For Roxana Aguirre, Ancestral Bottle Shop + Market is about far more than what’s inside a bottle. It’s about heritage, family, education and sharing the stories of the people who have spent generations creating Mexico’s distinctive spirits.

Originally from California, Roxana grew up in a migrant family, moving between Northern California, Southern California and Mexico each year until she was 10. Her parents, both from a small pueblo in Michoacán, Mexico, worked as farm workers, and Roxana and her sisters joined them in the fields during the summers.

Spanish was Roxana’s first language, and her parents instilled in their daughters the importance of never losing their connection to their Mexican heritage and traditions.

After her family settled permanently in Northern California, Roxana attended California State University, Sacramento, earning a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies in 2010 and a teaching credential focused on bilingual and multicultural education in 2011.

She taught for several years before moving to Atlanta in 2013, where she and her husband entered the restaurant business. Roxana is also the mother of two sons, Gael and Santiago, whom customers may occasionally see alongside her at the shop.

“They have been my number one supporters and continue to motivate me to become the best version of myself,” she says.

After five years at their original restaurant, Roxana’s family opened Patria Cocina in Grant Park in 2018, where she took charge of the back bar. During the pandemic in 2020, she decided to deepen her knowledge of the spirits she was serving.

She took an online course, traveled to Mexico and immersed herself in literature about agave and Mexican spirits. As she learned more, she began changing the restaurant’s offerings, replacing mixto tequilas with 100% agave spirits for its margaritas.

Roxana also began hosting events where brand owners could introduce guests to their spirits and share the stories behind them. The events were a success, but guests repeatedly asked the same questions: Where can I buy this bottle? Who carries it?

While many of the products were distributed in Georgia, smaller and artisanal brands were often difficult for consumers to find.

Then, one night when Roxana couldn’t sleep, an idea came to her: Why not create an agave-forward bottle shop in Atlanta?

Ancestral Bottle Shop + Market was born.

Located in West Midtown, Ancestral Bottle Shop + Market specializes in Mexican spirits, Mexican wines and artisan goods, with a carefully curated collection designed to introduce customers to products—and producers—they may never have encountered before.

“We don’t just sell bottles,” Roxana says. “We share stories of producers, agaveros and their families behind the spirit.”

Education is central to the Ancestral experience. The shop offers classes, tastings and knowledgeable associates who help customers understand what they’re purchasing and guide them through the world of agave spirits.

The mission is to celebrate the heritage, craftsmanship and culture of Mexico while creating a welcoming space where hospitality, education and community come together.

Ancestral hosts free educational tastings, often giving brand owners an opportunity to meet customers and tell their stories directly. Roxana also uses the business to support the broader Atlanta community, including donating school supplies to underserved schools and supporting organizations such as LaAmistad with experiences and products for fundraising auctions.

“Ancestral is bringing community together in the best way we know how,” Roxana says, “with culture, education and shared experiences.”

Being different came with challenges. When Ancestral first opened, many customers expected it to operate like a traditional liquor store. It took roughly a year for people to understand why they wouldn’t find shelves filled with vodka, bourbon and other familiar categories.

“There was no blueprint of how to run or market a store like this,” Roxana says.

For the first year and a half, she was essentially a one-woman operation. Hiring help eventually gave her the time to focus on marketing, events and educational tastings. Word began to spread, customers shared their experiences online, and more people began making their way to West Midtown specifically to explore Ancestral’s selection.

Today, the shop has developed a following well beyond Atlanta, with customers traveling from Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee. Some visitors now make Ancestral a destination whenever they come to Atlanta.

Roxana already has her sights set on the next chapter: a second Ancestral location in Georgia.

The location hasn’t been determined, but her goal is to bring the same sense of community, culture and discovery to another part of the state.

She is also taking the Ancestral experience directly to Mexico. From November 8–11, Roxana will lead Ancestral’s first group trip to Jalisco, with visits to four tequila distilleries: Fortaleza, Atanasio, El Tequileño and Cascahuín. For more information about the trip and current availability, contact Ancestral directly. 

Ancestral will also celebrate its third anniversary at the end of February, with an anniversary event planned for early next year.

For those who haven’t ventured beyond the most familiar tequila labels, Roxana has a simple invitation:

“Give well-made artisanal Mexican spirits a try,” she says. “There are so many wonderfully made products available. Let us help guide you on your agave journey.”

Ancestral Bottle Shop + Market
950 W. Marietta Street NW, Suite A132
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: (404) 549-9040
Website: ancestralbottleshop.com
Social Media: @ancestralbottleshop