Don Eladio Sauza
Encyclopedia
Don Eladio Sauza ran the Sauza Tequila business from 1909 to 1946.
(1842 – 1909) and Doña Margarita Madrigal Navarro. His father was the founder of the famous Sauza Tequila
distillery.
At age 20 Eladio moved to Tecolotlan
to take charge of his father's distillery, the Hacienda La Labor. There he learned the business of producing and selling tequila
. Later he moved to Mazatlán
in the Northeastern part of Mexico to establish a Sauza Tequila distribution center in order to increase exporting.
threatened to expropriate Eladio's business and farmland. During the Revolution Eladio rallied patriotic sentiment and helped to establish tequila as the official spirit of Mexico.
Eladio modernized and expanded the family business by opening branches in Monterrey and Mexico City, and a concession in Spain.
.
Early life
Eladio Sauza was born June 16, 1883 in the city of Tequila, Mexico to Don Cenobio SauzaDon Cenobio Sauza
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....
(1842 – 1909) and Doña Margarita Madrigal Navarro. His father was the founder of the famous 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.
At age 20 Eladio moved to Tecolotlan
Tecolotlán
Tecolotlán is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 795.55 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 14,984.-History:...
to take charge of his father's distillery, the Hacienda La Labor. There he learned the business of producing and selling tequila
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....
. Later he moved to Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
in the Northeastern part of Mexico to establish a Sauza Tequila distribution center in order to increase exporting.
Marriage and children
Eladio married Doña Silveria Mora Enriquez, with whom he had two children:- Francisco Javier Sauza
- Carmen Sauza
Growing Sauza Tequila
In 1909 Eladio returned to Guadalajara to mourn his father's death and to take control of the Sauza Tequila business. Shortly thereafter the Mexican RevolutionMexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
threatened to expropriate Eladio's business and farmland. During the Revolution Eladio rallied patriotic sentiment and helped to establish tequila as the official spirit of Mexico.
Eladio modernized and expanded the family business by opening branches in Monterrey and Mexico City, and a concession in Spain.
Other enterprises
Eladio's interests extended beyond the production of tequila, including:- Establishing a dairy business called Cremeria Moderna that manufactured the ‘Modelo’ butter.
- In 1932 he established the first commercial radio station in Guadalajara – XEDQ.
- In 1938 Eladio established the Colonial ClubColonial ClubColonial Club is one of the ten current eating clubs of Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1891, it is the fifth oldest of the clubs. It is located on 40 Prospect Avenue....
, the first modern nightclub in Guadalajara. - On August 5, 1942 Eladio and other Guadalajara industrial men issued El Occidental, the town's first newspaper.
The final years
Don Eladio Sauza died on July 22, 1946, at the age of 63. He left the Sauza Tequila business to his firstborn son, Francisco Javier SauzaDon Francisco Javier Sauza
Don Francisco Javier Sauza ran the Sauza Tequila business from 1946 until leading Mexican brandy producer Pedro Domecq purchased it in 1988.- Early life :...
.