The Spirits Insider: Family-Owned. Globally Respected. Unmistakably Mexican.
- Emily Sampson
- Oct 30
- 5 min read
From volcanic springs to hand-painted ceramic bottles, La Cofradía blends family legacy, craftsmanship, and sustainability into every drop. Now, they’re sharing a taste of Mexico in Australia.
For over 50 years, La Cofradía has been quietly crafting some of Mexico’s finest tequila. While historically known for producing spirits for other labels, their proprietary brands—like the eye-catching Talavera series—have earned global recognition in their own right. With one foot in tradition and the other in the future, La Cofradía is now bringing its story and signature style to Australia.
In this edition of The Spirits Insider, we explore the world of La Cofradía through the lens of Andrea Landeros, Export Executive for the brand. His insights guide us through a distillery where family tradition, craftsmanship, and innovation go hand in hand.
The story of La Cofradía begins in the town of Tequila, nestled at the foot of the Tequila Volcano. Founded in 1971, the distillery has consistently drawn on the region’s natural resources to shape both its production philosophy and its flavour identity.
From the mineral-rich volcanic soil to the abundant sunlight and clean spring water, everything about this location lends itself to quality tequila production.
“Our distillery is built at the foot of a volcano. We’re the first in the area to receive natural spring water, which we purify and use in our tequila. The terroir, water, and even the mango trees surrounding our site all influence the final spirit.” — Andrea, La Cofradía.
Those mango trees aren’t just aesthetic—La Cofradía intentionally built their expansive barrel cellar around them, using nature to help regulate the cool, humid environment essential for aging tequila. This seamless blending of form and function reflects the distillery’s deep respect for the land and its thoughtful integration into the craft.
The team oversees 671 hectares of Agave Tequilana Weber fields across Jalisco and Nayarit. Skilled jimadores cultivate each agave plant for six to seven years before harvesting, allowing for optimal maturity and complexity in the final spirit.
Craft Meets Culture
La Cofradía isn’t just about tequila—it’s about preserving heritage through people, art, and story.
“We don’t just sell tequila, we sell Mexico in a bottle. Our proprietary ranges are tied to Mexican identity—from our handcrafted Talavera bottles to the stories told through our branding,” says Andrea.
Their in-house ceramic studio, Arte en Fuego, plays a key role in that mission. Local artisans hand-paint every Talavera-style bottle, blending craftsmanship with cultural significance.
Q: How did Arte en Fuego begin?
“We wanted to elevate the identity of our brand through craft. Arte en Fuego gave us a way to do that while supporting our community.”
Even outside the Talavera range, visual identity is paramount. La Cofradía designs each release with balance, symmetry, and intention—creating bottles that are not only beautiful but also representative of Mexico’s cultural richness.
“The design tells our story. It’s not just tequila, it’s culture.” — Andrea.
A Quiet Force in the Industry
La Cofradía began as a contract distiller, but its vision has always extended beyond the back label. Today, they remain one of the few distilleries that successfully balance third-party production with a thriving portfolio of proprietary brands.
Q: How do you balance contract production and your labels?
“It’s about vision. Our house labels are deeply personal, so even as we grow, we protect that essence. Every bottle, whether it’s for us or a partner, must reflect our values.”
Over the years, they’ve built a reputation for excellence across both sides of their operations—developing celebrity releases, boutique hotel exclusives, and limited collector’s editions that travel far beyond Jalisco.
This approach allows them to maintain agility and creativity without sacrificing consistency or authenticity.
Production with Purpose
La Cofradía’s production methods reflect a deep commitment to patience, precision, and purpose. The team executes every stage with care and intention, drawing on time-honoured techniques to elevate each batch.
They begin by slow-cooking agave piñas in traditional masonry ovens for 40 hours, allowing sugars to develop gently and evenly. Once cooked, the agave is crushed using either a roller mill or the traditional tahona, depending on the tequila style. The extracted juice undergoes fermentation and double distillation in stainless steel stills fitted with copper coils, which capture only the cleanest, most aromatic parts of the spirit.
The finished tequila then moves into one of the region’s most extensive barrel cellars, where up to 10,000 barrels rest in naturally cooled conditions, protected by mango tree architecture that helps maintain consistent humidity.
Every decision—from field to bottle—is made with transparency, excellence, and a deep respect for the people who bring this craft to life.
“Every part of our process is intentional. Our goal is always to create tequila that honours our heritage, and the people who help us bring it to life.” — Andrea.
Sustainability in Action
La Cofradía leads the charge in sustainable tequila production by championing both environmental care and community well-being.
They meet over 60% of their energy needs using solar power. They’re also pioneering hydrogen technology to fuel their cauldrons. The team converts agricultural waste from agave production into compost and returns it to the fields to enrich the soil. They press leftover agave fibres into eco-bricks through their BRICAVE initiative and use those bricks to build homes for employees and families in need—turning waste into lasting value.
On the distillery grounds, La Cofradía plants new mango trees and maintains a protected duck sanctuary, actively supporting the biodiversity that enriches the surrounding ecosystem.
La Cava del Villano Silver: A smooth, herbaceous mixed tequila with citrus notes. The name “Villano” pays tribute to revolutionary figures and tavern tales from Mexico’s cultural past.
La Cava del Villano Gold: A joven tequila blended for boldness, with herbal and woody notes and a golden hue derived from avocado extract.
Talavera Reposado: Aged 6 months in French oak and bottled in traditional hand-painted ceramic. Each bottle is one-of-a-kind, reflecting the vibrancy of Mexican Talavera.
Tequila for Every Occasion
La Cofradía crafts its tequilas for sipping, mixing, and gifting. Whether you shake them into a Margarita or Paloma, or showcase them in signature serves like the Rise & Shine or Lotus Flower, each bottle offers versatility and beauty in equal measure.
The house style balances earthy agave notes with bright minerality and structured finishes—a true reflection of the land, the people, and the process behind it.
“Our favourite is the core line of La Cofradía. It represents the best of our house, and each bottle bears the personal signature of our founder.” — Andrea.
Gran Cofradía Añejo: Matured for 12 months, this expression reveals notes of caramel, spice, and oak for a smooth and luxurious finish.
Gran Cofradía Reposado: Elegant and layered, with fruity tones and a soft woody touch thanks to French oak aging.
This launch represents a new chapter for La Cofradía in Australia. While the brand has touched down before, this exclusive partnership introduces their complete vision—culture, story, and spirit—to a broader audience of drinkers.
Q: Why Australia, and why now?
“Australia is full of passionate spirit lovers and curious drinkers. We’re not trying to be flashy—we want to connect with people who care about authenticity, storytelling, and of course, taste.”
Through this new partnership, Australia gains access to a collection of tequilas that embody culture, commitment, and craftsmanship—one ceramic bottle at a time.
Want to add authentic Mexican craft to your lineup?
Order online or contact your Cerbaco sales rep for a sample.www.cerbaco.com.au
