Meet Craig Cartozian | Owner

The art of making an extraordinary tequila always starts with the Blanco. If you don’t like a specific brand’s Blanco, chances are more than likely you also will not like their Reposado, Anejo, or Extra Anejo. This holds true for any brand of tequila. The Blanco is always the determining factor and starting point for the tequila’s aged lineup. Aging is done in a variety of fashions, but is never intended to mask the true essence and flavor of your Blanco, only enhance your experience. So chances are….if you have a bad Blanco, the rest of your lineup of aged expressions will also not be enjoyable to the taste.

I’m a firm believer that without passion in your business, it will be a clear reflection of the outcome. You will never set yourself apart from others. What makes you different from the rest? This goes for everything in life. Specific to my role within the company, it’s always important to tell your story, and that story becomes part of the experience when sipping on our extraordinary tequila. A Mandala has remained valid in all cultures around the world for thousands of years. It is not limited to borders, religions or cultures. It is accessible to all humanity, which is why its broad meaning is so powerful. All this derived from an everlasting circle with no end and no beginning, called the Mandala. For us, a Mandala is a circle of joy, peace, and above all, life. In our multi-generational family circle, acquaintances transcend into friends and friends transcend into family. We always give ourselves the time to sit down together and decide on our next weekend outing, anniversary celebration, our summer vacation, and our winter holidays. Traditionally in our Mexican culture, we pay homage to our ancestors by always finding time to honor our past by keeping family traditions alive within the Mandala circle of life. As for the round bottle we wanted it to be a representation of a Mandala, round and a perfect circle of life and balance. Our concept could not go without integrating Mandala symbols across each bottle. Whether on a beach, tucked away in a cabin, or in your backyard, it’s important to create your own Mandala with those you love. Everyone has a Mandala. What’s your Mandala?

One thing positive that the covid era has brought, is our renewed appreciation for the outdoors. Mother nature was meant to be cherished and enjoyed. Because the process of tequila making starts in the agave fields, we love anything related to the outdoors. Hosting friends and family is best executed sipping on Tequila Mandala in your favorite snifter, with loved ones, with the fresh air of the outdoors.

Our founders Joel Garcia Barreto, Arturo Lomeli, and Humberto Ibarra started Tequila Mandala in November 2016. It was their vision and passion behind creating the perfect tequila, which landed us where we are today. Teaming up with Kirk Cartozian, Craig Cartozian, and Heidi Wilde in 2018 now balanced the ship through our journey into the tequila world. It’s a little daunting to start a non celebrity owned tequila in such a large space. It takes a lot of “no” answers and “you guys will never make it”, to earn your right to be a respected brand within this industry. A special thank you to some of our initial supporters that took a chance on us when we were a relatively unknown brand. Emilio’s Beverage Warehouse, Lock & Key Social Drinkery, Super King Market, Mission Liquor, Gaucho Grill Restaurants, Ramirez Liquor, and Old Town Tequila just to name a few.