From Financial Advisor to Tequila Ambassador, Maria Jose is becoming the face of tequila in South Carolina. Her journey to this exciting second act has been marked by serendipitous events, new opportunities, and invaluable learning experiences. Known affectionately as “Tequila Maria” throughout the state, she embarked on this new adventure in January 2014, with a mission to educate others about the spirits derived from the agave plant.
Maria entered the liquor industry with a fresh perspective and an immense passion for the business. Her transition feels almost magical, yet it is grounded in her tireless dedication as she travels across the state, enlightening restaurants, retailers, and consumers about Agave Distillates. On any given day, she passionately discusses the complexities of tequila, from its production to the final product in the bottle. Her expertise in Agave Distillates is robust, built through countless hours of study, tastings, seminars, certifications, and travel.
Maria Jose has completed the WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits and has undertaken Levels 1-3 of “Tequila Sensory Evaluation” taught by the world-renowned Maestra Tequilera Ana Maria Romero Mena. Her fascination with tequila production has also led her to become a Level-3 Gran Catador of Tequila, a prestigious title for an evaluator and taster. Through her engaging presentations, she brings tequila to life, sharing its essence, which is deeply rooted in labor, family tradition, and legacy.
Tequila is passion, it is craft, and it’s the hands that pass down the ability to make tequila from one generation to the next; she says, capturing the spirit of her work and the heart of the tequila- making tradition.
