From Biology Professor to Building America’s Next Gin
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How did Molly Cummings transition from academia to entrepreneurship?
Keeping and honoring biodiversity is really key. And what I love about gin is it is the most biodiverse alcohol out there. It's got more plants in a bottle than any other spirit. And mine has the most Texas plants or Texas junipers, I should say, in a bottle than any other. Molly Cummings is a scientist, entrepreneur, and the founder of Wild Gins Company. Drawing from her background in biology and research, she blends science, innovation, and Texas heritage to create distinctive spirits rooted in native West Texas junipers. Male-dominated world with branding is often straight lines, geo, geometry. To me, a bit boring. Being a female in this world that is male-dominated, you stand out more. You add elements of female creativity that other brands aren't going to do.
The plan is, my hope, is to become the Tito's of gin. Not only the dominant Texas gin, the dominant gin in the United States.
It spans the globe like a super high school internet. Today, Apple is going to reinvent the fun. It's not over until I win.
What makes Texas junipers unique for gin production?
The Living Your Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy. That's extraordinary. The impossible. Oh, that is sensational. Chicago with the lead. Usain Bolt is the fastest man on the planet. Welcome back to another amazing episode of the Living Your Legacy podcast, the Women in Power edition. Joining me today is another powerful woman, Molly Cummings, all the way from Texas. But she has quite the superpower. She somehow can bottle all of Texas in a bottle. That is damn straight. Right on. That's quite the superpower. Molly, welcome to the show.
How does Molly navigate a male-dominated spirits industry?
Thank you so much for being here. I'm thrilled. All right on. Yeah, yeah. I'm glad to be here. So we just finished filming your episode for Women in Power. How do you feel besides hungry?
Yeah.
I feel just absolutely thrilled.
Right on. What are we going to learn about you in your episode?
Well, we're going to learn about how you can parlay between academia into the spirit's world of business and that there's strength in being different and new to a field. Right on. Let's begin with your beginnings. You began as a teacher, academia.
What role does biodiversity play in gin production?
Yes, I still am. I'm still juggling both hats. That's awesome. They're big hats to fill. For sure. But yes, I'm a biology professor. at the University of Texas in Austin. I'd been there for about 20 years. Wow. And I essentially had to give myself my own kind of sabbatical. And so going west and finding these amazingly unique Texas junipers is... just filled my life with joy.
Yeah, junipers in Texas, I would never cross-pollinate or cross the streams with the two, especially West Texas. Why West Texas? What's in the water?
How does foraging influence the flavor of gin?
Is it the oil? What's going out there cosmetically out in West Texas?
Well, it's funny you should say that. Texas likes to brag about things, Texas, and Texas has lots of bragging points, but you find very few people bragging about the junipers. Yes. It takes someone a little bit on the bio geek side like me to do that. But the reason why Texas has eight species of junipers more than any other state in the United States is because of the width of Texas and that parts of it have volcanic soil. So you don't think about mountains in Texas, but they're there. You may have heard a big bend and The Texas mountains that I forage in are the Davis Mountains. They're north of Big Bend and I had never heard of them before I went on a hunt for the alligator juniper.
The alligator juniper. How does one hunt these junipers and what do they look like? What's some of your superstitions? How does this work?
What challenges did Molly face when launching her gin brand?
Well, first of all, you have to get to know these ladies. Junipers are, generally speaking, most juniper trees and bushes, they are male trees and female trees. And only the female trees produce berries. Okay. So where I go out in West Texas, it's a pretty harsh climate. It's high elevation. It can go through long periods of drought. And the juniper berries have this tendency or their reproductive cycles, they take two years before they produce berries. So they're putting in all the resources. When they decide to go for it, they go big.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
How did Molly Cummings transition from academia to entrepreneurship?
0:00–1:12
2
What makes Texas junipers unique for gin production?
1:12–1:54
3
How does Molly navigate a male-dominated spirits industry?
1:54–2:26
4
What role does biodiversity play in gin production?
2:26–3:00
5
How does foraging influence the flavor of gin?
3:00–3:58
6
What challenges did Molly face when launching her gin brand?
3:58–5:06
7
How does Molly plan to market her gin in a competitive industry?
5:06–6:08
8
What is Molly's vision for the future of her gin brand?
6:08–23:40
Speakers
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