We’ve had a special place in our hearts for the unsung heroines and muses in tequila for a very long time. After reading Ilana Edelstein’s The Patron Way, Mike & I felt it was time someone brought other women’s stories to light – and what better place to do that than at the leader in tequila information since 1999 – Tequila Aficionado.
It all began with Tequila Boss Ladies and grew from there. This series has grown over the years to include sotol, mezcal and agave spirits so there is still more to come! In the meantime, you can catch up on the entire series to date.
From Babes to Boss Ladies
The contributions of women who create some of the amazing spirits we enjoy, direct production and distillation, support educational efforts, own brands we love, and otherwise contribute to the tequila industry are often overlooked beyond the 80’s throwback bikini-babe marketing efforts of behind-the-times brands. (Perhaps that’s a bit harsh, but when women make 80% of the buying decisions in America today, don’t you think brands would be better served by changing their marketing approach with the times?)
Catch Up With The Series
Click on the links below to visit our ongoing series and explore some of the amazing contributions made by women in today’s tequila industry:
When Judy Rivera sought to make her own brand of tequila, she was determined to find a master distiller whose views and outlook were similar to hers. It wasn’t long before she found Carmen Lucia Barajas Cárdenas–“Melly” to her friends–and Sino Tequila was born.
Melly Barajas always intended to be a Tequila Boss Lady. After years of apprenticeship in the male dominated Tequila Industry, she purchased land in the highlands of Jalisco called Valle de Guadalupe and constructed her own distillery, Vinos y Licores Azteca (NOM 1533).
She resolved to hire only women from the rural area and to teach them all she knew, from operating fermentation tanks to bottling and more. She also established a learning center and living quarters at the distillery for her all female staff.
Melly has become a force to be reckoned with, tackling the Tequila Industry on her own terms. Here’s what she had to say in response to our customary questions.
[Editor’s note: For the convenience of our interviewee and our Spanish speaking audience, this article is in both English and Spanish.]
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TA: How would you describe your experiences as a woman in a primarily male dominated industry? (What are the challenges you face when dealing with the male dominated Tequila Industry?)
(¿Cómo describiría sus experiencias como una mujer de alto rango en su posición en una industria dominada principalmente masculina?)
MB: Fascinating!
It’s a world filled with constant challenges, where you have to work a lot and assert yourself. Where you have to demonstrate that your sex doesn’t matter, and instead, do things right and always move forward to improve yourself every day.
It’s a place where you find many helpful circumstances and others that are difficult obstacles that force you to struggle each day and to not give up.
It’s work that changes your life. There’s always new things, new people, new experiences, new challenges. The key is to wake up each day ready to relish whatever comes up.
(Facinante!
Es un mundo lleno de retos constantes, donde tienes que trabajar mucho y hacerte valer, donde debes demostrar que el sexo no importa sino hacer las cosas bien y siempre estar en movimiento y superarte tratando de ser cada dia mejor.
Es un espacio donde encuentras muchas manos amigas y otras manos duras que te retan y así te obligan a estar luchando cada dia y no darte por vencida.
[Tweet “Tequila: It’s work that changes your life. #MellyBarajas @SinoTequila”]
Es un trabajo que conviertes en tu vida. Siempre hay cosas nuevas, gente nueva, experiencias nuevas, retos nuevos, la clave es levantarte todos los días lista para disfrutar lo que venga)
TA: How have you been able to change things within the Tequila Industry?
(Cómo han sido capaces de cambiar las cosas dentro de su industria?)
MB: Hmmm. Realistically, I’m not sure I’ve changed anything in the industry.
What I can say is that we’ve changed the lives of many women in the town where the distillery is located in Valle de Guadalupe, Jalisco.
Well, in the factory, besides teaching them how to make very good tequila, we’ve taught them that because we’re women, we are limited by NOTHING.
On the contrary!
In the factory, we do all types of jobs that perhaps have been labeled men’s work because it requires more physical strength than what we ladies have, but, by our astuteness that defines us, we develop skills and invent things to do our jobs equally as well as gentlemen.
Besides, when they demonstrate [to themselves] that they can do things that they’ve never even dreamed of, and that they can do so wondrously, they take that lesson into their daily lives and it changes their manner of thinking and they begin to forget their physical restrictions because women’s limitations exist only in their minds.
I’m not saying it’s easy, but the difficulty makes all the difference and the fun.
(Mmmm, realmente no se si he cambiado algo de la industria.
Lo que si te puedo decir que hemos cambiado la vida de muchas mujeres en el pueblo donde esta la tequilera en Valle de Guadalupe Jalisco.
Pues en la fabrica ademas de enseñarles hacer muy buen tequila, se les ha enseñado de no por “ser mujeres” estamos limitadas a NADA,
Al contrario !!!
En la fabrica se hacen todo tipo de trabajo, que tal vez se etiquetan como trabajo de hombres por que requieren de mas fuerza que las que tenemos las damas, pero con la astucia que nos distingue hacemos mañas e inventamos cosas para hacerlas igual de bien que los caballeros.
[Tweet “Hemos cambiado la vida de muchas mujeres en el pueblo #MellyBarajas @SinoTequila”]
Ademas cuando les demuestras que pueden hacer cosas que ni en sueños pensaron que pudieran hacer, y lo pueden hacer de maravilla, este aprendizaje lo llevan a su vida diaria y cambia su modo de pensar y empiezan a olvidar sus ” disque limitaciones ” por que las limitaciones de las mujeres solo están en su cabeza.
No digo que sea fácil, pero lo difícil hace la diferencia y lo divertido.)
TA: What do you see as the future of women working within the Tequila Industry?
(¿Qué ves como el futuro de las mujeres que trabajan en la industria del Tequila?)
MB: The future of women in Tequila has arrived!
Our tequilas say it all: The feminine touch on tequila is its magic, its heart, and its soul.
In tequilas made by women, or with women’s help, a little piece of their hearts travels to all parts of the world.
Since every day more women are working, it is this medium that has begun to be an important source of employment in the tequila [making/growing] regions.
(El futuro de las mujeres en el Tequila ha llegado!!!
Nuestros tequilas lo dicen todo, el toque femenino en el tequila es la magia, es el corazon, es su alma.
En los tequilas que hacen las mujeres, o con ayuda de mujeres se va un pedacito de su corazon a todas partes del mundo.
Ya que cada dia mas mujeres trabajan es este medio que ha empezado hacer una fuente de trabajo importante en las zonas tequileras.)
TA: What facets of the Tequila Industry would you like to see change?
(Qué cosas gustaría cambiado?)
MB: Everything has its time and takes its course.
I believe that doing things right and demonstrating to the world the value of women in our beverage [tequila] industry is on a sure path.
(Todo lleva su tiempo y su curso.
Creo que el hacer las cosas bien y demostrarle al mundo el valor de las mujeres en nuestra bebida va por buen camino.)
TA: Do you approve of how Tequila brands are currently marketing themselves?
(Esta Ud de acuerdo con la comercialización de marcas de tequilas, hoy en dia?)
MB: That’s an interesting question.
I’d like all tequila to be [made of] 100% Agave Azul Tequilana Weber so that it could only be from the juice of this miraculous plant with all its properties.
There is a reason that the ancient Aztecs made offerings of this elixir to the gods and it was only imbibed by priests.
(Es interesante tu pregunta.
Yo quisiera que todo el tequila fuera solo 100% de Agave Azul Tequilana Weber, para que fuera solo jugo de esta planta maravillosa con todas sus propiedades.
[Tweet “El futuro de las mujeres en el Tequila ha llegado! #MellyBarajas @SinoTequila”]
No por nada los Aztecas ofrecían este elixir a los Dioses y solo era bebido en la antigüedad por los sacerdotes.)
TA: Is there anything you’d like to say to women who may be contemplating entering and working in the Tequila Industry in one form or another?
(¿Existe algo que le gustaría decir a las mujeres que pueden estar contemplando entrar y trabajar en la industria del Tequila en una forma u otra?)
MB: Of course.
I’d like to tell them that to sell tequila isn’t just selling a beverage, it’s giving the client an opportunity to get acquainted with this delicious and ancient beverage that was offered to the gods. It’s giving them the chance to savor a beautiful history, a lovely dream, a small piece of Mexico.
To remember that inside every bottle go the thrills, the efforts and the hopes of a town that is proudly Mexican.
The sky’s the limit.
Salúd!
(Claro.
Yo quisiera decirles que el vender tequila no solo es vender una bebida, es darle al cliente la oportunidad de conocer la deliciosa bebida milenaria que era ofrecida a los Dioses, darles la experiencia de paladear una bella historia, un bello sueño, un pedacito de Mexico.
Que recuerden que en cada botella va la ilusión, el esfuerzo y la esperanza de todo un pueblo orgullosos de ser Mexicanos.
Que su limite sea el cielo.
Salúd!)
[Tweet “Inside every bottle go the thrills, efforts, and hopes of a town that is proudly Mexican.”]
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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!
Judy Rivera, the latest Tequila Boss Lady to join our gallery, has figured out how to combine acute LA street smarts, a fearless entrepreneurial spirit, and artistic ingenuity into her Sino Tequila brand.
A staunch women’s rights advocate, Judy contracted with a small, 100% female owned and operated distillery in the highlands of Jalisco–Vinos y Licores Azteca (NOM 1533). Its Maestra Tequilera, Melly Barajas Cárdenas, oversees Sino’s distinctive flavor profiles, as well.
Successfully launching Sino in late 2009, Judy is an avid supporter of notable street artists, and even donates $1.00 of every bottle sold to non profit organizations that benefit artists, galleries and art programs across the country.
Finally, Rivera owes her boundless energy and work ethic to her father, and even shares her grandfather’s message as the basis of Sino’s name, below.
Read on as Judy tackles our standard handful of preguntas (questions).
***
[Tweet “Education over bullying is always a better result in #tequila @sinotequila”]
TA: How would you describe your experiences as a woman in a primarily male dominated industry? (What are the challenges you face when dealing with the male dominated Tequila Industry?)
JR:Thinking through my entire experience since launching Sino Tequila at the end of 2009 until now, I really believe being a woman in the industry has garnered a lot of support for my Brand and my Mission, especially from the bar and restaurant side of things.
There have been some interesting times during the first couple of years bringing Sino to a distributor and getting a lot of “Are you the sales rep?” type of questions.
I would of course answer, “Yes, the sales rep, the accountant, the marketing agency and the owner!”
TA: How have you been able to change things within the Tequila Industry?
JR: Well, I think if nothing else it opens everyone’s mind that you don’t need to be a millionaire to make great tequila.
[Tweet “You don’t need to be a millionaire to make great tequila. @sinotequila”]
I am very proud of my Brand and the wonderful distillery that produces my recipes.
There are still some people that may dismiss the tequila because it doesn’t have the flashy television ads, etc., but I believe quality and creativity supersedes relying solely on flashiness and huge budgets.
I see that being realized by more and more people each day.
TA: What do you see as the future of women working within the Tequila Industry?
JR: It will definitely continue to grow and we will become a stronger voice.
[Tweet “Quality and creativity supersedes flashiness and huge budgets in #tequila @sinotequila”]
It’s awesome to see more women become Master Tequileras and how women in the Tequila/Mezcal industries especially are helping each other gain experience to rise up in the industry.
TA: What facets of the Tequila Industry would you like to see change?
JR: The competitive aspect of the industry can be enjoyable, but at the same time, when it gets reduced to “my tequila/mezcal is better than yours,” it gets quite annoying.
I enjoy spending time with people that continue to teach me about what makes each tequila or mezcal different from one another.
Education over bullying is always a better result.
That’s why I love what you and others do for the industry. It gives a forum for even little brands like me to speak up. Thank you for that! [Editor’s note: You’re welcome!]
TA: Do you approve of how Tequila brands are currently marketing themselves?
JR: I love the creative marketing aspects of the industry.
Some, I think, are a bit ridiculous, some a bit stale, but at the same time all of it is interesting.
I still think there is a lot more out there on how to bring in the culture of Mexico and [to] be creative with branding that I don’t always see.
I tend to like brands from a messaging standpoint that market somewhere between the Rancho image of Mexico and the Club scene of a major US city.
There is so much more content to have fun with in the middle of those two extremes which I really try to tap into.
TA: Is there anything you’d like to say to women who may be contemplating entering and working in the Tequila Industry in one form or another?
JR: Yes, go for it! If it is your passion you need to chase it.
I really live by what made my final decision to jump into the world of agave – “Si no tratas, no ganas” –
If you don’t try, you won’t win.
As long as it is a passion and something you want to try for the love of it, then it will be an extremely fulfilling journey!
[Tweet “Si no tratas, no ganas! If you don’t try, you won’t win @sinotequila”]
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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!
We’ve had a special place in our hearts for the unsung heroines and muses in tequila for a very long time. After reading Ilana Edelstein’s The Patron Way, Mike & I felt it was time someone brought other women’s stories to light – and what better place to do that than at the leader in tequila information since 1999 – Tequila Aficionado.
