CASA-DEL-SOL TEQUIL: EVA LONGORIA'S LOVE LETTER TO HER MEXICAN ROOTS

The taste of Mexico is an unforgettable one, with its fireworks of spices, potent drinks, and diverse flavors that ignite the senses. And where would the culinary world be without the sacred, almost medicinal liquid libation of tequila?

Mexican-American actress Eva Longoria looks back to her roots with Casa del Sol, an ultra-premium tequila brand that she launched with Mariana Padilla and Alejandra Pelayo. The women-helmed company aims to elevate the voices of the community, focus on sustainable production, and share the magic of Mexican heritage with the world in its mystical storytelling.

CREDIT: BRIAN BOWEN SMITH

"In a male-dominated business, you really have to be innovative. We bring a lot to the table because we have a diversity of approach, and a different perspective and mindset that adds depth and value to our product. It allows us to think outside the typical male machismo framework that tequila is created on." - Eva Longoria

Tequila is known to be a largely male-run business — white male, in particular — often sidelining women who are essential in its production and consumption. But the three Mexican tastemakers are set to change the industry's narrative and write a proper love letter to their homeland. Longoria, who has been approached about creating a brand quite a few times, says Casa del Sol was the "first group that wanted to honor the craft and Mexican artistry, celebrating and pushing it forward. Liquid first. Heritage first. Culture first. Special union from the beginning," says the actress, who now lives part-time in Mexico City.

Mexico has no shortage of artisanal gifts, from tacos to textiles to, of course, tequila. In fact, these three Ts have now become international citizens, enjoyed by people around the world. The mastery of working by hand and maintaining generations-old wisdom makes it a true patrimony of the nation. Tequila production, in particular, is one of the nation's most prized possessions. Made from blue Weber agave, tequila follows a traditional production process when it comes to cooking and crushing with lava-rock stone, as well as a modern one in its distillation.

CREDIT: COURTESY OF CASA DEL SOL

Casa del Sol respects the sacred methods of the land and further ages the drink in cognac barrels handcrafted with French Limousin oak. This gives the drink a luxury refinement, a modern kind of heritage that's ultimately one of the pillars of the tequila house.

The brand fosters a close relationship with the farmers, jimadors, and distillers, celebrating the people of Jalisco. The agave comes from the Highlands, where it's watered naturally during the rainy season and harvested after seven years of maturation. Each selected agave is replanted with an offspring once the soil has had the chance to regenerate. Through this process, the biodiversity of the region is conserved without overfarming, which has become quite common in past years. The distillery also uses agave biomass for the cooking process to eliminate pollution, as well as solar panels to power the production. A responsible production process has always been at the core of the company.

Casa del Sol also draws inspiration from the Aztec goddess Mayahuel. As the legend goes, she wanted to protect herself and her lover, the God of Wind, from her spiteful grandmother with sharp agave leaves. Her grandmother hit the plant with a bolt of lightning, burning it to the ground. All that remained was a single spire and piña filled with agave nectar, completing Mayahuel's transformation into the Goddess of Agave.

"I take any chance that I get to be an ambassador for Mexico's food, beauty, culture, and music, but most of all the people. The people of Mexico are some of the best human beings in the world." - Eva Longoria

Longoria will be hosting CNN's show Searching for Mexico, a spinoff of Stanley Tucci's Searching for Italy, later this year. The show is about to kick off filming, and Jalisco is sure to be a special stop on the journey across Mexico.