CHUCK HUGGINS
CEO and GM Fosforo Mezcal
Age : 38 First Industry Job : Innovation Operations Process at Constellation Brands Favorite Drink : Naked and Famous ( with mezcal , of course !)
Chuck Huggins is part of a new era of young , entrepreneurial leaders . Building on his prior experience at Constellation Brands , he has been integral in positioning Fósforo Mezcal as one of the more popular mezcal brands .
As the current CEO of Fósforo , Huggins has brought a new approach to brand building while quickly ranking the mezcal as a topfive brand in the luxury mezcal space . Joining Fósforo in the concept phase , not only did he help ready all aspects of the final product , but Huggins also led the strategic process from ideation through initial commercial execution .
In addition to leading the Fósforo Mezcal execution , Huggins is also the director of the Fósforo Foundation . Long before the brand sold its first bottle , he was responsible for engaging two Ph . D . -level professors from the local university .
The first task was to conduct a study in the local communities in Mexico to better understand the socio-economic factors impacting the quality of life there . With a strong baseline , Huggins partnered with the local team to engage in the first of many intervention projects .
In the first two years , they replanted over 17,000 trees in the communities surrounding the distillery . While it was a priority to replenish the wood , the primary goal of the project was to provide meaningful employment opportunities to people in those in the communities .
Looking forward , Huggins and the team are evaluating opportunities for solar power , technology in schools and chronic disease prevention .
Huggins ’ key secret to success ? Setting shortterm goals . “ I like to set targets for less than 12-18 months out ,” he says . “ For me , longer-dated goals are dreams , and focusing on tangible short-term targets keeps ambition from getting in the way of progress and building skills .”
EMILY DARCHUK
Founder / CEO Wheyward Spirit
Age : 38 First Industry Job : Working for large CPG companies commercializing beverages Favorite Drink : Whey to Manhattan with Wheyward Wheyskey or the Milk and Honey with Wheyward Spirit
Founder and CEO of Wheyward Spirit , Emily Darchuk is disrupting the alcohol industry by transforming excess whey , a byproduct of cheese production , into sustainable and award-winning spirits .
Each Wheyward Spirit bottle prevents gallons of food waste with a fraction of the carbon and water footprint compared to traditional spirits .
Through funding and grants , Darchuk has helped her company achieve Carbon Neutral certification and WBENC Women ’ s Business Enterprise certification , expand distribution and raise awareness about food waste reduction across industries .
Even before building Wheyward Spirit , Darchuk says she was always particularly interested in sustainability , working as a food scientist and product developer “ with a passion for the natural food and beverage industry .”
“ I always cared about where food came from and as a scientist , I had a natural curiosity on how to make a difference through innovation ,” Darchuk continues . “ Before jumping into entrepreneurship , I worked for large CPG companies commercializing beverages , and from my time working in the dairy industry I saw the issue of whey waste firsthand . It ’ s something that has stuck with me until I had the platform to pursue a solution through Wheyward Spirit .”
Due to her leadership in the sustainability space , Darchuk was named a Grist 50 Environmental Fixer and champions the importance of Farm-to-Flask partnerships with her dairy partners .
She is also actively involved in her local academic and business communities , serving on the advisory board for the Lundquist College of Business ( University of Oregon ) and Oregon State University College of Agriculture ( Food Science ).
Throughout everything Darchuk has learned in her career , her favorite lesson she ’ s learned is that “ you can ’ t plan life .”
“ I have learned that my next biggest challenge is likely not behind me but instead just around the corner ,” she says , “ and while not everything is in your control , how you choose to show up and move forward is .
“ The strength and wisdom learned from navigating previous challenges will help in the future and give the perspective that these challenges can help create the disruption that leads to opportunities .”
10 2025 BEVERAGE INFORMATION GROUP 40 UNDER 40