Meet the Maker: Kate Mitchell, the Visionary Behind Our Besos Margarita Collab
BY SOPHIE CHUNG
For the chronically creative and low-key overwhelmed: this convo is for you.
12 SEP - 2025
“Hey Siri, play ‘One Margarita’ by That Chick Angel.”
If you’ve stayed in the loop with us, you’ll already know a thing or two about Besos Margarita - the brainchild of Mexican Chef Luis Cabrera that came to life amidst the chaos of COVID lockdown. Made from 100% blue agave, Besos Margarita delivers restaurant-quality margaritas in a bottle and is on a winning streak with its cascade of awards. They’ve been sweeping them up overseas since 2023 and just recently picked up the gold, silver and bronze awards on home soil at the NZ Spirits Awards.
But what’s really exciting is that they’ve launched four new skews to their award winning line - Espresso Margarita, Agave Sour, Pasión (a.k.a. Pornstar martini) and Mango Coco! And to celebrate this insane lineup that’ll take my house parties (and yours) to the next level, we’ve teamed up with them on a truly artisanal collaboration.
You see, I’ve ventured back into the workforce on a professional development journey and the office mugs are sparking NO joy. I’ve found myself paying attention to the vessel that I drink out of. Call me dramatic, but it lowkey kind of ruins my day when I have to sip my caffeine intake from some soulless, mass-produced mug with no backstory.
And so, it was only natural that we create custom vessels to reflect the quality and specialty of Besos Margarita. And who else to make that happen than Kate Mitchell? A master of molten magic, Kate’s handblown glassware dances between function and art. Each piece holds a quiet kind of beauty: imperfect, tactile and alive with the passion for the craft.
We caught up with the artist herself to have a raw and real chat about inspiration, the poetry of process, the ups and downs and neverending roundabouts of running a small creative business - and the sheer joy of drinking from something you truly love.
And if you’re keen to get your dirty paws on these custom glasses, head to our Instagram page to win a set!
What does a typical day and your studio look like?
I work full-time in glass, splitting my time between my own practice and working collaboratively in a larger studio. The glassblowing sessions are intense, physically demanding and hot, but incredibly rewarding. I also spend time planning, developing new ideas, and managing the business side from my home studio. While I’d love to dedicate even more time to my own work, I really value the balance of solo and collaborative work - it keeps things fresh and helps avoid the isolation that can come with working alone.
Glass is such a temperamental medium, how do you navigate that unpredictability?
That’s a tricky one, especially when the colour shifts completely from what you expected. I’ve learned mostly through trial and error. There have been plenty of moments where I’ve opened the kiln the next day and thought, what happened here?! Things can turn out wildly different than planned.
Over time, I’ve become more used to the frustration - it’s part of the process now. I recently started experimenting with reusing old pieces by smashing them up and rolling the glass back into something new. I’ve been toying with the idea of calling it the ‘Reincarnated’ series. It’s all a learning curve, and honestly, I’ve learned the most through things not going to plan.
That’s very Marcel Duchamp coded!
Yeah, yeah! *we laugh*
What was your creative process for creating a custom collab for Besos?
I started by looking through the pictures of all the Besos labels and flavours. From there, I began pulling the main colours that stood out and mixing them into my two most popular tumbler styles: the Confetti and the Speckled.
We did explore a few other ideas too, like ways to incorporate iconography into the glass, but after testing a few samples, we found it was really hard to make them feel intentional and not gimmicky. In the end, we wanted to create something that still felt fun and bold, but that would also appeal to a wider audience. Something that felt like a celebration, but still timeless.
How do you deal with creative blocks?
I get them all the time.
How often?
Monthly? Especially when I’m doing a lot of production. You’re pumping out numbers to pay the bills and it’s so hard to step back and think about what I actually want to make.
Sometimes, I’ll go and trawl through Pinterest and I’ll get so overwhelmed. You think you’re gaining all these ideas but I feel like it’s actually suppressing your ability to come up with ideas yourself.
Analysis paralysis!
Yes, exactly. Sometimes I just freeze up when I’m trying to come up with new ideas and get stuck in analysis paralysis. Often, I need to step away and stop reaching for my phone all the time. I’m actually listening to an audiobook right now called How to Break Up with Your Phone because I catch myself grabbing it like a nervous habit, and I really want to break that cycle. I need space to sit with my thoughts and focus on what I want to create.
Getting out of the studio helps too, whether it’s something as simple as going shopping and noticing current colours, or travelling. I went to Japan last year, and being surrounded by new sights and experiences sparked so many ideas. Travel is probably the best way to find inspiration, but it’s definitely not the most affordable!
What’s something about your craft that people misunderstand or underestimate?
I think people often underestimate how much time it takes to learn glassblowing, and that’s reflected in the price of the work. They might know it’s hot, but when they visit the studio, they’re genuinely surprised by how intense the heat is. Especially in summer, it can be really tough. The heat is draining and makes it hard to think clearly and once it reaches a certain point, your brain just shuts down. You end up sweating more than you expect, and
it’s definitely not glamorous. By the time I get home, I’m soaked.
What do you want people to feel when they hold the Besos glass?
I want them to feel good. These glasses are full of colour and energy, and I hope that comes through when someone picks one up. They’re playful and a little unexpected and not too serious, just a really nice way to make any drink feel more enjoyable. Whether you’re having friends over or just making yourself a solo margarita after work, I love the idea that the glass adds something to that moment.
What’s something glass has taught you?
I tend to focus on the finish line - I’m driven to get things done and sometimes forget to enjoy the process. With glassblowing, that mindset can be tricky because the whole practice is about being present and patient. If you’re not fully in the moment, things quickly become chaotic. I had to learn to slow down, take it step by step, and trust the process rather than rushing to finish. It requires a lot of patience, especially when learning new skills. For me, it helps to absorb what I’ve learned, let it settle overnight, and then come back fresh the next day to try again.
Do you have a favourite tequila memory?
One of my favourite tequila memories is actually pretty low-key. A couple of summers ago, we had friends over for a backyard BBQ, and someone brought a really nice bottle of tequila. We ended up making margaritas and sitting outside for hours, just chatting and listening to music as the sun went down. It wasn’t anything fancy, but the combo of good company, good drinks, and a warm evening made it feel kind of perfect.
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