Tiffany Capri Hainesworth made history in 2019 when she launched TCapri Tequila, becoming the first Black woman to solely own a tequila brand.
However, the road to making history was no easy feat. Her journey began in 2012 after she survived a tragic car crash that changed her perspective on life. At the time, she had been working for the federal government for nearly 30 years. However, the crash motivated her to pursue her passion and venture into entrepreneurship.
“I was in a major car accident that caused traumatic brain injury resulting in a seizure disorder accompanied by debilitating migraine headaches. This life-changing car accident forced me to reevaluate my life,
After the accident, the D.C. native says she gained “newfound clarity” that led her to begin making and selling alcohol-infused sweets like cakes, bread pudding, and gummy bears under the umbrella of her first business, TCapri Gourmet Treats.
“With the success of my treats, I began to dream even bigger,”
In addition to making boozy treats, she eventually aspired to actually own a spirit brand so she began researching the process of making tequila and how it’s regulated. In 2018, the tequila aficionado says she “packed up and flew to Jalisco, Mexico, in pursuit of the ultimate tequila.” While there, she discovered a small distillery in Jalisco’s capital Guadalajara, a western city in Mexico known for tequila, and began working alongside farmers who harvested agave plants, a base ingredient for manufacturing tequila. That’s where she produced a small batch tequila and signed a contract for her very own brand.
“The highlands and lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico, are the only places where 100% Blue Weber Agave is grown, farmed, and processed to make 100% tequila,” she said. “Being in the Agave fields with the Jimadors and learning how to use a Coa de jima (a specialized tool used for harvesting agave), makes you appreciate this highly regulated spirit even more.”
