Welcome to Mayawell, one of Birmingham’s classic cocktail bars specializing in agave-based spirits.
Here, we celebrate the diversity and richness of tequila and mezcal. We seek to explore the history and traditions of the various expressions of the agave spirits. We share drinks and stories together in the warm and welcoming ambiance of our little corner bar home here in Birmingham, Alabama.
Join us on an adventure of tastes, as both our classic and innovative house cocktails incorporate traditional Mexican ingredients to bring Latin flair to our libations. Beyond our thoughtfully crafted cocktails, we also offer a full bar of local craft and Mexican beers, new world wines, and a wide range of delicious spirits and classic cocktails.
A little backstory…
When owner and operator Neill Crook traveled to Mexico City for the first time many years ago, he fell in love with everything he experienced there: the food, the people, the culture, and especially the drinks. Inspired, he developed the concept of Mayawell from a desire to bring a little piece of the magic he experienced in Mexico back to his hometown of Birmingham. Since then, Neill has visited Mexico over a dozen times and traveled extensively throughout the country. He discovered tequila and became enamored with it - how wonderfully complex the spirit is, its nuances, and how to properly enjoy it. The romance deepened when he later traveled to Oaxaca and experienced traditional mezcal. From that moment onward, Neill was hooked on sharing the experience of agave-based spirits with anyone he knew... thus leading him to bringing Mayawell to life!
What about the name?
Mayawell is a playful twist on the phonetic spelling of the ancient Aztec goddess of the agave plant, Mayahuel. In folklore, she is depicted as the mother of the Centzon Totochtin or 400 Rabbits. These divine rabbits promote mayhem, drunkenness, and the spirit of enjoyment wherever they go. As tequila and mezcal are made from the agave plant, we hope a homage to Mayahuel brings with it the goddesses’ motherly blessings and an atmosphere of the Centzon Totochtin’s revelry.