Today we’d like to introduce you to Omar & Zandra Castaneda.
Hi Omar & Zandra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When we vacationed in Mexico for our honeymoon trip in August 2009, we toured a tequila distillery. We learned the history of tequila, the process of making it, and tasted many exceptional tequilas. At that time we briefly looked into what it would cost to import a tequila product and we just didn’t have the large working capital nor the time to dedicate to a start-up company. Omar was busy establishing his management career and I (Zandra) was busy starting my Master’s degree, while we also balanced parenthood of our first child – Ariana. At that time we lived in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Fast forward to 2016, we now lived in greater Austin for about four years and were established in our own careers. Despite that, we took a chance on ourselves and started working through all the federal, state, and local permits that are required to trademark, import and sell a distilled spirit. We then toured many distilleries in Mexico to find the perfect flavor profile that we wanted our tequila to taste like. Once we decided on a specific distillery we then worked to refine a few things that make our tequila unique. When all the fine details in starting our company were solidified – we received our first shipment of about 1,000 bottles of our tequila in August 2018. Ironically, it was almost exactly to the day that we had taken that tequila tour in Mexico 9 years prior. Since then we’ve worked hard to establish partnerships in liquor stores, restaurants, and bars in greater Austin and in greater Corpus Christi. I would say that without the support of our family and friends we wouldn’t be where we are today. Whether it be purchasing our product, recommending our product, or something as simple as interacting with our social media really helps. We are proud to say we currently partner with about 100 locations to feature our premium tequila.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like any other small business we’ve had our fair share of challenges. We quickly learned that the beverage world is a very competitive industry. There are many state restrictions that require us to outsource certain aspects of our business operations which then in turn results in additional costs for our company. The federal and state taxes associated with importing and selling a distilled spirit are very steep. And because tequila is legally required to be made in Mexico, the logistics behind getting our product here can be a challenge. Omar’s father who lives in Mexico not far from our distillery has been essential in helping with some of those logistical challenges. Suffice to say, operating a small business amidst a pandemic in 2020 was also very challenging. In late 2019 and in early 2020 we invested a lot of resources to partner with restaurants and bars. So when restaurants and bars were required to close or only offer curbside, we did not see a return on the resources we invested. Fortunately, liquor stores were not required to close and because of that we were able to survive the year.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our company offers a premium tequila that we specifically set at an affordable price point. We don’t believe that you should have to pay an excessive cost to enjoy a premium product. Our 3 tequilas are made from 100% blue agave and don’t contain any artificial flavors. We currently offer a Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo tequilas. Although all three taste great, our Blanco is your go to for margaritas, our Reposado perfect in a paloma, and our Anejo is really awesome on its own, neat. Most of our customers are pleasantly surprised with how smooth our tequila tastes. We are super proud to say that our business is 100% family owned and operated and self-funded – this is almost unheard of in the tequila industry. We really hope that readers will try our tequila and become loyal customers if you truly do enjoy it. Without happy, loyal customers we wouldn’t be in business.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The tequila industry has really taken off in the last ten years. You see that when multiple celebrities have created their own brands now. One big shift that is currently happening for us is a change to our bottle labels. Our original label was clear, sleek, and sophisticated but without the proper lighting, it just didn’t stand out as much as we’d like. Our new label has a matt background that helps the brand stand out much more. We also plan to be Texas wide within the next five years. We currently handle our own distribution which is the reason we only maintain the two markets we have in greater Austin and greater Corpus Christi. Once we become Texas wide we will have to outsource some of our distribution because it would no longer be feasible for us to personally deliver our product to all our partner locations. That will be a big change for us because delivering our product is a very personable experience.
Pricing:
- Blanco ~ $30
- Reposado ~ $35
- Anejo ~ $40
Contact Info:
- Email: z.castaneda@tequila1824.com or o.castaneda@tequila1824.com
- Website: www.tequila1824.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1824tequila/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1824tequila
Image Credits
Kristen Vest Photography and La Margarita Restaurante
