Diddy Disses Tequila’s Jimadores….

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Diddy looking conspicuously out of his element.
Diddy looking conspicuously out of his element.

By now, many of you may have already seen both of these distasteful photos on Diddy’s Instagram account for his new venture with Diageo and DeLeón tequila that began in early 2014.

Dressed in his trademark dark suit, Diddy attempts to sacrifice a blue agave piña while at the same time asking for a moment of silence for “Mr. Pat Ron,” a thinly veiled dig against beverage behemoth, Patrón.

[Tweet “#TAKETHATTAKETHAT says @iamdiddy as he flips the bird to Mexico & jimadores. @DeLeonTequila“]

Those in the Tequila Community who make their living day after day selling,

Note the look of disdain on the jimador's face.
Note the look of disdain on the jimador’s face.

serving and producing tequila, as well as growing and harvesting agave, have been outraged at the clownish way in which Diddy and Diageo have disrespected and belittled the value of one of the last major pillars left in Tequila Culture–the jimador (agave harvester).

[Tweet “Diddy @iamdiddy & @DeLeonTequila have disrespected the value of the jimador”]

The Plight of the Jimador

In an age where modern technology and cost saving methods like the diffuser have been introduced in the Tequila Industry to replace everything from donkeys to bottlers to label applicators, the one skill that it has not yet been able to replace entirely is the hard labor of the jimador.

[Tweet “Hey, @iamdiddy! The hard labor & knowledge of the jimador cannot be replaced. @DeLeonTequila“]

Jimador, courtesy of Tequila G4.
Jimador, courtesy of Tequila G4.

Those who have seen these men in action, and those of us who have tried to hack off the pencas (leaves) from a blue agave piña using a razor sharp coa, know that it’s not as easy as it looks.

The following video is courtesy of the Tequila Interchange Project, a non-profit organization and consumer advocacy group for agave distilled spirits made up of key influencers such as bartenders, consultants, teachers, researchers, consumers and tequila aficionados.  It illustrates just how arduous this work is, and the dangers these men face each day for minimal pay.

[Tweet “The Tequila Interchange Project needs to take @iamdiddy to school! @DeLeonTequila @ThinkTequila“]

[Tweet “Unconscionable for @iamdiddy to attempt a jima wearing a suit. @DeLeonTequila“]

For Diddy to be allowed to be photographed attempting a jima wearing a suit and spotless shoes was unconscionable.  It makes light of the skill and experience of these journeymen laborers, as well their hardships, in a deplorable and condescending way.

[Tweet “Diddy makes light of the skill & experience of jimadores, as well as their hardships. @iamdiddy“]

Diddy Commits Commercial Suicide with DeLeón Tequila

If it’s true that Diddy knows what liquor Millennials want to drink as he states in this November 2014 article in Fortune, and wants to “disrupt how [liquor advertising] has been done,” he has already failed miserably.

[Tweet “Diddy @iamdiddy disrupts how liquor advertising has been done with an epic diss! @DeLeonTequila“]

Claiming that his image won’t be used for DeLeón like it has been attached to his

Jimador lifting piñas.  Courtesy of Tequila G4.
Jimador lifting piñas. Courtesy of Tequila G4.

Ciroc vodka ads (his first successful partnership with Diageo), then he should stick to his word.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the national trade association for America’s top distillers, and of which Diageo is a long time member, has strict guidelines when it comes to responsible digital marketing communications.

[Tweet “Diddy @iamdiddy lies & pimps his image for @DeLeonTequila!”]

It is obvious that Sean Combs believes he is above adhering to these regulations, and in the process, managed to insult an entire country.

[Tweet “DISCUS @DistilledSpirit needs to take @iamdiddy to task for epic diss of Mexico & jimadores”]

How Diddy Should’ve Done It

Jimador at work.  Courtesy of the Consejo Regulador del Tequila.
Jimador at work. Courtesy of the Consejo Regulador del Tequila.

The self-proclaimed tastemaker has proven to be very successful in everything he touches.  From music and clothing, to spirits and even reality TV, Diddy has left his indelible mark with sophistication and style.  So, when he hooked up with Diageo once more for DeLeón tequila, we expected more from him.

[Tweet “Cheap shot! We expected more from @iamdiddy & @DeLeonTequila.”]

We expected this $700 million dollar mogul to immerse himself in Tequila Culture.  To get to know the process and the people of the new spirit he was embracing, and to bring a fresh look to an otherwise unremarkable brand like DeLeón.

We expected he would slap on some Sean John boots and venture out into the

Sean John Kingswood Moc boot.
Sean John Kingswood Moc boot.

agave fields to absorb its magic.  Who knows?  Maybe he would become inspired to design a whole new line of menswear made from agave fibers that would appeal to all ethnicities, just as he desires to do with DeLeón’s advertising.

How’s that for doubling your ROI and gaining street cred?

[Tweet “Inclusive changed to exclusive with a cheap shot & photo op from @DeLeonTequila & @iamdiddy“]

We’re NOT Laughing With You

Instead, we get this…

"So, if I wanna be number one, there has to be a number two."
“So, if I wanna be number one, there has to be a number two.”

Perhaps, we expected too much?

[In 2010 there were 6 other brands besides Ciroc that the San Francisco World Spirits Competition bestowed double gold medals to in the vodka category.]

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Learn all about tequila from field to glass and then get paid to share your love of agave spirits with others! Buy Them Both Now!

Honoring the Jimadores & One Famous Jimadora

Una Jimadora Famosa

Continuing with our Quinceanera celebration, we pay homage to the jimadores and present the most famous jimadora ever, Senora Angelica Rivera, heroine of the telenovela Destilando Amor, singing Gaviota.

 

Tequila Distilleries & Brands Updated

gaviota, Quinceanera, jimador, destilando amor, jimadoraOur updated list of tequila distilleries and brands, the “Nom List”, as of 30 June 2014, is now available for download in both PDF and Excel formats. Click on any of the underlined items within the list to be taken directly to our reviews, articles, tasting notes and features on each tequila brand.

Destilando Amor and the Jimadora

Montalvo, Gaviota, and El Jimador are all represented in our nom list.  Do you know the significance of each brand as they relate to Destilando Amor?

 

[Tweet “#Tequila Aficionado’s new NOM List, as of 30Jun2014, available in PDF & Excel now.”]

Tequila Brands Old & New

gaviota, Quinceanera, jimador, destilando amor, jimadoraEach of our NOM Lists contains the names and information of brands that have previously appeared on NOM lists in the past but have since been dropped by the CRT. Pinpointing your treasure bottles has never been easier! Please understand that this list is not a comprehensive list of every tequila brand ever made. We make every effort to be sure it is as accurate as possible from the time we at Tequila Aficionado Media began publishing our lists in 2013.

Click to download the format of your choice: gaviota, Quinceanera, jimador, destilando amor, jimadora

30 June 2014 NOM List in PDF format

30 June 2014 NOM List in Excel format

Click on any RED link within the NOM list to see the Tequila Aficionado articles and reviews on that brand. *Color Coding*

  • Brands highlighted in Green are recent additions (see comment on Excel spreadsheet for first shown date)
  • Brands highlighted in Red did not appear on the current list (see comment on Excel spreadsheet for last shown date)
  • Brands highlighted in Blue are suspected of using a diffusor in production.

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Learn all about tequila from field to glass and then get paid to share your love of agave spirits with others! Buy Them Both Now!

Like a Jimador

Attack the day like a jimador – hard, fast and with a purpose!

 

Jimador at work

Video courtesy of Turner Barr
Published on Mar 7, 2012
http://www.aroundtheworldin80jobs.com
Working in the Agave fields, I discover I am worse at physical labor than I initially anticipated.

 

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Learn all about tequila from field to glass and then get paid to share your love of agave spirits with others! Buy Them Both Now!