Priest Creates Tequila to Benefit Children’s Shelters in Mexico Brian Blueskye - Palm Springs Desert Sun
go to original August 5, 2022

There’s a legend that Episcopal priest Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija has heard many times — it dates back to 1922 and involves a priest in Jalisco, Mexico, who struggles to keep an orphanage afloat until he inherits a tequila factory.

He remembered this story while he and his husband, Troy Elder, were in Mexico almost two years ago, where they support a shelter for children in Mexicali and an orphanage in Tijuana. The shelter’s power was turned off for two weeks and Elder said, “I wish we could just drink their problems away.”

“I thought, ‘Hold on, maybe we can,’” Lebrija said.

According to the tale of the priest and the tequila factory, an affluent American woman savors the product and wishes to take a batch home, but it’s during the era of prohibition. The priest consecrates the tequila and labels it as “Sanctus Aquam” (holy water) so she can take it across the border. She introduces it to other affluent Americans who also purchase it under its rechristened name and the profits save the orphanage.

This legend inspired Lebrija to create his own tequila with the proceeds going to children’s shelters in Mexico.

Over the course of 16 months, Lebrija produced a flavor profile for a sipping tequila and took it to the Jalisco manufacturer, Tequila Selecto de Amatitán.

Lebrija branded the tequila Sanctus Aquam. In July, 960 bottles priced at $89.99 went on sale through SanctusTequila.com. He hopes to release the same amount of bottles every quarter, raising $120,000 a year for children's shelters in Mexico.

"The whole point of this is to raise money for the kids," Lebrija said. "There isn't one salary in any of this. I have my job and get paid for my job. The importer has forfeited any fees and I only have to pay taxes to the federal government. Everyone helping me along the way realizes this is for a good cause and helping kids, so when we say 100% of the profits, we literally mean it."

With only 960 bottles per batch, it limits the opportunity to put the tequila in local restaurants and bars. There's a QR code on every bottle that explains the story of the tequila and its mission.

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Related: Alma de Agave Festival Is Coming to Puerto Vallarta August 6-7 (The Guadalajara Post)

  Learn about S.A.C.R.E.D. Using Spirits to Improve Lives

  Learn about Childrens Shelter of Hope Foundation

  Learn about Canadian Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation