Don Rodolfo is the third-generation Maestro Mezcalero from whom Pluma Negra Mezcal sources their spirits. When Don Rodolfo’s grandfather sought to purchase land for a palenque (distillery), all of the land along the river in his community of San Juan del Rio, Oaxaca, nothing was available. All of the riverfront land was occupied by other farms and palenques. So he purchased farmland on top of a hill, far from any water source. 

The hilltop perch of the distillery makes for stunning views. However, Don Rodolfo must make several trips in his truck to fill a water tank from his neighbor’s well for mezcal production and farming. Don Rodolfo loses several days of work each year commuting to the water, and spends money on gas for the drive. Those are both resources that would be better allocated producing corn, squash, or mezcal.

The roof of Don Rodolfo’s open-air palenque is large enough to harvest sufficient rainwater during the two-month rainy season to cover a majority of his needs. All that he requires is a rain-harvest system like the ones we’ve installed in Santa Maria Ixcatlan and Zaachila.

This campaign is meant to provide that.

After a recent site visit, an engineer estimated it would cost US$6,000 to build the 35,000-liter rain-harvest system illustrated in the photo. Through a combination of Don Rodolfo’s personal funds, profit-sharing reinvestments from the Pluma Negra brand, Cultured Spirits (importer), distribution partners in the USA, and private donations, we expect to start this project in January 2023 with 100% of the capital needed. If you want to help us achieve this goal, we would welcome your donation.