When Dos Hombres started selling their Mezcal, they solely offered a single product. This Joven Espadin Meczal is made of agave plants from San Luis del Rio in Oaxaca.
In December 2020, only about a year later, they extended their lineup with a premium Tobala Mezcal. But as with many celebrity releases, people are skeptical about the Mezcal brand. Is it just another overpriced Mezcal on the market? Or have Aaron Paul & Bryan Cranston, better known as Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, created something that could establish itself on the market, even without celebrity support?
Read our in-depth Reviews on Dos Hombres Espadin & Dos Hombres Tobala Mezcal.
Dos Hombres Espadin Mezcal Review
- Agave type: Espadin
- Age of Agave: 6 years
- Mezcalero: Gregorio Velasco Luis
- ABV: 42% (84 proof)
- Style: Joven
- Price: $60
- Rating: 3/5
About this Mezcal
Their Espadin Mezcal is made from Espadin agave plant harvested in San Luis del Rio, Oaxaca. The piñas are roasted in underground oven pits for 7-10 days before the Mezcalero distills the agave spirit with mountain spring water. As per the two creators, their spirit consists of "a unique blend of the finest Espadin agave, hand-selected from the hillsides of a small village in Oaxaca" go into this liquor.
The brand website promotes the Mezcal as fruity with notes of mango, local fruits, wood, and smoke. Let's see how it does in our tasting:
Aroma (Nose)
After pouring the Mezcal into our tasting glass, you already get a hint of fruity flavors. It smells of apples and citrus fruit paired with sweet, caramelized agave, soft wooden notes, and a subtle earthy aroma. There's only a light alcohol note in the nose and only hints of smoke.
Taste (Palate)
On the palate, you get roasted agave notes with more a prominent spicy alcohol flavor with subtle smoke in the background. After a few sips, I could detect some sweet mango notes, citrus flavors, and hints of apples, but all were very subtle. It has a surprisingly thin consistency and is not as complex as I would have wished.
Finish
The finish was great, with light agave flavors, some pepper, and a spicy kick of alcohol. Nothing too fancy, but a solid finish to round off our tasting.
Overall
Dos Hombres Espadin is not a bad Mezcal. It's smooth and does have all the basics an Espadin Tequila needs. So there is plenty of smooth smoke, citrusy flavors, and some fruity notes. However, due to the relatively low proof, the Espadin Mezcal tastes slightly diluted and lacks complexity. That is a chief cause for criticism, mainly because of the high price tag of $60.
Compared to other celebrity Mezcals, this bottle is far from the worst. And I'm sure that if the price were $40 instead of $60, more Mezcal lovers would appreciate this juice. Overall, a solid 3 out of 5 stars.
Dos Hombres Tobala Mezcal Review
- Agave type: Tobala
- Age of Agave: 25 years
- Mezcalero: Gregorio Velasco Luis
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Style: Joven
- Price: $349
- Rating: 3.5/5
About this Mezcal
The Dos Hombres Tobala is a limited edition released in December 2020. At $349 per bottle, it's a pretty expensive Mezcal. But I want to remember how much time and effort went into such a product. The maguey Tobala used in this Mezcal is 25 years old, and some agaves are even close to thirty years old.
Aroma (Nose)
The scents of this Mezcal are soft and sweet. Peppery notes that remind of Tepeztate agave pair with sweet and fruity flavors like plum, vanilla, and lavender. In the background, you can find a pleasant smoky note that blends in nicely with this very appealing fragrance.
Taste (Palate)
The Mezcal has a rich taste and a complex flavor profile full of herbal, fruity, and floral notes. Notes of rosemary, oregano, mango, plum, and lavender complement the flavors of cooked agave. The texture and mouthfeel are nice and thick, definitely richer than their Espadin juice.
Finish
The finish is soft, sweet, and floral, with raw honey notes and lavender.
Overall
The nose is soft and sweet, with a unique character. The taste is complex combining notes of cooked agave, chocolate, dried fruits, dried herbs, and a slightly lactic flavor. An overall pleasant Mezcal to drink neat at a very high price point.Â
It's hard to judge the fair market value, as you certainly pay extra for branding and limited availability. But if you're alright with that, Dos Hombres Tobala is a worthy addition to your Mezcal shelf. Especially for a Breaking Bad fan.
For our rating, we decided on a decent 3.5 out of 5 stars. It could have been more, but the high price point prevented that.
How is Dos Hombres Mezcal Produced?
Dos Hombres Mezcal is made in a small village called San Luis del Rio, located in quite a remote section of Oaxaca. The man responsible for the actual spirit is Gregorio Velasco Luis. Gregorio is a third-generation Mezcalero who also produced Mezcals for renowned brands like Pierde Almas.
As mentioned, his production process for Dos Hombres is very traditional. But what exactly does that mean? The first Dos Hombres release was an Espadin Mezcal. That means the type of agave used for production is Espadin agave. Those agave plants have to grow for at least six years before it's time for harvesting.
After harvesting, the agave piñas are quartered and cooked in earthen pits. The process of roasting in these underground pit ovens lends the spirit its characteristic taste and brings out the natural sugars in the agave piñas. Also, the milling process is traditional: In a round hole, a horse-drawn tahona stone wheel.
This mashed agave is mixed with spring water and fermented for 7 to 10 days. That takes place in large wooden barrels. The result of this process is called "Tepache." Tepache is the base for the distillation process. Then, loaded in copper stills, the mixture is heated to obtain the final Mezcal.
About the brand
In 2019, Breaking Bad Stars aka Jesse Pinkman & Walter White launched their own Mezcal brand. Two years later, in June 2021, Constellation Brands bought a minority stake in the company.
The Breaking Bad duo has set themselves the goal of creating an excellent Mezcal. Therefore, the production process is strictly traditional. The result is a 100% agave Mezcal made of the finest Espadin agave.
Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston's Mezcal is just one of many Celebrity Mezcals and Tequilas on the market. Products like Casamigos by George Clooney, Teremana Tequila by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, or Eva Longoria's Casa del Sol Reposado are just a few celebrity-owned agave spirits brands.
Cocktails to make with Dos Hombres Mezcal
Particularly their Espadin Mezcal works great in Mezcal cocktails. In combination with other spirits, liqueurs, and fresh ingredients, you'll get smokey drinks with that typical Mezcal punch.Â
Here are some cocktail recipes with Dos Hombres Mezcal you should try to make at home:
Oaxacan Coffee
Mezcal and Amaro are a fantastic fit. And this Oaxacan Coffee cocktail is just another proof for that claim. I recommend using an Amaro Montenegro or Amaro Nonino with this one.
Ingredients
- 1.5oz. Dos Hombres Mezcal
- 1/4oz. Demerara Syrup
- 1oz. Cold Brew
- 3 Dashes Chocolate Mole Bitters
- 3/4oz. Amaro
Preparation
- Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice.
- Shake until the drink is well-chilled.
- Strain over ice into a rocks glass.
Dos Fashioned
The Dos Fashioned is an elegant twist on an Old Fashioned cocktail. Balanced and flavored with bitters and maple syrup, this drink is a beautiful alternative to the classic.
Ingredients
- 1oz. Dos Hombres Mezcal
- 1/4oz. Maple Syrup
- 1oz. Bourbon
- 2 Dashes Orange Bitters
- 4 Dashes Angostura Bitters
Preparation
- Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with plenty of ice.
- Stir until well-chilled.
- Strain over ice into a rocks glass and garnish with a slice of orange.
Dos Hombres Sour
A simple yet delicious riff on a classic sour cocktail. If you want to elevate this basic recipe, try our Mezcal Sour and use Dos Hombres Espadin as the base spirit.
Ingredients
- 2oz. Dos Hombres Mezcal
- .75oz. Agave Syrup
- 1 Egg White
- 1oz. Fresh Lime Juice
Preparation
- Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake without ice (dry shake) for 20 seconds.
- Open the shaker, add ice, and shake again for 10 - 15 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with lime peel.
FAQs
Dos Hombres Espadin Mezcal sells for $60 per bottle. The limited edition Tobala Mezcal is $349 per bottle and comes in special packaging.
Yes, Dos Hombres Mezcal is a good Mezcal but slightly over-priced. It's made of 100% agave and produced by a third-generation Master Mezcalero using quality ingredients and traditional processes.
Dos Hombres Mezcal was co-founded in 2019 by Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, better known as Walter White and Jesse Pinkman from the cult series Breaking Bad.
Yes, even after Constellation Brands acquired a minority stake, the majority of the company is owned by the two Breaking Bad stars.