Georgina Estrada, Sandra Fernández and Salomón Abedrop at Casa Dragones
By Alfredo Espinola
In the heart of San Miguel de Allende, behind the iconic blue facade of Casa Dragones, sommelier Sandra Fernández welcomed us with the warmth of someone opening the doors to her own home. Her voice—serene yet passionate—served as the thread weaving together a story that intertwines independence, tradition, art, and tequila.
More than just a tasting, it was an invitation to understand the soul of Casa Dragones.
As we wandered through the spaces that once housed the stables of the Queen’s legendary Dragon Knights, Sandra guided us through the events that gave rise to the brand: from the independence conspiracies that found refuge within these walls to the contemporary vision of Berta González Nieves, who envisioned a tequila capable of transforming the perception of an entire category.
With each story, the house seemed to come to life. The centuries-old arches, the stone, the light, and the iconic blue of the facade became the protagonists of a narrative where Mexico’s history and tequila innovation converge in a single place.
It was impossible not to feel like part of that conversation.
Where History Lives On
The first time you walk through the blue door of Casa Dragones, you realize you’re not just entering a house. You’re stepping into a story.
In a city where colonial facades seem to have held the same secrets for centuries, there is one that stands out above all others. It is deep blue, almost impossible to ignore. Its rectangular shape breaks the harmony of the street, and on the stone, a medallion bearing the number 16 serves as a reminder that nothing here is by chance.
That same emblem lives on today on the labels of Casa Dragones.
Long before it became the home of one of the world’s most renowned tequilas, this property was part of the former stables of the Queen’s Dragon Knights. The original arches are still there, silent witnesses to a time when horses occupied the spaces where hand-blown crystal glasses are now served.
History took a definitive turn in 1810.
Four generations after the arrival of those royal horsemen, the very same walls began to hear different conversations. Here, among the stables and corridors, some of the ideas that would fuel Mexico’s independence movement took root.
Two centuries later, the house would once again become the setting for a transformative conversation.
It was right here that Berta González Nieves and her first investment partner envisioned a brand unlike any other—one that would honor the rebelliousness, vision, and independent spirit that had defined the property’s history.
Thus, Casa Dragones was born.
The Woman Who Wanted to Change the Conversation About Tequila
When Casa Dragones debuted in 2009, tequila was in a very different place.
Despite its more than four centuries of history, it was still perceived—especially outside of Mexico—as a drink for quick celebrations and casual cocktails. Few people associated it with contemplation, fine dining, or the sophistication reserved for the world’s great spirits.
Berta González Nieves saw another possibility.
As the first woman certified as a Maestra Tequilera by the Mexican Academy of Tequila Tasters, she envisioned a product capable of sitting at the same table as the great malt whiskies or the finest champagnes.
She didn’t want to simply create a brand.
She wanted to transform an entire category.
The result was Casa Dragones Joven, a tequila that would soon be recognized in the United States as one of the first great sipping tequilas: a spirit designed to be sipped slowly, to appreciate its nuances, and to complement the dining experience.
The Discovery
For Sandra Fernández, her encounter with Casa Dragones also marked a turning point.
Coming from the world of wine, she recalls discovering in that tequila something she had until then associated solely with the great wine regions: the ability to express a place of origin.
“For the first time, I found in a tequila something I knew perfectly well from wine: terroir.”
There was minerality.
There was identity.
There was a sensory narrative that spoke of volcanic soil, ripe agave, and a profoundly different vision of what Mexican tequila could be.
That first tasting eventually evolved into a professional and personal relationship with the brand, which she now shares through training, education, and the promotion of tequila culture.
The Value of Origin
At Casa Dragones, “terroir” isn’t just a buzzword.
It’s the starting point.
The agaves come from Los Bajos, one of the regions closest to the Tequila Volcano. There, volcanic soils rich in minerals and obsidian create exceptional conditions for growing the blue Weber agave.
While regulations allow agave to be harvested after four years, Casa Dragones waits nearly seven. This additional time allows for the development of a more complex and expressive raw material, capable of accurately reflecting the characteristics of its environment.
Every subsequent decision seeks to preserve that identity.
From carefully controlled fermentation to the design of exclusive barrels, everything follows the same philosophy: to let the origin continue to speak for itself.
A Collection Built on Innovation
The evolution of Casa Dragones can be seen as a constant quest.
Casa Dragones Joven paved the way with a precise blend of white and extra añejo tequila, designed to complement haute cuisine and redefine the tequila-tasting experience.
Next came Casa Dragones Blanco, a vibrant expression designed to engage with the new generation of mixologists and signature bars.
Then came Casa Dragones Añejo Barrel Blend, the result of a careful exploration of French and American oak barrels that add depth, texture, and complexity without overshadowing the character of the agave.
Innovation continued with Casa Dragones Reposado Mizunara, aged exclusively in new Japanese oak barrels. An exercise in exploration that gave rise to a tequila with a floral, elegant, and deeply unique profile.
Each launch represents a new dialogue between tradition and innovation.
The House Continues to Tell Stories
Today, Casa Dragones continues to welcome visitors at the very same property where it all began.
During the pandemic, the former residence was transformed into a living gallery dedicated to contemporary Mexican art. Every object, every piece of furniture, and every artwork is part of a narrative that celebrates Mexico’s creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural identity.
Tastings, pairings, and private experiences continue to take place within these century-old walls.
And while tequila takes center stage, the true essence of the place remains intact.
Because Casa Dragones has never been just a brand. It is a home.
A home where history, art, hospitality, and the vision of a pioneering woman continue to come together over a glass of tequila.
And where, thanks to Sandra Fernández’s guidance, every visitor discovers that behind every bottle lies much more than just an exceptional tequila: there is a story that deserves to be told.