Maestros
Óliver de Jesús Juárez Ramírez
His Origins
Oliver was born on February 6, 2006, in Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz, a small town where mezcal runs through the veins of its people. The son of Sergio Juárez Patricio and Sara Lorenza Ramírez Martínez, he’s the fifth of six siblings. Growing up in this mezcal-rich environment, Oliver began learning the craft from his father and older brother Luis at the age of 12. But his first real dive into mezcal was an unexpected adventure.
One day, after nine straight days of distilling, Luis, exhausted from the work, asked Oliver to help with the last batch. But there was a catch: it had to be done that very afternoon, or the tepache would spoil. Oliver had a party to attend in a neighboring town, and despite the urgency, he decided to go and have fun first. Little did he know, his decision would lead to an unforgettable night. He got back around 2 AM, lit the fire under the first batch, and fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. When he woke up, he realized the fire had gone out, and he had only managed to distill a small amount.
Fearing his family’s anger, he quickly relit the fire and started again. To his surprise, the mezcal he produced was exceptional.
His dad and brother were impressed, and that moment sparked a deep passion for crafting mezcal that Oliver would carry with him for years to come.
Over the last six years, he has refined his recipe, receiving glowing reviews for his mezcals made from local agaves like Jabalí, Tepextate, Tobasiche, and Mexicano, all unique to San Agustín Amatengo. Oliver’s love for agriculture and livestock matches his passion for mezcal, and he hopes to share that passion with anyone willing to learn and respect the traditions that run so deep in his culture.
He dreams of finishing his university studies and delving into the science of distillation, agaves, and the land that nourishes them.
