Ep. 54: A One of A Kind Tequila That Empowers Women with Mara Smith

Welcome back to another episode of The Everyday Wine Aficionado Podcast! Today, we are delving into the world of spirits with Mara Smith!

Mara is a former attorney, corporate strategist, and stay-at-home mom who is the founder of Inspiro Tequila. She started drinking tequila when she was looking for a clean, gluten-free spirit that fit into her active lifestyle. Mara searched for a tequila brand that was additive-free with a look, taste, and aroma that appealed to her. That perfect tequila did not exist, so she decided to create one. Mara's goal was not just to create a one-of-a-kind tequila, it was also to bring another female voice to the spirits industry.  Women are a part of every aspect of Inspiro Tequila's process from creating the taste profiles to getting bottles on the shelves. As a female founder, Mara's mission is to inspire and support other women on their entrepreneurial journeys through financial support and mentoring. 

[00:01 - 15:41] Mara’s Journey and Goals, Bringing Empowerment to Women 

• Mara’s goal was not just to create a one-of-a-kind tequila, but also to bring another female voice to the spirits industry.
• Women are a part of every aspect of Spirit tequila's process from creating the taste profiles to getting bottles on the shelves.
• As a female founder, Mara's Mission is to inspire and support other women
• The challenges of starting a tequila company, include finding distilleries and finding a master distiller.
• The unique flavor profile of Inspiro Blanco tequila is rested in oak barrels and aged for a minimum of 30 days.

[15:41 - 23:06] A Fresh Look from A Design Perspective from Labels to Bottle designs 

• The name Inspiro came about after hemming and hawing the moment it came to her she knew she wanted to name it that way
• The brand story is just her story and wasn't developed by a team
• There are three customer groups: distributors, retailers, and end-users
• Getting started can be overwhelming, so it's important to do research and have a plan
• You have to be strategic when entering new markets and one market at a time"

[23:10 – 33:29] Closing Segment

• Learn everything you need to grow your wine, business, or brand with Wine Business Bootcamp where I help other wine producers master the fundamentals of digital marketing, nail their customer experience, and convert more wine tasters into their wine clubs and other offers. Just send me a dm or email at [email protected] the subject: Wine Business Bootcamp
• Favorite Spirit or Cocktail 
• • Tequila Soda
• Favorite go-to pairing
• • Sushi & Tequila
  • Chips and Guacamole
• Tequila Resource
• • Tequilamatchmaker.com
  • Tequila Aficionado Podcast

Connect with Mara Smith

Instagram:@inspirotequilaFacebook: www.facebook.com/inspirotequila LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/inspiro-tequilaPinterest: www.pinterest.ph/inspirotequila

Or visit their website at https://inspirotequila.com

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

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Tweetable Quotes:

“It's just about trying to help other women,  as they get started. So we provide grants and mentoring and that’s the part that is really fun for me.” - Mara Smith

“I really wanted something, even from the bottle design. It's super sleek and sophisticated. It looks very different than a standard tequila bottle." - Mara Smith