El Bandido Yankee
El Bandido Yankee is a privately held craft tequila brand that produces 100% additive-free Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and Plata 47 tequilas at El Viejito Distillery in Los Altos de Jalisco and sells them to U.S. adult consumers via DTC e-commerce, authorized retailers, and on-premise partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersAtotonilco El Alto, Mexico
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What El Bandido Yankee does
El Bandido Yankee is a privately held, craft tequila brand founded in 2021 and headquartered in Atotonilco El Alto, Mexico, with U.S. operations domiciled in Illinois. The company produces four expressions — Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and the higher-proof Plata 47 — at El Viejito Distillery in Los Altos de Jalisco, using 100% Blue Weber Agave slow-roasted in stone ovens for 40 hours, naturally fermented, twice-distilled in copper pot stills, and finished with a proprietary oxygenation step. Female Master Distiller Karina Rojo oversees production, and the brand is co-founded by NHL Hall of Famer Chris Chelios alongside owner Jim Morris.
The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce through elbandidoyankee.com, distribution through authorized retailers and on-premise partners (bars and restaurants including Sloppy Joe's Key West, Conch Republic Seafood, and Pickles Pub), and brand-building motorsports sponsorships under El Bandido Yankee Racing across NHRA, High Limits Racing, Pro Late Model, and offshore powerboat verticals. Revenue streams are one-time sales of tequila SKUs plus branded merchandise, with 100% of merchandise net proceeds allocated to the S.A.C.R.E.D. charity partnership supporting rural Mexican agave communities.
The business remains sub-scale, with 1-10 employees, distribution across 17 U.S. states, and no disclosed funding or revenue. Recent strategic activity — a dedicated Head of Sales (Eastern Division) hire in October 2025, South Dakota market entry via the Sturgis rally in August 2025, the Plata 47 SKU launch in 2025, and a stated plan to add five U.S. markets in 2026 — signals an early commercialization phase rather than a mature operating model.
El Bandido Yankee firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- El Bandido Yankee
- Legal name
- El Bandido Yankee
- Website
- https://elbandidoyankee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- El Bandido Yankee is a privately held craft tequila brand that produces 100% additive-free Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and Plata 47 tequilas at El Viejito Distillery in Los Altos de Jalisco and sells them to U.S. adult consumers via DTC e-commerce, authorized retailers, and on-premise partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
El Bandido Yankee industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Tequila
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alcohol Importers & Brand Owners (Wholesale) (CRAOAIAB)
Keywords
Where El Bandido Yankee is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atotonilco El Alto
- HQ country
- Mexico
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
El Bandido Yankee business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Tequila Product Sales: Direct sales of tequila products (Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, Plata 47) to consumers and retailers. Products sold in 750mL bottles at 40% ABV (standard) or 47% ABV (Plata 47).
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel and accessories. 100% of net proceeds from merchandise sales support the S.A.C.R.E.D. charity initiative.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
El Bandido Yankee product offering
Product offeringCore offering
El Bandido Yankee is a tequila producer that manufactures and sells premium, 100% additive-free tequila expressions (Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and the high-proof Plata 47) made from Blue Weber Agave grown in the volcanic soils of Los Altos de Jalisco, Mexico, and twice-distilled in copper pot stills at El Viejito Distillery. The company distributes its tequila through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, authorized retailers, and on-premise restaurant/bar partners, and also sells branded merchandise with proceeds directed to its S.A.C.R.E.D. charity partnership.
Product overview
El Bandido Yankee is a tequila brand offering four core expressions: Blanco (silver), Reposado (aged 4 months), Añejo (aged 12 months), and Plata 47 (high proof). The products are produced at El Viejito Distillery in Los Altos de Jalisco using 100% Blue Weber Agave, oxygenation, and double copper pot distillation. The company also offers bundle packages combining multiple expressions for retail sale.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- El Bandido Yankee Blanco Silver (Blanco) tequila made from 100% Blue Weber Agave, oxygenated and twice-distilled in copper pot stills. 750 mL bottle at 40% ABV, NOM 1107. Sold direct-to-consumer and through authorized retailers to adult tequila drinkers.
- El Bandido Yankee Reposado Reposado tequila aged 4 months in stripped and re-charred American Oak Bourbon barrels, then oxygenated and twice-distilled in copper pots. 750 mL bottle at 40% ABV, NOM 1107.
- El Bandido Yankee Añejo Añejo tequila aged 12 months in stripped and re-charred American Oak Bourbon barrels, delivering rich and complex notes. 750 mL bottle at 40% ABV, NOM 1107.
- Plata 47 High-proof blanco tequila bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof) in a 750 mL bottle, aimed at consumers seeking a higher-strength premium blanco expression.
- El Bandido Blanco & Reposado Bundle Retail bundle combining one 750 mL Reposado and one 750 mL Blanco bottle for gifting and trial purchases.
- El Bandido Bundle (Reposado, Blanco, Añejo) Full-line retail bundle combining 750 mL bottles of Reposado, Blanco, and Añejo for sampling across the brand's core expressions.
- El Bandido Yankee Branded Merchandise Branded apparel and accessories sold through the company shop; 100% of net merchandise proceeds support the S.A.C.R.E.D. charity initiative in rural Mexican agave-growing communities.
Companies that use El Bandido Yankee
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
El Bandido Yankee technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
El Bandido Yankee partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- S.A.C.R.E.D.coreEl Bandido Yankee partners with not-for-profit S.A.C.R.E.D. (sacred.mx) to improve lives in rural Mexican communities where agave spirits are made. The company commits a portion of net proceeds from tequila sales and 100% of net proceeds from merchandise sales to support this initiative. This reflects the company's giving-back mission tied to their production origins.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
El Bandido Yankee competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Don Julio: Mass-premium incumbent tequila (Diageo) covering Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo with broad national distribution; competes with El Bandido Yankee for retail shelf space, on-premise menu placement, and bartender recommendations.
- Patrón Tequila: Largest premium 100% agave tequila portfolio (Bacardi) covering Silver, Reposado, and Añejo with broad on-premise and retail penetration; sets the competitive baseline that El Bandido Yankee must beat for premium additive-free positioning.
- DeLeón Tequila: Diddy-backed luxury tequila (now Diageo-affiliated) focused on ultra-premium sipping occasions and on-premise placement — overlapping with El Bandido Yankee's premium on-premise and gift-positioning strategy.
- Casamigos: Celebrity-founded (George Clooney) premium tequila brand now owned by Diageo; competes with El Bandido Yankee for additive-free 100% agave premium positioning, on-premise placements, and lifestyle/event-driven brand marketing.
Direct peers
- Teremana Tequila: Dwayne Johnson-founded premium tequila built on small-batch, additive-free production in Jalisco with strong DTC and event-driven marketing — directly comparable celebrity-led craft tequila peer to El Bandido Yankee.
- Casa Dragones: Small-batch, additive-free sipping tequila positioned at the top of the premium category, focused on craftsmanship and on-premise gifting occasions — overlapping with El Bandido Yankee's additive-free premium sourcing narrative from Los Altos de Jalisco.
- Dulce Vida Tequila: Organic, 100% agave, additive-free craft tequila from Jalisco sold through DTC, retail, and on-premise — a comparable craft-positioned premium tequila pursuing ingredient transparency and lifestyle branding.
- Lobos 1707: Celebrity-backed (LeBron James) premium tequila with Joven, Reposado, and Añejo expressions positioned around heritage and craftsmanship — directly comparable celebrity-anchored premium competitor targeting similar 21+ lifestyle occasions.
- Clase Azul: Ultra-premium Mexican tequila positioned on craftsmanship, distinctive decanters, and lifestyle/gifting occasions; competes for the same premium 100% Blue Weber agave drinker and on-premise placement that El Bandido Yankee targets.
- 818 Tequila: Kendall Jenner-founded premium tequila (Blanco, Reposado, Añejo) with celebrity-driven lifestyle marketing and DTC/retail distribution — a closely analogous celebrity-anchored premium tequila brand targeting similar lifestyle consumers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
El Bandido Yankee social profiles
Digital presenceEl Bandido Yankee financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
El Bandido Yankee leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
El Bandido Yankee funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
El Bandido Yankee M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about El Bandido Yankee
What does El Bandido Yankee do?
El Bandido Yankee is a tequila producer that manufactures and sells premium, 100% additive-free tequila expressions (Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and the high-proof Plata 47) made from Blue Weber Agave grown in the volcanic soils of Los Altos de Jalisco, Mexico, and twice-distilled in copper pot stills at El Viejito Distillery. The company distributes its tequila through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, authorized retailers, and on-premise restaurant/bar partners, and also sells branded merchandise with proceeds directed to its S.A.C.R.E.D. charity partnership.
Is El Bandido Yankee a public or private company?
El Bandido Yankee is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was El Bandido Yankee founded?
El Bandido Yankee was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is El Bandido Yankee based?
El Bandido Yankee is headquartered in Atotonilco El Alto, Mexico, in the Latin America region.
How does El Bandido Yankee make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tequila Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales.
Who are El Bandido Yankee's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Don Julio, Patrón Tequila, DeLeón Tequila and Casamigos. Direct peers are Teremana Tequila, Casa Dragones, Dulce Vida Tequila, Lobos 1707, Clase Azul and 818 Tequila.
Does El Bandido Yankee have an API?
No public API is recorded for El Bandido Yankee.
What industry is El Bandido Yankee in?
El Bandido Yankee's product category is Premium Tequila. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAIAB, Alcohol Importers & Brand Owners (Wholesale). Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 5180.