Angel Teta is the Global Brand Ambassador for Angel’s Envy, a newer bourbon brand based in Louisville, Kentucky. As the brand ambassador, Teta’s job is more than bringing visibility to the brand across all demographics. Teta leans into the make up of different locations to deliver cocktails and experiences that embrace local flavors and customs. As a Latina, Teta is in a unique position to guide the brand. The Latine community is a fast-growing demographic of bourbon drinkers.

Bourbon often conjures up images of old white men and cigars, but the Latine community is a growing demographic. Recent data shows that the Latine community is moving more towards bourbon. Societally, bourbon has always held a place of prestige within the Latine community as a status symbol. As more young and Latine drinkers turn to bourbon, Teta is poised to embrace her culture in the heart of Kentucky’s urban Bourbon Trail.

Angel Teta’s start in Angel’s Envy was more than kismet, it took work

Teta’s journey in Angel’s Envy started when she was working as a bartender and bar manager. Angel’s Envy, which was founded in 2010, was looking for bartenders to help spread the word of the new bourbon. Teta admits that she wasn’t always a bourbon drinker but finding a good brand years ago changed her perspective. That experience shaped how she first introduces Angel’s Envy to potential fans.

“What’s cool about that, a correlation there, is that, you know, a lot of people try Angel’s Envy for the first time. It’s their first time trying bourbon, because they ‘don’t like bourbon,’” Teta tells mitú. “I’m like, ‘Cool, maybe try it in a cocktail.’ They do, and then they love it.”

The relaxed environment helps Teta really engage with new communities, bars, and potential patrons. Angel’s Envy, Teta says, isn’t a “hard sell company.” Instead, Angel’s Envy wants you to come in, have a drink, and just enjoy the journey.

Entering a male-dominated space is all about your drive

The liquor industry has historically been a male-dominated world but a growing shift in attitude is being more diverse voices to the business. According to Crafted: Enterprise Resource Planning, the whiskey world in particular has long been dominated by white males, including with branding and marketing. Things are changing as more industries understand the importance of a diverse workforce and Teta’s role as Global Brand Ambassador brings Latina point of view to the brand’s growth.

For Teta, the best advice is to just enter the space and take your seat. Showing up and sharing your ideas sets you apart. Another key part of succeeding in a male-domainte field is persistence. If you know that you need to be in the room where decisions are happening, get into the room and stay in the room. This is something she learned from the woman who hired her to Angel’s Envy.

“She’s an absolute force in the industry, but she took a lot of shit just to stay in the room,” Teta tells mitú. “She’s like, ‘Angel, if I’m outside the room, I will never know what they’re doing. I need to be in there to at least influence a decision or make it because I’m actually the fucking boss.’ So I love that about her and I took that advice. Thankfully, with Angel’s Envy, I do not have to deal with that so much.”

Teta wants people to know that you can only control how you respond to a situation. So, if you are making moves to break into a male-dominated industry, show up, do the work, and outshine the rest. Your intersectionality as a Latina is a strength and leaning into that autheticity and strength is a strong pathway for success.

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