We were lucky to catch up with Joseph A. Castillo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joseph A., looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
At an early age my parents taught us how hard work and perseverance equals success. My father was an executive chef and my mother a florist interior decorator. They worked day in and day out to give us the lives they never had. It seemed that I couldn’t wait to get to work and started my first business at the age of 8. I was the neighborhood crabber, and every full moon I had my cloth string and chicken bone ready.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I started in the spirits business as a bartender in 2004. While going to night school I worked as a leasing agent during the day and bartender by night. I worked about 80 hours a week with a day and a half off. As I got closer to graduation, I had to make a decision whether it would be real estate or spirits sales. So naturally I did both and in 2010 I graduated from one side of the bar to the other in spirits sales for Incubrands Inc. (an incubator spirits co.).
This started my career in the spirits business that led to the launch of Angels Envy with the late Lincoln Henderson. A bourbon pioneer hall of fame distiller that taught me everything I know about the bourbon industry. Thereafter I was blessed to assist with launching some of the biggest brands in the world. Unfortunately Fireball Whisky (joke) was one of them along with Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Blantons and W.L Weller. My next move in the business was a step up as the VP of Sales for Treaty Oak Dripping Springs and Kimo Sabe Mezcal which covered about 8 years. I was ready for the challenge and took both companies national and helped raise money to get our brands where they needed to be with great success.
During COVID I saw many companies letting their sales force go and had lots of friends lose their jobs. This was the new environment of the stay-at-home spirits consumer. As it was good for some but not for all in the business I wanted to help where I could, and we started Big Thirst Consulting with some longtime friends that had been in the business over 20 years. From 2020 – 2024 we have been able to help multiple companies grow, expand and scale a successful business at an affordable rate. A VP of Sales at a consulting rate was a success.
So much so that I recently started Copper Barrel Consulting – Spirits Sales and Distribution Management. Copper Barrel Consulting will specialize in growing our sales team and will manage spirits sales while keeping costs low to clients. While gaining sales growth through market expansion and e-commerce sales nationally.
As the spirits business is our passion. We also like to use our influence to give back and help raise funds for local and global charities yearly.
Whole Planet Foundation – current community board member
Habitat for Humanity TX – past junior board member
The Junior League of Austin TX
Womens Symphony League Austin TX
Childs Advocacy TX
The Rotary Club of Austin
Live Here Give Here
Coats For kids
St Jude’s Hospital
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Hard work, Respect and Follow through
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My past bosses/mentor: Ryan Forsyth Current EVP at Heavens Door, Daniel Barnes CEO Founder at Treaty Oak and ken Corby Mentor and my lovely wife Tillery Martin Castillo Associate Broker Kuper Sotheby’s with 20 years of knowledge in my industry as we have a family business meeting every night.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.CopperBarrelConsulting.com
- Instagram: copperbarrelatx
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/joseph-castill0-211010jc
