It perhaps should come as no surprise in the face of this year’s outpouring of generosity within the context of COVID-19, that there exist entrepreneurs whose primary impetus for what they do is charitable. I recently had a virtual sit-down with Alvin Starkman, who together with Randall Stockton operates Mezcal Educational Excursions of Oaxaca (www.mezcaleducationalexcursions.com). … Read more
Laura Espinoza Alonso is currently the president of the Association of Women of Bacanora and Mexican Maguey in the state of Sonora, Mexico. With more than 30 female members from all levels of business, she is charged with overseeing the bright future of the burgeoning Bacanora Industry. Educated in both the United States and Mexico, … Read more
Elle France, the creative mind behind Cosa Salvaje tequila, has spent the better part of her entrepreneurial life bringing people together. As a much sought after matchmaker, dating columnist and consultant, Elle is now making it her mission to help folks from all walks of life to fall in love with tequila, all over … Read more
We first encountered Adriana Torres through Novel Spirits Collection, the US importer of her flagship bacanora brand, Pascola Bacanora. The more we heard about her from Connie and Mel Abert, the owners of Novel Spirits, the more intrigued we became with her background. You can read about her herculean efforts to revitalize Sonora, Mexico’s once … Read more
Women Making Mezcal in Oaxaca: Division of Labour between the Sexes Alvin Starkman, M.A., J.D. It is inaccurate to suggest that mezcal production in the southern Mexico state of Oaxaca is by and large a man’s job or trade, and that there are very few palenqueras, that is artisanal mezcal distillers who are women. The … Read more
The First Time [Tweet “Barbara Sweetman has single handedly given more people in the world their first taste of mezcal.”] I first met Barbara Sweetman, Vice President of Caballeros, Inc., and International Sales Manager of Scorpion Mezcal, and now, Sierra Norte Whiskies in March 2011. I was visiting the infamous Nightclub & Bar show in … Read more
Terray Glasman is the founder of Austin, Texas-based Amorada Tequila. Born in Mexico City, Terray learned the meaning of responsibility very early on. At age seven, she and her five other siblings moved to El Paso, Texas with their single mother. At eighteen, her entrepreneurial spirit drove her to establish a telecommunications company, Monarch Advertising, … Read more
Erika Vargas Flores has spearheaded Altos Cienega Unidos (NOM 1570) in the village of Rancho Lagunillas, nestled in Atotonilco El Alto, for the past four years. When upstart flagship brand, El Consuelo, won the coveted 2016 Brands Of Promise(C) award in the Organic category, tequila aficionados everywhere took notice. Subsequently, we came to discover that … Read more
[Tweet “Women In The Tequila Industry: Leticia Aceves Alvarez of @EmbajadorTquila”] I first met Carmen Leticia Aceves Alvarez in July 2016, during my investigative visit to Fabrica Santa Rosa. The distillery is responsible for such fan favorite tequilas as Alma de Agave, Crótalo, Cabresto, and their flagship brand, Embajador. At a round table lunch over … Read more
*FTC Disclosure: Brands appearing on the Tequila Aficionado Dia de Los Muertos & Heartland Tour had to be vetted as Brand of Promise Nominees and paid a nominal fee to be on the tour. [Tweet “Meet the lady who single-handedly regained Tequila 1921’s traction in 34 states.”] Building Casa 1921 One of the more prized … Read more