Ego Tequila

Ego Tequila is a spirits brand headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, positioning itself within the competitive tequila market. The company was founded by Rikki Kelly, who embarked on this venture in 2019 at the age of 24 and officially launched the brand in 2021. Kelly's background in accounting, coupled with a desire to increase female and minority representation in the spirits industry, motivated her to establish the first Black woman-owned tequila brand in Texas. The entire venture was self-funded from her paychecks, underscoring a lean operational start.

The business operates on a standard three-tier system, producing the tequila in Mexico, importing it to the U.S., and selling to a distributor who then supplies retailers such as liquor stores, bars, and restaurants. Ego Tequila targets both tequila newcomers and aficionados with a product that is approachable in price and suitable for sipping or mixing in cocktails. The brand's name, 'Ego', is inspired by the confident feeling one gets from drinking a well-made tequila.

Ego Tequila's production is handled by the family-owned Casa Maestri distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. The product line includes a Blanco and a Reposado, with plans for an Añejo. A key differentiator in their production process is the use of 100% Blue Weber Agave sourced from both the highland and lowland regions of Jalisco, which contributes to a complex flavor profile. The process also utilizes natural spring water from an inactive volcano and distillation in traditional alembic stills. The Blanco is unaged, offering notes of citrus and white flowers, while the Reposado is aged for eight months in American white oak whiskey barrels, imparting notes of vanilla, spice, and oak.

Keywords: Tequila, spirits, Black-owned business, woman-owned business, beverage, Jalisco, Blue Weber Agave, Reposado, Blanco, distilled spirits