Historical Agave
From ancient Mesoamerica to modern distilleries — the story of agave spirits.
From ancient Mesoamerica to modern distilleries — the story of agave spirits.
The agave plant has been revered in Mesoamerican culture for thousands of years. Long before the Spanish conquest, indigenous peoples fermented the sap of the agave to create pulque, a sacred drink used in religious ceremonies and daily life.
When Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 16th century, they brought distillation techniques that would transform pulque into something entirely new. In the volcanic highlands of Jalisco, the blue Weber agave became the foundation of what we now know as tequila.
While tequila rose to international fame, mezcal remained the spirit of the people — handcrafted in small batches across Oaxaca and beyond. Today, a renaissance of artisanal mezcal celebrates the diversity of over 30 agave species used in production.
From the jimadores who harvest agave by hand to the master distillers who guard centuries-old recipes, the tradition of agave spirits continues to evolve while honoring its roots.