Don José Cortés is the central character featured in Sons of mezcal. At age 82, he represents the 2nd generation of the Casa Cortés family of mezcaleros. Don José was born in Santiago Matatlán and lives a life dedicated to mezcal and family. He began working as a mezcalero in his teens on local palenques. He belongs to a generation of mezcaleros who, in the face of many economically difficult years and great adversity, remained steadfast in their commitment to preserve artisanal production methods, and to honor their family heritage and the land, the source of the indispensable agave. Don Jose’s roughly 69 years of distillation experience make him one of the most experienced mezcaleros in Mexico.