Amidst bullets, mezcal, and bravery, this is how it was enjoyed during the Mexican Revolution
The cantina was one of the most vibrant social spaces during the Mexican Revolution. Soldiers, peasants, Adelitas, muleteers, musicians, and anyone seeking a drink to warm their body or soul during turbulent times mingled there. Cantinas offered not only drinks, but also refuge, information, rest, conspiracies, and even recruitment.
Today we bring you 10 surprising facts about these spaces that made history.
1. Mezcal was served in gourds, not in small glasses.
Although today we see the caballito as the quintessential container for tequila and mezcal, during the Revolution, gourd bowls were used, small bowls made of hardened bark.
They were easy to transport, durable, and very common in rural areas where mezcal was the soul of the community.
2. The "courage-gathering" drink was real
Many revolutionaries would order a strong drink before going into battle.
The favorite drinks to "pull up your pants" were:
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Mezcal
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Tequila
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Sugarcane liquor
The soldiers said it was "so that neither the hand nor the heart would tremble."
3. There was one strict rule: no women!
Most cantinas of the time prohibited women from entering , except for the Adelitas , who could drink while accompanying their fellow fighters.
It was not until decades later that women's entry into these spaces was legalized.
4. The bartender had the right to refuse service
And he exercised it.
If he saw a customer who was too drunk, agitated, or looking for a fight, the bartender would simply say:
“Here, there’s no trust, and no fighting.”
This unspoken rule saved more than one life.
5. The canteens were information centers
In times before mass radio and the internet, bars functioned as an informal news center .
There, rumors, army movements, messages between revolutionary leaders, and even resistance strategies were transmitted.
6. The snacks were very different
Forget about potatoes or peanuts. During the revolutionary era, they offered:
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Beans with chili
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Hard tortillas
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Dry cheese
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Crackling
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Molcajete salsa
The goal: to keep the customer drinking.
7. It was permitted to enter armed.
Almost all the customers brought a rifle, pistol, or machete.
Some bars had a sign hanging that read:
“Guns down, cups up.”
But it rarely happened.
8. In many towns, mezcal was sold instead of tequila.
Tequila did not yet have the national prominence it enjoys today.
In contrast, mezcal was present in almost all rural regions and was the quintessential distilled spirit of the common people.
In a cantina in 1910, more than 70% of the drinks were mezcal or aguardiente.
9. The bars were the setting for revolutionary songs
Corridos like La Adelita , Valentín de la Sierra or La Cucaracha were sung there before they became famous.
The street musicians went from table to table, and the soldiers paid for a drink "so that the comrade can keep playing."
10. A sacred rule: “He who breaks it, pays for it”
It didn't matter if you arrived loaded with cartridges, if you were in a bad mood, or if you came straight from combat:
If you broke a bottle, a glass or a table... you paid for it .
The bartender always kept strict accounts, even in times of war.
The cantina: a portrait of brave Mexico
The revolutionary cantinas were much more than places to drink: they were spaces of resistance, identity, and community. There, histories were written, pacts were signed, losses were mourned, and victories were celebrated.
Today, when we raise a shot of mezcal or tequila, we also raise a piece of that memory.
Discover all the bottles we have to celebrate this November 20th at: Bottles to celebrate the Mexican Revolution – Vinosylic...
