Our Team
Mike Novitski
Mike is a Minnesota native, but he has been traveling in Latin America for over five years. Despite working in the bar industry most of his life, his love for mezcal did not start until he arrived in Oaxaca.
“There is a beauty in the honest, unpretentious tradition that mezcal culture has. I fell in love with it immediately.” - Mike
As the Tour Experience Manager, Mike is dedicated to making each trip unforgettable, unique and engaging.
Monica Bautista Cortes
Monica was born and raised in Los Angeles, but her family is originally from Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, where her family began producing mezcal around 1840. Despite being born in the U.S., she always felt a pull back to her family’s roots and her mezcal heritage.
Four years ago, she returned to Oaxaca and decided to get involved in the family business and explore the history that has been a part of her family for so long. She quickly became an integral part of nearly every aspect of the business. In early 2020, Monica took on the role of Global Brand Ambassador at Casa Cortes.
She looks forward to helping introduce mezcal to the world.