Carin Luna-Ostaseski is one of the first Hispanic founders of a
scotch whisky. Her journey as a first generation Cuban American
challenged conventions every step of the way, and has inspired
others to achieve the unexpected, a mantra that SIA Scotch Whisky
now lives by.
In her mid-20s, Carin would not have considered herself a scotch
whisky lover. But a friend encouraged her to try something new,
and hosted a tasting for her, which changed her life. She then
began a grand tour of her local spirits purveyor, sampling over
300 bottles of whiskies and scotches, and falling in love with the
category, all while becoming a dedicated student of the spirit.
Carin started hosting tasting events to share her favorite blends
with her friends and loved ones, and through this process she
realized what the world was missing: an ultra-premium yet
affordable and approachable scotch whisky, perfect for the
connoisseurs as well as the curious. She wanted to change the way
people thought about the category and challenge those old, stodgy
conventions. What began as a casual pastime quickly became a
life-altering passion.
Carin got down to business, but it wasn’t easy. There was
rejection. Lots of it, and it would be a lie to say it didn’t
challenge her. But there were also moments of hope – and that’s
what pushed her forward.
