We had the good fortune of connecting with Elizabeth Zaretsky and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Elizabeth, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Teamwork has defined our business through every step of our journey. The 11 Ravens team, my dad, founder of 11 Ravens, co-founder Bernard Semerdjian, and I came up with the idea to introduce a tequila line to our product offering about 6 years ago. 11 Ravens is known for innovative luxury game tables and entertainment furniture. From conception, our idea has always been to give our clients a luxury experience. A premium tequila seemed like the perfect pairing to our tables – the missing puzzle piece. This is how Ravella was born. Six years ago, I flew to Jalisco, Mexico with my father to expand our understanding of the origins of tequila – starting with the agave plants to the distillers to the end product – and it was a life-changing experience. We set out to create a tequila that balanced both taste and design, and would become the #1 tequila on the market – the one everyone wanted to tell their friends and family about and keep behind their bar to pull out for every special moment.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets Ravella apart from others is the complete experience. The liquid is noteworthy to the very last drop. We have an amazing maestro who ensures every bottle meets the high standards of our recipe. There are no additives in our tequila and we use old American white oak whiskey barrels, which brings great richness to the flavor. The bottle and box are both stunning works of art, expertly executed to complete the premium experience we strive for. From the tequila itself to the packaging, I am so proud to create a product that I can fully stand behind. When our customers get their hands on one of our bottles, I am confident that they will be blown away. It was made from my family to yours with the consumer always in mind. We are so lucky to get to be a part of people’s special moments.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a native of Los Angeles, I would absolutely start with taking them to the beach. Whether it’s winter or summer, a trip to the beach is a must. California is unique in the sense that you can be sitting by the ocean and look out and see a mountain covered in snow. It’s a place that has a little bit of something for everyone. Next, I would bring them to Santa Monica for lunch at Elephante, where they can enjoy some delicious food and breathtaking landscape. We would take a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and stop in iconic Malibu, walk the pier, and grab a juice from Malibu Farms. For a more upscale meal in the heart of West Hollywood, we would grab dinner at Catch Steak; it offers a wonderful vibe, a great menu, and an incredible selection of drinks. For those who are more outdoorsy, I would recommend hiking in Runyon Canyon Park. It is a tourist attraction, but on a beautiful day with clear skies, it provides magnificent views of downtown LA, the Hollywood sign, and the ocean. It offers multiple trails for the walker and the avid hiker, and of course, it is very dog-friendly.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my father and our whole 11 Ravens team. Without them, there would be no Ravella. Not only do they have a great work ethic, but their attention to every detail is what brings excellence to our products. They were meticulous, thoughtfully developing every part of our unique bottle and box. Our co-founder, Bernard Semerdjian, is the creative mind behind all of our designs, including the sculptural closure which bears a resemblance to the raven’s head and beak to pay homage to 11 Ravens. From the gradation on our bottles to the colors chosen and the exquisite craftsmanship of the tequila box, the 11 Ravens team has helped bring our vision to reality.
Website: https://ravellatequila.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravellatequila/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RavellaSpirits
Image Credits
Erika Bierman, Soona Studios, 11 Ravens