Doña Vega

Behind the prized, small-batch mezcal brand Doña Vega lies a powerful team of women—from founder Sonya Vega Auvrey to fifth-generation, master mezcalera Hortensia Martinez and her hard-working daughters, who run the artisanal palenque in Oaxaca, Mexico. In an industry that doesn’t boast many women in charge, they defy the norm. Agaves are carefully selected by hand, matured for 8-9 years, and produced in copper stills which yield roughly 280 liters per distillation at maximum capacity. Doña Vega offers an approachable mezcal for those getting to know and understand the spirit.