The Lost Explorer is a mezcal brand that entered the U.S. market a few years ago with some expressions made from different varieties of agave. The brand just announced it was getting into the tequila game as well with a new blanco expression, and there’s a pretty big name behind it: Don Julio master distiller Enrique de Colsa.
The Lost Explorer was cofounded by David de Rothschild (of that de Rothschild family) and Thor Bjorgolfsson in 2020. There are four different mezcal expressions in the lineup–Espadin, Tobala, Salmiana, and Madre Cuishe–which are produced by mezcalero Don Fortino in Oaxaca. Given the popularity of agave spirits at the moment, it comes as no real surprise that the brand is adding a tequila to the lineup. For the first release, The Lost Explorer has partnered with maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa, who has been in the industry for about 30 years and worked as Don Julio’s master distiller for about two decades. According to a rep for the brand, de Colsa is no longer affiliated with Don Julio or Diageo, something that was obviously necessary to make this partnership happen, but it’s unclear exactly when he parted ways with his former employer. “I have connected with The Lost Explorer community because I found people that share my values and my way of doing things,” he said. “Today, The Lost Explorer Tequila Blanco brings these principles and standards to reality as we launch this tequila, which offers new flavors, aromas, and a completely new level of excellence.”
The tequila was produced at the El Magnífico distillery (NOM 1258) in Jalisco, where a few other brands are produced as well according to Tequila Matchmaker. The brand claims that the tequila is additive-free, although there is no way of verifying it at this point—something that the CRT (the Mexican government’s tequila regulation board) seems to actively trying to hinder. The blanco is double distilled, bottled at 80 proof, and official tasting notes describe an agave-forward palate with notes of citrus, herbs, cinnamon, and some minerality on the palate. The Lost Explorer is positioning this as a sipping blanco tequila that would be good to pair with foods like cheese, nuts, or ceviche, but also a spirit that would work well in cocktails like a tequila espresso martini or margarita.
The Lost Explorer Blanco (SRP $50) is available now at stores around the country. It might be a bit difficult to find online at the moment, but you can purchase several of the mezcal expressions now from ReserveBar.
