Luz María Saavedra Hernández
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By Alfredo Espinola
In this interview, we had the pleasure of talking with a leading figure in the mezcal industry, Luz María Saavedra Hernández, originally from Morelia, Michoacán, and an agronomist by profession with more than 25 years of experience in the world of mezcal. She made history as the first woman from Michoacán to be part of the jury of the Brussels World Competition during the 2020 Mexico Selection, highlighting her commitment to the visibility of women's work in the world of Mexican spirits.
Known among her friends as “Ingeniera Luzma,” she is currently the founding president of the Union of Agave and Mezcal Producers of Michoacán (UEPAMM) and also serves as founding secretary of the National Association of Women in Mezcal and Maguey in Mexico.
Ingeniera Luzma, tell us about your journey through the world of mezcal.
In 2013, together with my husband, the master mezcal maker José Villa (may he rest in peace), we founded Casa Nanacutzi (Lady Moon in Purépecha), named in honor of my mother and the lessons my husband learned from her about how to make mezcal according to the lunar cycle.
As a lover of the countryside, I have dedicated myself to rural development projects. I participated in the municipal development plan for Madero Michoacán, known as “the cradle of mezcal,” which has approximately 100 mezcal producers.
How long have you been at the helm of the UEPAMM?
I have been at the helm of UEPAMM for more than 10 years, where we have managed to consolidate mezcal not only in Mexico but also internationally.
What achievements has UEPAMM had with you at the helm?
During these years, UEPAMM has managed to consolidate mezcal brands, among which Nanakutzi, El Escondite, Hacienda los Támos, Campal, Fuego Eterno, Tata Juramuti, The Vazglez, Nandi Sabina, La Nueva Perla de Tzitzio, Mezcal Mu, Tzipikua, Pasión Escondida, and Estrellas de los Viento, not only in Mexico but also internationally.
How has mezcal achieved a global presence?
A key factor was that in 2012, the Denomination of Origin of Michoacán Mezcal was obtained, protecting 29 municipalities in Michoacán. The next step was the certification of Michoacán mezcal, in collaboration with Maestra Yolanda Ruiz, current president of the Association of Women of Mezcal and Maguey of Mexico, who helped establish certification bodies and draft the Mezcal Michoacano Law.
What can you tell us about your distillery?
It is located in the community of San Miguel, in the municipality of Madero, Michoacán, Mexico, where three families work to carry out the entire production process, as they control the entire production chain. It has nurseries, agave plantations, a distillery, bottling facilities, marketing and export areas, as well as a scientific team that works on innovation, technology transfer, and applied research.
What is your flagship mezcal brand?
My flagship brand is Nanakutzi mezcal, which won the Grand Gold at the Brussels World Competition in 2023, being the first to be certified by the Michoacán agency, which caused great joy, but at the same time brought some difficulties; for example, obtaining certification for Nanakutzi mezcal was complicated, since at that time the Mexican Regulatory Council for Mezcal Quality, A.C. (COMERCAM) was the only certifying body, which did not look favorably on a woman being at the head of mezcal production. However, thanks to the National Association of Women in Mezcal and Maguey of Mexico, led by its president Yolanda Ruiz Sánchez, new certification bodies were created in Michoacán, such as the Center for Innovation and Agri-Food Development of Michoacán (CIDAM), which is how Nanakutzi mezcal became certified, the first brand to be certified by this newly created body.
Where are your mezcal brands distributed?
They are currently exported to Europe and the United States, and we have begun to explore the Asian market.
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