(Mezcalera of March 2020 – Mexicano)

20 minutes past the famous clay-pot town of Santa Catarina Minas, you’ll find yourself in San Baltazar Chichicapam, home to independent mezcal producer Berta Vasquez. As a single mother, grandmother, and now great grandmother, Berta plays both a traditionally female and male role within her family. Berta’s story into making mezcal is both tragic and empowering, and the loss she experienced and hardship that followed are no secret.

Berta wears her heart on her sleeve and openly shares her painful past with friends and strangers alike, making it easy to feel close to her and quickly form a close bond. At 64 years old, she lives to tell the all-too-many stories of how she struggled as a woman in a man’s world, her outlook on life and on mezcal, and her vision for the future. Unsurprisingly, she shows no signs of stopping any time soon…