas | Hernandez family, Tlacolula |
Ilegal's production is genuinely artisanal, and the founder story is real. But since 2023, every decision runs through Bacardi, one of the largest spirits companies on earth. Dos Gabachos answers to the three of us and to our maestros, full stop.
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
Is Ilegal Mezcal still independent?
No. Bacardi took a minority stake in Ilegal in 2015-16 and became full, sole owner of the brand in 2023.
Who founded Ilegal Mezcal?
Ilegal was founded by John Rexer, who began bringing mezcal into his bar in Antigua, Guatemala, in the mid-2000s and launched the brand in 2006.
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.