Historical Journey

Why does each era taste different?

We replicate historical processes just as they were done in their time, so that with every sip, you discover how history transforms into flavor.

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-Pre-Hispanic Era (Before the 16th Century)

  • Native peoples discovered that fermented agave connected them to the sacred.


  • They used pulque in religious rituals and communal celebrations.


  • Agave was cooked in pit ovens with volcanic stones and wood, a millennia-old technique still used today.


  • Agave was more than a drink; it was a ceremonial offering.

Conquista

16th Century — Conquest Era

  • With the arrival of the Spanish, Filipino and Arab stills were introduced.


  • For the first time, agave fermentations were distilled using a still.


  • Although it became a common practice, the Spanish Crown prohibited the production of spirits in New Spain, pushing their creation into secrecy.


  • Indigenous and European methods merged, giving rise to a new spirit, the earliest ancestor of tequila.

Independencia

19th Century — Independence Era

  • Independence legalized the production of Mexican spirits.


  • Steam masonry ovens were developed, replacing traditional pit ovens.


  • The stone tahona was introduced, preserving the agave’s fibers.


  • Blue agave was domesticated and cultivated on a large scale.

  • It was in this moment that tequila’s identity was born, alongside the very origins of Mexican identity itself.

Revolución

20th Century — Revolution Era

  • The Mexican Revolution, alongside the Industrial Revolution, drove innovation in tequila production.


  • Autoclaves (pressure cooking) were introduced, reducing cooking times.


  • Roller mills replaced the traditional tahona.


  • Fermentation tanks and stainless-steel stills were adopted.


  • Tequila evolved to adapt to its time.

Democracia

21st Century — Democracy Era

  • Globalization and market growth led to the hyper-industrialization of tequila.


  • The diffuser was introduced, extracting the juice first and cooking it afterward—profoundly altering its profile.


  • Hydrolyzer tanks and column stills became common.


  • A journey of agave and identity carried through history.

Fifth-Generation Tequila Makers

Agustín and Mauricio Camarena, our family: 33 members who share both the bloodline and the passion for agave, have spent generations transforming time into spirit. But this time, we chose to do something different: to look back.

As lovers of history, we realized something both evident and forgotten: the history of Mexico has shaped not only who we are, but also how we drink. Every historical moment transformed tequila production processes, whether by necessity, by technology, or by ideology.

Clase 33 was born from that revelation. Together with Tecayehuatzin Mancilla, the leading creator of historical content in Spanish, and Luis Mejía, a journalist and narrative historian, we set out to tell Mexico’s story through agave.

By faithfully replicating historical processes, we are not merely crafting tequila: we are honoring the legacy of our ancestors and educating those who drink it today.

Historical Content