An extraordinary tale that starts with a home kitchen recipe and ends with the multi-million-dollar sale of a world-famous liquor company – and everything in between

In Tastes Like Money, veteran liquor industry leader and founder of RumChata – the clever kitchen experiment that became a global phenomena – Tom Maas, delivers a first-hand story that exposes the behind-the-scenes battles, trademark wars, crises, and triumphs that built a world-famous product.

The book begins with the day Maas was unceremoniously and unexpectedly dismissed from his role as Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Jim Beam at age 49. From there, the author details the ups and downs of what would turn out to be his true calling: the creation of a drink called RumChata. Tastes Like Money draws generalizable lessons from Maas’ wild ride: about passionate selling, brand protection, and the critical importance of never compromising on quality or cutting corners just to make a quick buck.

In the book, you’ll also find:

• Specific strategies for building distributor relationships without the benefit of a huge corporate war chest
• How to compete against industry titans when you’ve got a target on your back
• A detailed, unvarnished memoir of from-scratch ingenuity from an entrepreneur who pulled out all the stops in the pursuit of his dream

Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking inspiration and guidance as they navigate their own business journeys, Tastes Like Money is a gripping and instructive story about ambition, resilience – and a little bit of luck. It’s a must-read for everyone interested in how a global brand got built from scratch and what it took to make it happen.

TOM MAAS is the founder and creator of RumChata. He has close to fifty years' experience in the liquor industry, having held senior executive positions at Jim Beam, Brown-Forman, and Hiram Walker. Maas currently oversees the Dancing Goat Distillery in Wisconsin, continuing his family's whiskey-making legacy while mentoring the next generation of spirits entrepreneurs. He resides in Illinois with his wife and business partner, Susan.