By Way of Family Tradition - Agular and Maggy Gomez, Mezcal Don Sixto

By way of Family Tradition

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TEAM GUADALUPE AGUILAR AND MAGGY GOMEZ PAY HOMAGE TO THEIR INNER CIRCLE WITH MEZCAL DON SIXTO

By Terri Marshall

Mother and daughter team Guadalupe Aguilar and Maggy Gomez, started their journey into the mezcal world seven years ago. A family trip to Oaxaca city led them to the small town of Sola de Vega, a three-hour drive uphill from the city—a land known for its exquisite mezcal. Together they have gained extensive expertise by digging a little deeper into the lives of mezcal producers. They have been successful in supporting a few Mezcaleros from the village.

Guadalupe Aguilar, CEO of Grupo Sixgra SA de CV, the parent company of Mezcal Don Sixto, has an extensive background as a Ph.D. professor and researcher in biochemical engineering. Specializing in alcoholic fermentation, she brings 30+ years of experience to the family business. She has gained the hard-earned respect and trust of the Mezcaleros from the village while helping them improve productivity.

PhD in biochemistry Dr. Guadalupe A. (Left) And BA/ entrepreneur Maggy G. (Right) Share their experience in their leadership on this mezcal journey, an unknown but very promising future. Maggy Gomez’s entrepreneurial spirit has kept the brand alive through the years. And her passion and devotion continue to help the brand expand into new markets. She founded Coa de Jima Inc, an agency representing Don Sixto Mezcal in Ontario, Canada. She believes that to have outstanding growth, the master Mezcaleros and the agave farmers must be treated with the same importance as the marketing, importer, or distributor.

These enterprising women founded Don Sixto in honor of their father/grandfather, Sixto Mesa, a humble farmer who always dreamed of creating a company to improve the farmers’ lifestyles. Don Sixto produces six different types of Mezcals, made of endemic wild agave, which have won numerous national and international awards. As a brand, they care deeply about their producers. Understanding that it is not always easy for their producers to access things that many city people take for granted, they sometimes support them by meeting their personal needs because they understand their struggles.

Both women believe that seeing women in leadership is a way to break the bias. “It inspires other women to go for it. Thanks to the hard work and passion of a few of us the industry has become more inclusive in the past five years, and we expect this to continue.”

They understand the spirits industry is not easy, but they firmly believe that dedication, passion, and knowledge will help women thrive. Encouraging women always to stand up and share their knowledge and culture. Maggy also encourages women to learn to delegate. “As a new mother, I couldn’t have done any of this in the past year without the support of my trusted circle: my husband, mom, two brothers, and my dad.”