Us vs. Them
Dos Gabachos vs. Vida (Del Maguey)
Del Maguey basically invented the American artisanal mezcal category in 1995. Vida is its entry-level, high-volume line, with a dedicated production facility built to keep up with demand.
Dos Gabachos
One flagship palenque, three maestros we know by name, no dedicated volume facility needed.
Vida (Del Maguey)
Del Maguey was founded by Ron Cooper in 1995 and helped invent the category. Pernod Ricard bought majority control in 2017. In 2023, Pernod Ricard built a new large-scale palenque in Puebla specifically to produce Vida at volume.
| Attribute | Dos Gabachos | Vida (Del Maguey) |
|---|---|---|
| Agave | Espadín, fully mature 8-year agave | Espadín, 7-8 years |
| Cook method | Underground earthen pit (horno cónico), 5-7 days | Roasted underground in a pit oven |
| Crush | Stone tahona, donkey-pulled, no machines | Not tahona-specified at Vida's production scale |
| Fermentation | Wild yeast, open-air wood vats, natural spring water | Wooden vats |
| Still | Copper, double-distilled, no machines | Small wood-fired copper pot stills, twice-distilled |
| ABV | 45% (90 proof) | Roughly 40-42% |
| Tasting notes | Roasted tropical fruit, warm wood and spices, bright citrus, smooth dry finish | Earthy, restrained smoke, light citrus, honeyed roast agave, black pepper; built for mixing |
| Maestro Mezcalero | Abel Martinez, Santo Domingo Albarradas | Multiple family palenqueros across Oaxaca and Puebla, at scale for the Vida line |
Del Maguey built the category. Vida is what happens when a category-defining brand needs to feed cocktail-menu demand: a purpose-built facility designed for volume. Dos Gabachos is still made in one place, at a scale that doesn't need one.
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 Vida the same as Del Maguey?
Vida is Del Maguey's entry-level, high-volume line. Del Maguey is majority-owned by Pernod Ricard, which in 2023 built a new large-scale palenque in Puebla specifically to produce Vida at volume.
Who owns Del Maguey?
Pernod Ricard, one of the largest spirits companies in the world, purchased majority control of Del Maguey in 2017.
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.