Founder

Born and raised in Bend Oregon, Haley grew up with a sense of adventure and love for the outdoors. It’s that sense of adventure that brought her to Mexico to pursue her dream of producing a Mexican spirit, made from the Earth. Haley graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Communications and Digital Media.

Upon graduation, she embarked into a career in the film industry, working her way up from an assistant at United Talent Agency to a Creative Executive at a production company. Through this, she honed her ability to execute large scale projects from conception to completion and to tell a good story. When a friend asked her to travel to Oaxaca and direct a video for his Mezcal company, she discovered her passion for Mexican spirits and never looked back. She was working as the brand director of Victorioso Mezcal when she met Erick. It was destiny and the next day they became partners.

She moved to Mexico City full time to build Amaya from the ground up and bring it to life. She is passionate about bringing people together through laughter and a good drink.

Founder

From busboy to bartender to cutting edge bar owner and influential bartender podcaster, Erick Castro has over 20 years of experience in the spirits industry. He is the co-owner of Raised by Wolves and Gilly’s House of Cocktails, two acclaimed destinations for cocktails and spirits. Erick is a beloved figure and the creative force behind the highly influential podcast, “Bartender at Large,” as well as the renowned Bartender’s Weekend, which hosts over 3,000 bartenders each year.

He is a mentor and inspiration to bartenders across the globe and was recently named one of the Bar World 100: Industry's Most Influential Figures two years in a row. He has won innumerable awards at Tales of the Cocktail for “Best American Bartender,” “Best Mentor,” “Best Brand Ambassador,” “World’s Best Cocktail Menu,” Best Podcast” and “Best New US Cocktail Bar 2024.”

He grew up in a gregarious Mexican-American family, where parties and generous hospitality were the norm.

Advisor & Creative Director

Steven Grasse is the visionary behind some of the most iconic spirits brands in the world, including Hendrick's Gin and Sailor Jerry Rum. He is the founder of the Philadelphia-based drinks branding agency Quaker City Mercantile, which over the last two decades has resurrected Narragansett Beer, reinvigorated Miller High Life, and been the brand architects for Guinness's new Open Gate Brewery. He also owns Tamworth Distilling in New Hampshire, which since 2015 has released some of the most viral spirits in the world. He is the author of four books, including the IACP awards finalist."Brand Mysticism: Cultivate Creativity and Intoxicate Your Audience."