Food & Drink

An Interview with La Gritona owner, Melly Barajas

By Swingers

To find out more about Melly Barajas, owner of La Gritona, we sat down for a chat about how the brand came to be, her experience within a male-dominated industry, and her advice for women in a similar environment.

An Interview with La Gritona owner, Melly Barajas

Throughout March, we’ve partnered with La Gritona in honor of International Women’s Day. We’ll have three specialty cocktails available crafted with La Gritona Reposado Tequila by our talented female bar team and we’re proud to announce we’ll be donating $1 of every cocktail from our International Women’s Day menu to the Women’s Sports Foundation and our donation will be matched in full by La Gritona.

To find out more about Melly Barajas, owner of La Gritona, we sat down for a chat about how the brand came to be, her experience within a male-dominated industry, and her advice for women in a similar environment.

 

Hi Melly! With twenty years of experience in producing tequila, how did the brand La Gritona come to life? ¡Hola Melly! Con veinte años de experiencia en la producción de tequila, ¿cómo surgió la marca La Gritona?

After 25 years in the Tequila Industry, La Gritona Tequila was started in partnership with a pair of American guys who wanted to create a special Reposado Tequila that was different than everything else. I tasked myself with creating the recipe, and after 6 months testing, La Gritona was born.

Tras 25 años en la Industria Tequilera, el tequila La Gritona fue creada para unos chicos Estadounidenses que querian un tequila especial y diferente a todos y me di la tarea de crear la gran receta que despues de 6 meses en ensayos en el laboratorio nacio La Gritona.

 

Photo credit: Atiba Jefferson

 

What does your day to day role look like today? ¿En qué consiste tu trabajo diario, cuál es un día típico en la vida de Melly Barajas?

In the morning, I get up at 5:30 am, prepare breakfast, and send my son to school. After that, I travel about 2 hours to the distillery. When I arrive, I check on each group of workers and the projects they were given from the day before to make sure they are doing it well every day. I try to spend at least a couple of hours with each group working on what they are doing, such as packaging, labeling, etc. I return home in the afternoon to pick up my son and from there to the office where I check on the tasks of the women who work with me. I leave around 7pm to go shopping for anything I need, and when I get home, I make sure that my son takes a bath and does his homework. I also prepare dinner for my husband and son, as well as all the animals I have at home. Once everyone has fallen asleep, I work on any leftover projects on my computer, take a bath and go to sleep.

Me levanto 5.30 am preparo desayunos mando hijo a la escuela y viajo alrededor de 2 horas para estar en la fabrica, cuando llego veo a cada grupo de trabajadoras que esten haciendo lo que se pidio un dia antes y lo esten haciendo bien, en cada dia trato de estar minimo un par de horas con cad grupo trabajando al igual que ellas en lo que esten haciendo, envasando, etiquetando etc. Regreso por la tarde para pasar por mi hijo y de ahi a la oficina para ver los pendientes de cada una de las chicas que trabajan conmigo. Al salir tipo 7 pm hago compras de casa y llegando al hogar ver que mi hijo cene se bañe haga sus tareas y preparar la cena para mi esposo, hijo y para todo los animales que tengo en casa. Ya que se han dormido trabajo en las tareas pendientes en lacomputadora, baño y a dormir.

 

Photo credit: Atiba Jefferson

 

What’s it like to be a woman in a male dominated industry? ¿Cómo es ser mujer en una industria dominada por hombres?

It is a big challenge, and it was even more so when I started 25 years ago, since at that time, I was the only woman in an environment of great Tequila producers. But it was and is a great challenge that I live every day and it is very satisfying when I receive recognition for my achievements; this industry is fascinating.

Es un gran reto, y fue mas al comenzar hace 25 años ya que yo era en ese tiempo la unica mujer en un ambiente de grandes tequileros. Pero fue y es un gran reto que vivo dia a dia y muy satisfactorio cuando se me tiene algun reconocimiento por los logros obvtenidos en estos años, es facinante el ambiente en esta industria

 

As a women employed business, how do you support the women staff at La Gritona? Como empresa empleada por mujeres, ¿cómo apoya al personal femenino de la destilería?

Since I hired them, I have tried to give value and optimism to their lives, as well as teach them to operate all types of machinery in the distillery and support them by giving them the opportunity to continue studying or loans to help them in their daily life.

Trato desde que las contrato de darle valor y optimismo a sus vidas, enseñandolas a manejar todo tipo de maquinarias en la fabrica y apoyandolas dandoles oportunidad de que sigan etudiando o bonos para ayuda a su vida diaria

 

Photo credit: Atiba Jefferson

 

Do you have any advice for women who want to pursue a career in a male dominated industry? ¿Tiene algún consejo para las mujeres que quieran seguir una carrera en una industria dominada por hombres?

My advice is: wherever you are, do your best work, whether at home or in any workplace; that you work and love what you do, and that you take the challenge of being a woman in the good sense of life.

El consejo es que esten donde esten hagan su mejor trabajo, ya sea en casa o en cualquier puesto de trabajo, que trabajen y amen lo que hacen, y que tomen el reto de ser mujeres en el buen sentido de la vida

 

Quick fire: What book, movie, or song always inspires you? ¿Qué libro, película o canción te inspira siempre?

I like to read about people who have overcome great challenges in their lives; a song that I really like is Vive de Napoleon.

Me gusta leer sobre personas que han superado retos grandes en sus vidad , una cancion que me gusta mucho es vive de napoleon.

 

Quick fire: Go to cocktail? ¿Cuál es tu cóctel de tequila favorito?

Miel de Agave, jugo de limon, chile de arbol y tequila con hielo frepe.

The Melly Special: La Gritona Tequila with agave syrup, lime juice, and chile de arbol over crushed ice.

 

Check out the La Gritona cocktails we have available throughout our venues this month here.

Swingers ~ The crazy golf club

We believe that life is more fun when there is an element of competition, and that competition is best enjoyed with friends.

Swingers, the crazy golf club takes the holy trinity that is crazy golf, street food and amazing cocktails and combines them all into one incredible social experience