Coolest Job Ever: I Am a Tequila Goddess
One person who will definitely be working hard this New Year’s Eve is Katie Schnurr, the new “tequila goddess” at the Fairmont Scottsdale’s La Hacienda restaurant.
While she was a student at Arizona Student University, Schnurr wasn’t your average Cuervo-swilling collegian: for her communications class exercises, she focused on the topic of tequila and hasn’t stopped talking about it since.
One of the perks of her new post at the Fairmont Scottsdale: Schnurr, 27, is going through an exclusive tequila certification process in Mexico that includes step-by-step farm visits and blind tests.
Related: How to Travel to Mexico for $17 a Day
The Snakebite Flight, a lethal concoction that tequila goddess Katie Schnurr, likes to whip up. (Photo: Fairmont Scottsdale)
As tequila sommelier and supervisor at La Hacienda, Katie Schnurr manages all spirits, wine, and tequila offerings and creates special events like tastings, mixology classes, and Tequila 101 lessons.
Here, she tells Yahoo! Travel more about what the new job is like and shows us how to make La Hacienda’s signature drink, a Snakebite Flight. And yes, she’s had a bad experience with tequila like the rest of us, too!
How did you find out about the gig?
I saw the posting and thought, I could do that — and more! I’ve thought about making a transition and applied.
You’re like a wine sommelier.
Tequila goddess is a wonderful job. I am the tequila som for our 240 tequilas on shelf. I go to tables and introduce myself. Some people give me a stink face which I think of as a challenge because I get to reintroduce people to what tequila really is. I get a lot of joy telling people the street cred behind tequila.
Tequila goddess Katie Schnurr and the ambassador from Don Julio. (Photo: Katie Schnurr/Twitter)
What’s the one question you get asked the most often?
A lot of people don’t understand there are different age groups of tequila. Just because tequila’s old doesn’t mean it’s bad tequila. The older the tequila, the better — as long as it’s 100 percent agave.
What’s it like being the tequila goddess?
It’s a nice ice breaker for a lot of tables. I like to pick people’s minds. Even if they’re not interested in drinking tequila, it’s nice to inform them about it.
Related: 8 Resorts Putting a New Twist on Tequila
The entrance to the Fairmont Scottsdale. (Photo: Fairmont Scottsdale)
Do you sometimes drink on the job?
Depends what time of day and the clientele. You don’t want to be a lush!
This is a dream come true.
I’ve been in the bar industry for about ten years and it’s something I’ve passionately enjoyed. It’s nice going to work and not feeling like you’re going to work at all.
WATCH: Salud! Make the Perfect Tequila in Six “Easy” Steps
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