Don Cenobio Sauza
Encyclopedia
Don Cenobio Sauza known as the "Father of Tequila," was one of the earliest and longest lasting distillers of the tequila
spirit – founding the Sauza Tequila
distillery – La Perseverancia – in 1873.
, Mexico
. He was the third child of Hilario Sauza (died 1857) and Doña Margarita Madrigal Navarro. He worked on his father’s farm together with his siblings Adelaida, Juana, Fernanda, Luis and Herminia until he was sixteen.
In 1858 Cenobio traveled to Tequila to visit his cousin Ramon Corona Madrigal. Enamored with the county, Cenobio settled in Tequila and got a job working at the distillery of José Antonio Gómez Cuervo. There he learned how to farm agave
and distill mezcal-tequila wine.
In 1873 Sauza was the first to export tequila to the United States
when he crossed through the border at El Paso del Norte (Northern Pass) carrying three casks and six jugs of his mezcal-tequila wine. This was the beginning of the export
market for tequila.
Don Cenobio is credited with determining that the blue agave was the best agave for tequila in the 1890s, and others in the industry echoed his choice.
.
Tequila
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
spirit – founding the Sauza Tequila
Sauza Tequila
Sauza Tequila Import Company is a producer of tequila located in Tequila, a municipality of the state of Jalisco, Mexico. It was founded in 1873 when Don Cenobio Sauza started La Perseverancia distillery. Sauza Tequila Import Company is owned by Beam Inc., headquartered in the Chicago suburb...
distillery – La Perseverancia – in 1873.
Early life
Cenobio Sauza was born on a farm in JaliscoJalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He was the third child of Hilario Sauza (died 1857) and Doña Margarita Madrigal Navarro. He worked on his father’s farm together with his siblings Adelaida, Juana, Fernanda, Luis and Herminia until he was sixteen.
In 1858 Cenobio traveled to Tequila to visit his cousin Ramon Corona Madrigal. Enamored with the county, Cenobio settled in Tequila and got a job working at the distillery of José Antonio Gómez Cuervo. There he learned how to farm agave
Agave
Agave is a genus of monocots. The plants are perennial, but each rosette flowers once and then dies ; they are commonly known as the century plant....
and distill mezcal-tequila wine.
Beginning his Career
Cenobio began to export mezcal-tequila wine from Tequila to other parts of the country. In 1870, no longer content to just sell, Sauza leased the "La Gallardeña" distillery from Lazaro Gallardo. Sauza was successful enough that three years later, on September 1, 1873 he purchased the La Antigua Cruz (The Old Cross) distillery (the oldest registered tequila distillery, founded in 1805 by José Maria Castañeda) from Don Felix Lopez for 5,000 pesos and renamed it La Perseverancia (Perseverance). The former employee of Cuervo had successfully founded Sauza Tequila – becoming one of Cuervo's great rivals.In 1873 Sauza was the first to export tequila to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when he crossed through the border at El Paso del Norte (Northern Pass) carrying three casks and six jugs of his mezcal-tequila wine. This was the beginning of the export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
market for tequila.
Marriage and children
Cenobio married Doña Margarita Muro, with whom he had seven children, all born in the city of Tequila:- Jose Leopoldo Cenobio (born 1875)
- Alfonso Cenobio (born 1877)
- Jose Jorge Cenobio (born 1879)
- Benjamin Cenobio (born 1881)
- Eladio Cenobio (born 1883)
- Maria Graciela Cenobio (born 1885)
- Roberto Cenobio (born 1887)
Growing Sauza Tequila
The arrival of the railroad in Tequila increased Sauza’s business and in 1889 he purchased the "La Gallardeña" distillery from Lazaro Gallardo. The same year he also purchased the Hacienda de San Martin de las Cañas from Vicente Orendain. This became Sauza’s headquarters and was simply known as La Hacienda. Cenobio planted more than 2 million agave and started producing about 800 casks of tequila a year at La Hacienda. He purchased and sold thirteen more distilleries and numerous fields of agave, always working at least three at a time in order to remain the leader in tequila production and sales.Don Cenobio is credited with determining that the blue agave was the best agave for tequila in the 1890s, and others in the industry echoed his choice.
Other Enterprises
Cenobio’s interests extended beyond the production of tequila, including:- From 1884 – 1885 Cenobio was the Municipal President of the Village of Tequila in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. He was succeeded by Ignacio Romero.
- In 1888 he attempted to enter the mining field.
The Final Years
Cenobio continued to grow his tequila business until his death at age 67 in his residence in Guadalajara. His innovation and perseverance helped to create a great industry and economy for Jalisco. At his death, Cenobio left the Sauza Tequila empire in the hands of his son Don Eladio SauzaDon Eladio Sauza
Don Eladio Sauza ran the Sauza Tequila business from 1909 to 1946.- Early life :Eladio Sauza was born June 16, 1883 in the city of Tequila, Mexico to Don Cenobio Sauza and Doña Margarita Madrigal Navarro...
.