The Lost Explorer

What The Lost Explorer does

The Lost Explorer produces artisanal mezcal and tequila from production facilities in Valles Centrales, Oaxaca (mezcal) and Amatitán, Jalisco (tequila), Mexico. The portfolio comprises four core mezcal expressions (Espadín, Tobalá, Salmiana, and the limited Madre Cuishe Reserva del Maestro), two tequila expressions (Blanco and Reposado), plus the Limited Edition Espadín x Stranger Than collaboration. Production follows traditional methods — earthen pit ovens and above-ground brick ovens, mechanical milling, wild-yeast fermentation in open-top oak barrels, double copper alembic distillation, and natural wax sealing — anchored by Maestro Mezcalero Fortino Ramos (40+ years) and Maestro Tequilero Enrique de Colsa (30+ years). The company operates a 3:1 agave biodiversity replenishment program, additive-free tequila production, a 32-solar-panel distillery, and community impact partnerships (Isla Urbana, SiKanda, Voice For Nature Foundation).

The company monetizes through a three-tier go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce at thelostexplorer.com (shipping to US, UK, Mexico, and Rest of World), third-party online retail partnerships (Mercado de Mezcal, ReserveBar, Caskers, Minibar), and wholesale distribution through dedicated regional partners across 12 US states (including Southern Glazer's in Texas), 12 European countries, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. Pricing is positioned at the premium end of the category, with tequila Blanco at $49.99, Reposado at $59.99, and mezcal expressions from $19.23 (200ml Espadín) to $159.99 (750ml Salmiana). Distribution has reached 875+ bars/restaurants and 287 retail shops globally.

The Lost Explorer Mezcal Company B.V. is domiciled in Amsterdam (Netherlands), was founded in 2014, and operates with 11–50 employees. It is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding, and founder David Rothschild oversees the business. Brand validation has come through editorial features in GQ Magazine and Rolling Stone, Best of Class and Best of Show at the Latin America World Spirits Competition, and multi-market cultural activations spanning New York and London.

Name

The Lost Explorer

Legal name

The Lost Explorer Mezcal Company B.V.

Website

https://thelostexplorer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lost Explorer is a privately held Dutch B.V. that produces artisanal mezcal (Espadín, Tobalá, Salmiana, Madre Cuishe) in Oaxaca and tequila (Blanco, Reposado) in Jalisco, Mexico, selling worldwide through DTC e-commerce, online retailers, and regional distributors to premium spirit consumers and on-premise accounts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Venice

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: The Lost Explorer sells products directly to consumers through its website, offering mezcal and tequila expressions in various sizes (200ml, 750ml). Free shipping promotions with code 'SALUDOS' drive direct purchases.
2. Online Retail Partnerships: Products distributed through online retailers including Mercado de Mezcal, ReserveBar, Caskers, and Minibar, expanding reach beyond direct e-commerce.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Bulk wholesale through regional distributors across US states, Mexico, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, with dedicated distributors for each territory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Lost Explorer produces handcrafted artisanal mezcal in Valles Centrales, Oaxaca, and tequila in Amatitán, Jalisco, Mexico. Its portfolio includes four mezcal expressions (Espadín, Tobalá, Salmiana, and the limited-edition Madre Cuishe Reserva del Maestro) and two tequila expressions (Blanco and Reposado), all 100% agave and produced using traditional methods by Maestro Mezcalero Fortino Ramos and Maestro Tequilero Enrique de Colsa.

Product overview

The Lost Explorer is an artisanal mezcal and tequila company producing handcrafted spirits from Oaxaca and Jalisco, Mexico. The product portfolio consists of four core mezcal expressions (Espadín, Tobalá, Salmiana, and Madre Cuishe as limited edition Reserva del Maestro), two core tequila expressions (Blanco and Reposado), plus a limited edition collaboration mezcal with Stranger Than. The company also offers a cocktail collection featuring 26+ recipes using their spirits, and a Sip Curiously tasting program with pairing recommendations. The mezcal products are distilled double in small batches by Maestro Mezcalero Fortino Ramos in Valles Centrales, Oaxaca, while the tequila products are crafted by Maestro Tequilero Enrique de Colsa in Amatitán, Jalisco. All products are 100% agave with no additives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Reserva del Maestro: Limited edition expression featuring wild-harvested Madre Cuishe agave, crafted by Maestro Mezcalero Fortino Ramos.

Products and services

• Espadín Mezcal A sweet and herbaceous mezcal expression from Agave Angustifolia, well-balanced with hints of red apple, ripe fruits and a mild smoky layer to finish. Distilled double in small batches, sold to premium spirit consumers.
• Tobalá Mezcal An earthy mezcal from Agave Potatorum with hints of tobacco, cocoa, vanilla and leather, offering a unique balance between wood aromas and umami flavors. Aged 10 years. Sold as a premium 750ml expression.
• Salmiana Mezcal The most herbaceous mezcal expression, offering a sweet and spicy profile with hints of green chili, grapefruit and fresh agave. Made from Agave Salmiana aged 12 years, sold as a premium 750ml bottle.
• Madre Cuishe Mezcal (Reserva del Maestro) A wild-harvested limited edition mezcal from Agave Karwinskii, featuring herbal, fruity, nutty notes with creamy layers of butter, peanut, and almond. Crafted by Maestro Mezcalero Fortino Ramos as an exclusive small-batch release.
• Blanco Tequila A small batch, 100% agave tequila with bright notes of citrus, herbs, and cinnamon, smooth agave-forward character with subtle minerality. Double distilled, unaged, and made without glycerin, sugar-based syrups, oak extract, or caramel color.
• Reposado Tequila An aged tequila crafted from the award-winning Blanco, triple cask aged in Sauternes wine, Pedro Ximénez sherry, and bourbon barrels. Features notes of cooked agave, oak wood, vanilla, raisins with a long lingering finish.
• Limited Edition Espadín x Stranger Than A limited-edition collaboration mezcal uniting The Lost Explorer's award-winning Espadín with Stranger Than, a Los Angeles-based music collective. Smooth and fruity with subtle hints of smoke, designed as a co-branded small batch release.

Quantifiable outcome

• Best of Class and Best of Show awards at Latin America World Spirits Competition for Tequila Blanco and Tobalá mezcal
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Stranger ThanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Limited edition Espadín collaboration with Stranger Than, a Los Angeles-based collective known for transforming parks, beaches, and historic landmarks into house and techno music venues. The release celebrates shared spirit of community, creativity, and curiosity.
• SiKandacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with SiKanda's WEAVE program (Women in Entrepreneurship) to support women entrepreneurs in Oaxaca. Since 2022, has provided seed funding for 69 women-run businesses to support business operation and innovation. Addresses UN SDG #5 (Gender Equality).
• Isla UrbanacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership to install rainwater harvesting systems in remote Oaxacan communities. Since 2021, supported 12 rainwater harvesting systems plus 4 arsenic-free water supply systems in three communities, with total estimated harvest of 1,395,716 liters of water per year. Addresses UN SDG #13 (Climate Action).
• Voice For Nature FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Global charity partnership identifying Mexican organizations to support with projects having immediate impact in Oaxacan communities. Projects aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals including Climate Action (#13), Gender Equality (#5), and Decent Work & Economic Growth (#8).
• Maestro Noel MartínezminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Support for late Maestro Noel Martínez's artisan residency program and mentorship center. Collaboration to build a communal artisan workshop in a remote area outside Oaxaca city to spread access and education to key tools for artisanal craftsmanship. Addresses UN SDG #8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth).
• RayocdmxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCocktail collaboration for New York launch of The Lost Explorer Tequila Reposado. Partnership with Rayocdmx and Kabin.nyc featuring the Cafetalera-tini cocktail.
• Kabin.nycminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCocktail collaboration for New York launch of The Lost Explorer Tequila Reposado. Partnership with Rayocdmx featuring the Cafetalera-tini cocktail at a Somos Cafetaleras event empowering female enterprise and strengthening rural Oaxacan community.
• SiKanda (WEAVE Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership providing business education and seed funding to women entrepreneurs locally in Oaxaca through SiKanda's established WEAVE program methodology.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Patrón Tequila: Bacardi-owned premium tequila with extensive global distribution; competes in overlapping US on-premise and retail channels where The Lost Explorer has built distribution, especially for Blanco and Reposado positioning.
• Clase Azul: Ultra-premium tequila brand with distinctive decanters and global distribution, competing for premium on-premise and gifting occasions that The Lost Explorer's higher-end mezcal expressions also target.
• Casamigos: Premium tequila brand (now owned by Diageo) with broad distribution and celebrity co-founder backing, competing in the same premium agave-spirit category with substantially larger marketing budgets and shelf presence.

Direct peers

• Montelobos: Artisanal mezcal brand offering a curated portfolio of expressions (Espadín, Tobalá, Madrecuixe, Pechuga), closely comparable in agave variety breadth, sustainability messaging, and premium on-premise focus.
• Bozal Mezcal: US-distributed artisanal mezcal brand offering single-maguey expressions from Oaxaca, comparable in craft positioning, bottle design-led branding, and on-premise account focus.
• Casa Noble: Premium tequila brand emphasizing additive-free, estate-grown production and traditional methods — directly comparable in clean-label positioning, sustainability messaging, and artisanal craft narrative.
• 400 Conejos: Mexican mezcal brand with multiple agave expressions, sharing the artisanal positioning, modern branding, and DTC-plus-distributor model targeting the US and Mexican markets.
• Nuestra Soledad: Oaxacan artisanal mezcal producer focusing on single-village mezcals from the Miahuatlán region, comparable in additive-free, traditional-production philosophy and terroir-emphasizing marketing.
• Del Maguey: Pioneering artisanal mezcal producer based in Oaxaca with a single-village expression portfolio, comparable in craft positioning, additive-free production, and emphasis on traditional methods and terroir-driven marketing.

Emerging players

• Gem & Bolt: Small-batch mezcal brand with a botanical-infused expression and design-forward branding; comparable as an emerging artisanal peer in the premium craft mezcal space targeting similar premium DTC and on-premise consumers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lostexplorerco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-lost-explorer
• Instagraminstagram.com/thelostexplorer
• Xx.com/lostexplorerco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Lost Explorer