businesses: agave planting, for which Ma. Dolores took the reins beginning this great legend. The artisanal Tequila of the Hacienda San Jose de Miravalle was produced in extremely small quantities, and became known because of its quality rather than for the amounts that were usually produced, becoming the legend of the greatest tasting ‘vino mezcal-Tequila.’ The ‘Dones’ (Hacienda owners and rich gentlemen of the high society of Mexico between the 1600s and 1800s) indulged their guests with this exclusive elixir, as a special treat, only in the most special occasions. In that time, to transport the Tequila of Hacienda San Jose de Miravalle, wooden cars pulled by six or eight bulls would take almost four days to get to Guadalajara and fifteen full days to arrive to Mexico City in order to provide the ‘Dones’ with one of the best Tequilas Mexico has ever brought to life. By the year 1907, Don Alfredo, the eldest of Dona Maria Dolores’ sons, took charge of the Hacienda San Jose de Miravalle, and under his leadership and hard work, the estate reached its shiniest times by providing for its more than 1,300 economic dependants that inhabited the valley. In the turbulent years that followed the Mexican Revolution (which with a very strong socialist hue claimed ‘land and freedom’ so land workers could own the land they worked on) an unimaginable number of Haciendas were expropriated by the ‘authorities’ throughout the country, among which Hacienda San Jose de Miravalle was counted, marking with it the abrupt end of all the productive activities that were held in the estate. Almost 100 years later, in 2008, the restart has been marked by the family returns to its roots when glory days of Hacienda San Jose de Miravalle shined farther than what sight could reach from the top of the Hacienda’s chapel bell-tower. References External links Statistical information about Hacienda San José de Miravalle Buildings and structures in Jalisco Tequila San José de Miravalle