Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Steele.
Taylor, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up on the beaches of Southern California where in my teen years, I began filming my friends on the waves, later hustling up an audience by selling VHS copies out of my pickup truck at surf shops along the coast. From there, I merged two of my greatest passions into a vibrant career, emerging as an award-winning filmmaker and bringing surf culture to the masses.
Over the past two decades, I traveled the world, made dozens of films, and worked as Creative Director of Corona Australia. I eventually landed in New York City, where an artist friend introduced me to premium sipping tequila. The ritual sparked a revelation on the importance of reclaiming slowness in the otherwise hectic lifestyle of city life – drinking not to disconnect from the everyday, but to slow down and savor each moment. It reminded me of the countless hours spent sitting on my surfboard and finding unspeakable peace in awaiting the next wave.
From that idea, I founded Solento Organic Tequila to extend that ritual to like-minded people looking to realign with their own truest essence, find more meaning, more connection and as a much-needed celebration of presence in even the most fast-paced of lives.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I started building Solento the first, and honestly, most important step was finding the right tequila producers to partner with. There were a few factors that were non-negotiable, the first was an undeniably high-quality tequila, the second was a production process that respected the land it was grown in. It took countless trips and many tastings, but we were able to find the perfect partner in our friends, the Montes Family. They’ve been producing small batches of tequila for over 60 years and they practice a production process that respects the environment: harvesting sustainably-maintained, organic, blue agave.
Please tell us about the company.
Solento creates certified organic tequila in small batches from a single estate. Our product collection includes a trio of expressions: Blanco, Reposado and Añejo. For us, Solento represents a welcome pause amid the endless pursuit of more, a true celebration of slow. What sets us apart is that our tequila is made for those who appreciate the ritual of slowing down, being present and enjoying quality organic tequila with a smooth and easy flavor. I’m most proud of creating a brand that’s about community and coming together. We have a lot of wonderful folks behind our brand, who we like to call our Solento Family and cultivating this group of people who value the important things in life, like being mindful and present, having deeper connections, and having a curious, open mind – has been my biggest joy since starting the company.
How do you, personally, define success? What’s your criteria, the markers you’re looking out for, etc?
The idea of starting Solento came from hoping to impact people positively, offering a reminder that even in the most fast-paced of lives, we need to create space for celebrating the present. As a kid growing up on the beaches of Southern California, I discovered a lifelong love and appreciation for the serenity of surfing, and the connections made within that community. Solento represents just that – a nod to the slow life, where connecting with ourselves and the people in our lives allows us to recapture what has been lost in the hustle. If I’m able to spread this and bring that sentiment to more people through Solento, I would consider that a success.
Pricing:
- Solento Tequila can be found at Old Town Tequila or Seaside Market in Cardiff.
Contact Info:
- Address: 607 N. Vulcan Ave Unit 5,Encinitas CA 92024
- Website: solentotequila.com
- Email: takeitslow@solentotequila.com
Image Credit:
Ben Alsop
Terrence Connors
Prescott Horn
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