Meet Tara Jasper, Founder of Sipsong Spirits. I hope you find inspiration in learning about her founding story! 

Special thanks to Tara for sharing with us! 

Tell us in a few sentences how your brand helps others?

Mentoring women in business, raising funds for non-profits (over $60,000 raised in my first year!)

What was inspiration to start this business?

I knew I could make a beautiful gin. I was inspired to start a business because I have always studied business since I was a kid and onto a bachelors degree in business from Cal Poly SLO. I helped my husband build his business (Sonic) and really wanted something of my own. I decided to start Sipsong to see if I could and to learn. Also in hopes that if success comes I will share what I’ve learned with other women and help raise us all up together.

When you started your business, did you ever envision that you would be where you are now?

I hoped, but I knew it was a long shot. I get like an artist showing other people my art for the first time when I first released Indira gin. I didn’t know if anyone would love it like I love it. Turns out they do.

What was the biggest lesson you learned while starting and growing this business?

Strategy is so important, but also pivoting and reacting to the current climate. Both have helped my business grow.

What would you tell a FEM that is struggling in her business and feeling like it's too difficult?

Go back to your why. Work from there.

What continues to inspire you to keep on growing your business?

My why! I want to learn and to teach, also to express myself creatively. My business allows me to do all of that! I honestly get a little embarrassed by the fanfare. It’s nice but my why is much bigger than that. I want to help women around the world by showing the world what we are capable of.

Final advice for those thinking of starting a business or looking to grow their current business?

Do a 5 year analysis of you profits and losses. What you will make and what you will spend. It’s a projection known as a P and L. This will help you strategize. It will help you see what moves you need to make.

How can FEMS find you and learn more about you and Sipsong Spirits?

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook @sipsongspirits and our website https://sipsongspirits.com/

About Tara Jasper // Sipsong Spirits Founder and Free Spirit

Tara has always been fascinated by flavors. Culinary Arts were a part of her family heritage and childhood growing up in the coastal redwoods of Northern California. After meeting her husband Dane, he showed her by example how great life can be when you follow your passion. So the answer was easy when he asked her if she could do anything, what would she do? Culinary school, of course.

Tara was completely enthralled with culinary school at the SRJC and the connection between flavors, herbs, spices and health. Down the road a bit, after years more exploration or as Tara calls it, “Geeking out” on nutrition, tea infusion, coffee extraction, shrub making… To Tara, geeking out meant seeking perfection. While at home raising three small children she began to experiment with fruit at the peak of their season from the best local farms using them to infuse store bought spirits to make liqueurs. This was how she began reading about liqueur making and her curiosity was piqued when she began studying distilling. Some of the world's best liqueurs being made today are from Eau Du Vie made from the fruits they are then infused with… again back to the “Geeking out”. At some point a friend encouraged her to learn to distill. She fell in love with the entire process and it turns out she has a natural talent for it.

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