The story of tequila has always been a story about women. From the goddess who gave the world agave to the maestras changing the industry today, women have shaped this spirit at every stage of its history.
It started with a goddess
In Aztec mythology, Mayahuel was the goddess of the maguey plant, the agave that would eventually become the foundation of tequila. She was depicted with 400 breasts, each one producing pulque, the fermented agave drink that preceded distillation. The spiritual origin of every agave spirit begins with a woman.
The women of the fields
For centuries, it was the women of Jalisco who planted and nurtured each hijuelo, the agave pup that grows from the mother plant. These women tended the fields by hand, ensuring the next generation of agave would thrive. The industry may have been run by men, but the work of cultivation, of continuity, of care, was done by women.
The pioneers who changed everything
When Sonia Espinola de la Llave became one of the first women certified as a Maestro Tequilero, the industry told her she was "only in it because she liked to get drunk." She proved them wrong. She went on to become one of the most respected figures in Mexican spirits and has dedicated her career to mentoring the next generation of tequila makers.
Carmen Villarreal Trevino took the helm of Casa San Matias in 1997, becoming the first woman to lead a tequila distillery in Mexico. She proved that women could run the business side of the industry just as effectively as the production side.
Bertha Gonzalez Nieves co-founded Casa Dragones and became the first woman certified as a maestra tequilera by the Tequila Regulatory Council. Her brand redefined what premium tequila could be.
And then there's Melly Barajas, known as La Reina de Tequila, who built the only all-women distillery in Mexico. Every step of production at her distillery, from the fields to the bottling line, is handled by women. Her brand, La Gritona, has become a symbol of what's possible when women are given the space to lead. Her words say it best: "I would like my legacy to be that women feel capable and are able to dream."
Women-led brands we're proud to carry
1953 Tequila is named after the year women won voting rights in Mexico. The brand is women-led from the founders to the fields to master distiller Rocio Rodriguez.
La Gritona is crafted at Mexico's only all-women distillery by Melly Barajas and her team in Jalisco.
Casa Dragones was co-founded by Bertha Gonzalez Nieves, the first woman certified as a maestra tequilera.
Mijenta was co-founded by Elise Som and is led by maestra tequilera Ana Maria Romero Mena. It was the first tequila to receive B Corp certification.
Valor was founded by Christiane Maertens, and 10% of every sale supports programs for women.
The legacy continues
Tequila wouldn't be tequila without the women who made it possible. This Women's History Month, we're raising a glass to the goddesses, the field workers, the pioneers, and the brand founders who shaped the spirit we love.
Their legacy lives on in every bottle.
