Benicio Del Toro Jumps From Acting to Agave With the Launch of Perro Verde Mezcal

(Photos: Jester Jungco/Perro Verde)

Last month, “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Sicario” actor Benicio del Toro splashed into spirits as the figurehead investor in Perro Verde Mezcal.

The name pays homage to the Spanish expression “Más raro que un perro verde,” which translates to “Rarer than a green dog.” In other words, the brand intends to set a high bar for itself. Co-founded by Mariana and Juan Santiago Rodriguez, the spirit is described as an exploration of Oaxacan mysticism as seen through the eyes of fifth-generation mezcalero Don Porfirio Chagoya.

A star-studded launch event last week was attended by the likes of art collector Nicolas Berggruen, Formula 1 champion Jenson Button, designer Marc Ange and Puerto Rican rapper Residente. But what of the spirit itself?

Perro Verde is coming to market with three offerings. Its flagship Espadin — the expression that most brands introduce first — is bottled at 40% ABV and is said to boast flavors of yellow apples, roasted agave, lime and coriander. Its Tobasiche is bottled at 42% ABV with a palate of lemongrass, green melon, ginger and star fruit. Both are distilled from agaves roasted in conical pit ovens and naturally fermented in wooden casks.

Tobasiche is a rare subvariety of agave Karwinskii often noted for its sweet and mineral-forward palate. Somewhat unusually for an operation of this scale, Perro Verde claims that the 17-year agaves used to distill this bottling are hand-crushed with a mallet. That may go to explain its $325 price tag.

The brand will also offer an Ensamble ($150) that blends the two expressions. The brand’s Espadin, meanwhile, is available at $72.

“For Perro Verde, luxury is found in the untold stories, in the rarity of being true to oneself,” the brand said in a news release. “This mezcal is for those who dare to stand apart—who live boldly and embrace the mysterious, embodying the spirit of those who are, indeed, rarer than a green dog.”

For more information on shipping and availability, from the Perro Verde website here.

The Emergence of Celebrity Mezcal

Up until recently, celebrity-backed mezcal was an uncharted landscape, relegated to a handful of early adopters who predated the agave spirits craze by years, if not decades. Toby Keith’s Wildshot and Cheech Marin’s Papalome are the first examples that come to mind.

All of that changed in 2019 after “Breaking Bad” alum Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul introduced Dos Hombres. The brand could be likened to the Casamigos of mezcal — a blockbuster launch that inspired an avalanche of A-listers to get in on the action. Nowadays, we’re seeing investments from the incredibly varied likes of Jordan Belfort, Miami Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson, “Real Housewife” Erin Lichy and more.

Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar even sell a 50:50 blend of tequila and mezcal fittingly dubbed “Mezquila.”

Stiff as the competition may be, it’s worth noting that the vast majority of mezcal brands exclusively offer an Espadin expression. By expanding its catalog with a Tobasiche and an Ensamble, it’s possible that Perro Verde could court consumers outside the typical celebrity-purchase demographic.