Our Story

Who We are

El Perro Negro was born from a love of agave — not the branded, bottled kind, but the kind that comes from real places, real people, and wild, volcanic soil.

We’ve walked through palenques in Oaxaca. Tasted from clay stills in the hills. Shared dusty bottles with mezcaleros and listened. And somewhere in that journey, the idea took root: A bar for the strays — the curious, the passionate, the ones who don’t want what everyone else is having.

A basement bar in Breckenridge, hidden like a secret, with a back bar full of rare bottles and no patience for shortcuts.

Every pour here is additive-free, hand-selected, and fiercely loved. Many bottles come from single barrel picks, unknown producers, or brands so small they don’t even carry the word “tequila” or “mezcal” on the label. That’s not a flaw — that’s the point.

We aren’t here to preach. We’re here to share. To pour. To learn alongside you.

So sit down. Ask questions. Drink slow.

You found the dog.

Where the Strays Go

Bringing the soul of Mexico to
the heart of Colorado

We blend highbrow craft with lowbrow charm to create a bar that feels like nowhere else. Our vision is more than a drink—it’s an experience.

Meet the owners

Sarah & Scott Howard, and Joe Vandal

Scott and Sarah are Colorado natives and high school sweethearts. They grew up coming to Breckenridge, spending their teenage years chasing powder whenever they could. While others thought it was a crazy dream to live in Breckenridge, they knew this was a place where they wanted to build something real.

Scott started working at his family business, American Garage Door, in Wheat Ridge, Co at 16 years old. What began as learning the trade became a lifelong commitment to building things the right way. Over time, he helped grow the company into one of the largest custom garage door businesses in Colorado — rooted in craftsmanship, consistency, and pride in honest work.

Just as important to Scott as the work itself are the people behind it. He’s passionate about building teams made up of hardworking individuals who thrive on challenge and take pride in doing difficult things well. El Perro Negro reflects that same instinct — his ability to read people, see potential in people and build the right team. He is committed to building a team fully dedicated to the mission, whether that mission is crafting beautiful garage doors or creating a Top 50 cocktail bar. Scott dreams big and his goals motivate everyone around him.

Sarah followed a different path, one centered on people and impact. Sarah graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Denver and chose to teach — drawn to work rooted in empathy, understanding, and growth. In the classroom, she taught AP Psychology and Sociology, pushing students to think critically about the world around them.

Education, for Sarah, was never meant to stay theoretical. She took her students to the Denver Rescue Mission to assemble and hand out care kits, giving them first hand exposure to lives shaped by inequality, limited access, and systemic barriers. Her commitment to human rights wasn’t a side project — it was woven into the way she taught, led, and showed up.

Scott and Sarah loved their work.
But the pull of the mountains never left.

Over time, their nights in Breckenridge stretched a little longer.

Rita’s became the après stop — and then something more.

That’s where they met Joe.

Joe grew up in Minnesota and came to Breckenridge for the same reasons many do — a deep love of the outdoors and the way mountain towns get under your skin. Camping, biking, skiing — if it meant being outside, Joe was in. Behind the bar at Rita’s, he spent 17 years doing more than pouring drinks.

Joe studied agave. On his own dime, he traveled to Mexico, met the families behind the bottles, and saw production firsthand. Those experiences shaped his approach — rooted in respect for process, people, and the spirit itself.

Joe’s approach to cocktails is driven by curiosity and constant motion. He’s an adventurer by nature — always pushing forward, always asking what’s next. While his foundation is rooted in traditional agave knowledge and respect for process, his mind lives firmly on the cutting edge of craft cocktail technique.

Behind the bar, Joe is a mad scientist in the best way. Clarifying cocktails. Fat washing spirits. Experimenting with centrifuge techniques. Testing textures, balance, and flavor at a molecular level — not for flash, but for precision. Every method serves a purpose: cleaner flavors, deeper complexity, and a better experience in the glass.

His creativity doesn’t stop when a drink is finished. Joe is constantly refining, reworking, and chasing the next frontier of cocktail craftsmanship. Trends don’t drive him — curiosity does. The result is a menu that feels intentional, unexpected, and always evolving.

So, how did El Perro come to be?

Fifteen years ago, Joe introduced Scott and Sarah to agave in a way they hadn’t experienced before — not as a trend, but as a craft. He taught them how to taste with intention, how to understand what’s in the glass, and why how something is made actually matters.

Over time, the idea became unavoidable.

The three of them talked about opening a cocktail bar on Main Street in Breckenridge — one built on friendship, real knowledge of agave, and a desire to share it honestly with anyone who walks through the door.

El Perro Negro is that idea, realized.

A bar built on long friendships and high standards. We’re intentional about what we pour, deliberate in how we serve it, and unapologetic about doing things differently — even when it’s harder.

This is a place for the curious, the locals, the wanderers — and anyone who gives a damn about what’s in their glass.