Imbibe 75 Person to Watch: Jenny Camarena

As tequila makers, three of the living branches on Don Felipe Camarena’s distilling family tree are competitors. But in matters of Destileria La Alteña— the tequila plant he founded in Arandas—they’re family. Camarena’s grandsons, Carlos and Felipe, learned the trade at La Alteña before opening their own distilleries, Tequila Ocho and El Pandillo, respectively. After Carlos’s departure to Ocho opened the master distiller’s role at La Alteña, the family convened to choose a successor.

When Felipe, Carlos, and their sisters Lillianna, Gabriela, and Jenny discussed their options, Jenny’s siblings asked her, “Do you want to do this? Do you think you can do this?” The choice seemed logical since her 13 years’ work at La Alteña saw her become its director of operations. But the family wanted confirmation that she wanted to guide its legendary brands, El Tesoro and Tapatio. “I said, yes!” Jenny says. “Who wouldn’t want to direct this huge heritage distillery, right?”

Problem was, she hadn’t imagined the job would be offered at age 38. Seeing herself as an equal among her siblings also seemed impossible. “I mean, they are my teachers … my superheroes!” Last April, Jenny Camarena became La Alteña’s fourth master distiller and CEO—and its first woman in those roles. “The responsibility that comes with [those titles] is no joke,” she says.

The implied leadership burden of becoming one of just a few women master tequila distillers also presses upon her. Knowing others like her struggle to attain that position in a male-dominated industry makes her grateful for her family’s support. “I’m a lucky person in that my family has pulled me on board for this,” she says. “There are a lot of women who don’t have that chance. So, I think I can be an example of something that is achievable in this industry. This is another big step for the industry, and for women.”

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