Julio Gonzalez Estrada, recognized around the world by the name that graces his most famous tequila, Don Julio, passed away last week at the age of 87.
Gonzalez was the real deal, growing up working the fields with his family and starting his own distillery, Tres Magueyes, in 1942 at the age of 17. Not given to drinking tequila himself so much as tasting it, Gonzalez launched what is considered the first luxury tequila, Don Julio, in 1987. He partnered with the Seagram Company Ltd. in 1999 and later sold all of his shares to London’s Diageo PLC in 2005. Gonzalez leaves behind nine children, 25 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.