Meet Jose "Pepe" Zevada

Jose "Pepe" Zevada has spent his entire business career in the spirits industry. Z Tequila was the pursuit of a lifelong dream of owning his own brand of premium tequila.

Pepe Zevada was raised in Mexico and educated in the United States at the University of Missouri. He later earned a Master's Degree from the London School of Economics. From 1976 until 1979, Mr. Zevada was the Export and Import Director for Casa Madero, a wine and brandy producer in Mexico City.

From 1979 until 1986, Zevada was the Vice President for Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean for Brown Foreman - producer of Jack Daniels and Southern Comfort. During this time, he introduced Jack Daniels to Brazil, Mexico, Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay and was in charge of the duty-free markets of the Caribbean.

In 1986, Zevada became Vice President for Hiram Walker/Allied Domecq was was responsible for all of Latin America and Southern Europe. During this time, he was the World Ambassador for Tequila Sauza and Kahlua and responsible for the development of Kahlua, Canadian Club, Ballantines Scotch, Tequila Sauza, Spanish wines and Spain's Casa Domecq brandy.

He moved to Shaw Ross International Importers in 2000 and was in charge of the spirits division, notable introducing Tequila Espolon to the United States as Managing Director. He was recently coaxed out of retirement to fulfill a lifelong dream of introducing his own special brand of 100% pure agave tequila.