THE LOCALS
BRAND OWNER PROFILE
VIDA TEQUILA John and Lisa Barlow By Christopher Osburn. Photo Credit Vida Tequila.
John and Lisa Barlow are proof that with the right planning, preparation and hard work, anyone can open a successful distillery. The Barlows own Vida Tequila, located in the Tequilera region of Los Altos De Jalisco in Arandas Jalisco, Mexico. When asked about the couple’s experience with distillation prior to the opening of Vida, Lisa Barlow summed it up very simply. “Absolutely no background”, she said. “We were rookies and quick learners. That in itself has made this journey so much more fun.”
She says that their success stems from a unique group of passionate individuals all striving toward a common goal. The Barlows might own the company, but this isn’t a two person operation. “We have an amazing team at our distillery that is dedicated to producing the best product unique to us.” She added, “We learned how things are done quickly and continue to learn daily about the industry and appreciate that we are able to be a part of such a dynamic industry.” Vida Tequila officially launched in 2007, but it took a few years of planning before the final product was ready for the public. “We were working on other projects in Mexico and in 2004, when we first started figuring out the industry and market, tequila was still an under-developed spirit in the USA, but growing fast.”