Bertha González Nieves on Building Casa Dragones and Collaborating With Karol G
Story written by Marivette Navarrete
Bertha González Nieves, CEO and Co-Founder of Casa Dragones / Photo by The Mujerista
"I want people around the world to see the Mexico that I see in my heart and in my journey."
At Art Basel Miami Beach, Casa Dragones carved out a space guided by both tradition and innovation. The ultra-premium tequila house returned for its fifth year as the fair’s Official Tequila Partner, bringing Mexican craftsmanship into one of the world’s most influential creative settings.
At the center of that story is Bertha González Nieves, co-founder and CEO of Casa Dragones, the first female Maestra Tequilera, and a woman who has spent her career redefining what tequila can be.
Speaking with The Mujerista, González Nieves reflected on legacy, leadership, and why representation, when done with intention, can quietly change an industry.
(Quotes may have been edited for clarity.)
Photo courtesy of Casa Dragones
Redefining Leadership as the First Female Maestro Tequilera
For González Nieves, being recognized as the first female Maestra Tequilera carries weight because of what it can make possible for those who come next. The title represents progress, an opportunity to open doors for future generations of women to follow.
“I see this as a great honor to be able to carry that baton,” she shared. “But what’s more important is the example it sets for the next generations.”
For her, the goal isn’t to label industries as male- or female-dominated, but to encourage women to pursue careers based on curiosity and passion.
“I think women should choose their profession based on their interests and their passion…If they have the opportunity to discover their potential through their work, I think that’s the most important thing.”
This philosophy shapes both her outlook and Casa Dragones itself: creating something intentional, refined, and personal.
Operating across Mexico, New York, and the global luxury market, González Nieves describes entrepreneurship and leadership as ongoing practices.
“When you’re building a business, you have to be humble and in constant, permanent learning mode,” she said. “I think that learning is not a destination, it's a constant.”
That mindset has guided Casa Dragones since it began in 2009, when González Nieves set out to create a sipping tequila that honored tradition while pushing the category forward. Today, the tequila house is known for its small-batch production, rare aging techniques (like using Japanese Mizunara oak), and a commitment to crafting tequila meant to be sipped and savored, not rushed.
The Casa Dragones VIP Obsidian Bar at Art Basel Miami 2026. / Photo courtesy of Casa Dragones
Showcasing Mexican Design and Craftsmanship at Art Basel Miami
This year at Art Basel Miami Beach, Casa Dragones returned with an immersive space celebrating Mexican design at its highest level: The Plaza Bar and VIP Obsidian Bar. Both featured custom chandeliers crafted from hundreds of Casa Dragones bottles, designed by renowned Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao, and with interiors by acclaimed Mexican designer Gloria Cortina.
González Nieves saw these collaborations as a responsibility.
“Part of our craft is to expose Mexican craftsmanship in everything we do,” she explained. “I want people around the world to see the Mexico that I see in my heart and in my journey.”
Partnering with Art Basel was a dream González Nieves held for a long time, and she says she made it happen by speaking it into existence.
“I used to tell the head of Art Basel, ‘one day, one day, one day.’ And the day came,” she said, smiling.
This year’s partnership also featured Casa Dragones’ Art-Tender™ Sessions, where contemporary artists stepped behind the bar to create cocktails inspired by their own work.
“Having a creative community around us is nourishing,” González Nieves said. “It brings our craft to life in a very real way.”
Karol G and Bertha González Nieves for their ‘200 Copas’ tequila partnership. / Photo courtesy of Casa Dragones
How Casa Dragones and Karol G Came Together on ‘200 Copas’
One of the most talked-about moments for Casa Dragones this year was the debut of 200 Copas by Casa Dragones, the brand’s first cristalino tequila. This new product was developed in partnership with Colombian superstar Karol G, with both closely involved in its creation and with a vision that resonates with the Latin community.
For González Nieves, the collaboration with Karol G was based on genuine alignment in values and vision, rather than simply partnering with a celebrity. Both brought their perspectives to the development of ‘200 Copas,’ emphasizing their shared commitment to representing Latin culture through quality and craft.
“We sat down and really talked about our dreams— where we want to go and why she wanted to do this so much, from the bottom of her heart,” she said. “We realized we shared a very similar vision of the future and celebrating our Latin community in the craftsmanship and taking that to the world.”
She describes Karol G as more than an artist, seeing her as a fellow self-made, global, and grounded entrepreneur.
“As an entrepreneur I'm always looking to be inspired and I think Karol [G] provides an endless amount of inspiration you know as a self-made entrepreneur, a global superstar,” González Nieves said. “ So, she has the gift of being of that size and she also has the gift of being down to Earth.”
In a tequila landscape increasingly crowded with brands and founders disconnected from Mexican and Latin heritage, González Nieves is clear about what this collaboration represents.
“This is about promoting Latin culture together,” she said. “You know, this is about telling the world what we can do, how we can be together. And I think that this is not about being Mexican or Colombian or any other Latin American country. This is about all of us taking our strength together and showing the world that, you know, that we are as good as anyone else.”
Casa Dragones Tequila Bottles, an ultra-premium Mexican tequila. / Photo courtesy of Casa Dragones
Looking Ahead at Casa Dragones
Casa Dragones has built its reputation on pushing boundaries without losing sight of where it comes from.
“We honor tradition, but our gasoline is innovation,” González Nieves said. ”So, I cannot tell you exactly where we're going to go next, but I can guarantee you that we will bring new “news” to the category.
Instead of focusing on what comes next, she sees Casa Dragones as a group of explorers who are curious and intentionally guided by their respect for tequila’s complexity.. The goal has never been reinvention for reinvention’s sake, but expansion: inviting people to experience tequila as it was always meant to be enjoyed: sipped, savored, and understood.
In many ways, that philosophy mirrors her own journey. Leading with curiosity, staying open to learning, and creating space for others along the way. For González Nieves, progress isn’t measured by how far she goes alone, but by how many doors remain open behind her.
Bertha González Nieves with artists Danny Baez and Marc Spiegler during the Art Tender Sessions of Casa Dragones at Art Basel Miami 2026. / Photo courtesy of Casa Dragones