Meet Maestro Mezcalero: Rodrigo Martínez

Fifth-Generation Mezcalero. Son of a Legend. Carrying the Family Torch with Pride.

Rodrigo Martínez is more than our Maestro Mezcalero—he’s family. We often don’t call him by name but simply "hermano." Rodrigo is the magician behind Dos Gabachos Mezcal Pechuga and Wild Cuishe, both handcrafted at his palenque in San Baltazar Guelavía, Oaxaca. His methods are time-honored, passed down through five generations of mezcaleros, including his father, the legendary Don Goyo.

Born into mezcal tradition, Rodrigo's earliest memories are of his great-great-grandfather, Wenceslao, one of the first to distill mezcal in their village. From a young age, Rodrigo learned that mezcal wasn't just a drink—it was a way of life, rooted in family, respect, hard work, and spirit.

What sets Rodrigo's mezcal apart is the personal care he pours into every production. Besides his attention to detail, he uses only fully matured agaves grown on the lands of San Baltazar Guelavía—never outsourced. The water comes from local springs and wells. The wild fermentation process is shaped by the elements and trees that surround his palenque. When we first met Rodrigo and Don Goyo, they showed us how the vegetation, crops, and surrounding environment all influenced the final flavor of their mezcal. We even helped unearth a fresh batch of roasted agave from their earthen oven, tasting the sweet, sap dripping agave, a moment we share through storytelling, time and time again.

Rodrigo believes the most important thing for people to understand is the time and dedication it takes to create mezcal—from cultivating agave over years to the intricacies of distillation. The struggle behind the growth of the plant to his extensive distillation knowledge is reflected in every sip. For Rodrigo, the highlight of each production is tasting the final result. The secret ingredient, he says, is always love.

Rodrigo’s vision aligns seamlessly with ours. We didn’t start this brand to be just another label on a shelf or to chase overnight success. We did it because we fell in love with real mezcal—the kind that you just can't find anywhere, even in Oaxaca. Rodrigo makes that kind of juice and every bottle he produces for us reflects that. He and his father taught us how to test if mezcal has been compromised: rub some on your forearm and take a whiff. If it smells like rubbing alcohol, it's been tampered with. Don Goyo said mezcal always tells the truth.

Our relationship developed organically and didn’t happen overnight. Rodrigo was one of the first mezcaleros we met on our travels, but we didn’t start working together until years later—after becoming true friends. "Hermanos," as we like to say. Our partnership is built on love, honor, respect, and trust.

Rodrigo once told us his greatest hope is for people to sip his mezcal and be transported—to a memory, a moment, a feeling. Maybe one of the "funnest nights" of their life. Maybe something deeper. He hopes through reminiscing, they also will remember the experience of his mezcal in that moment. That’s the magic Rodrigo brings to Dos Gabachos Mezcal.

He wishes that every table his mezcal reaches becomes a place where people drink each sip with respect, due to its craftsmanship and hope they take a genuine interest in what they’re tasting.

When you drink Dos Gabachos Pechuga or Wild Cuishe, you’re not just sipping mezcal—you’re tasting a story that spans generations. Along with his own mezcal brand Revelador, Rodrigo is proud that through Dos Gabachos, he can share his family's work in San Baltazar, especially that of the Martínez Méndez lineage.