Interview by Emiliano Guajardo

How did you get your start in the whiskey industry?

Purely by accident, some would say. Life brought me from Corpus Christi to the hill country via managing a bar just down the road from the distillery. Ran into the motley crew of bourbon makers with them being regulars and I the "new guy" . A position opened up at the distillery and the rest is history. 

Did you have any reservations when entering the Texas whiskey industry?

Initially I was hesitant because it was something foreign to my employment background, but also more mechanically inclined. Once I had my interview with Dan Garrison at the distillery, which was also my 1st everything: 1st time visiting Garrison Brothers and 1st time at a distillery, I was hooked. Now I'm coming up on 11yrs. 

What are you the most proud of from your whiskey career so far?

Working in this industry brings out who you really are as a person. I'm proud of my endurance to stick it out through all the tough times. I'm even more proud of discovering that doing what I love has inspired others. 

What impact do you wish to leave on this industry?

To not take "No" for answer. To use the negativity as fuel to prove others wrong but still be humble. Always remember those that came before you and those who will take it over from you. 

As you’ve grown with the industry, what is something you observed (positive or negative) within the community? 

Where do I begin… As cutthroat as this industry can be there are still people who have your back and are truly supportive. The business side is always a rollercoaster ride so if you’re in it for the money, go elsewhere. Be here because you WANT to be here. 

Do you have a specialty that you’re known for at Garrison Brothers?

Lol, being a workaholic and my RBF.

What spirit is your personal favorite of all that you’ve made? And what is your favorite mash bill to work with, if you’re at liberty to share?

Garrison Brothers doesn't color outside the lines much with the mash bill. We tried a few things years ago but it all happened right when I came on board. The genius is left up to our Master Distiller. My favorite part has always been the smell though. The smell of mash, fermentation, raw distillate, aging and freshly dumped bourbon. It's my sanctuary. 

If not in making whiskey, what would have been your career path?

The medical field or military.

What are the most unique flavors or tasting notes of any whiskey you’ve made?

A certain type of pan dulce that I can never remember the name of.  A soft bread with a cream cheese center, topped with caramelized brown sugar and pecans.  Another favorite was a potpourri/citrus. Not the dried up potpourri your abuelita kept in that brown dish on top of the TV. Jasmine, magnolias and wild flowers. 

Do you have a dream project or spirit you’d like to do/make?

I'd love to be able to experiment with different grains and really dive into aging. 

As a pillar in the Latino distilling community, how do you foresee the future of other Latinos in the industry, and what do you hope for?

I foresee our community growing and getting and stronger. I never really looked at it from a community perspective because making bourbon is so unheard of in our culture. It wasn't until I’d already been distilling for years that I started to see more Latinos/Latinas. 

I hope that we continue to grow and stand together, but even more so, encourage each other. Teach each other. For so long I thought I was the only one dealing with the internal hurdles within our culture. Little did I know that my perseverance was inspiring others.