Unstoppable: How Travis Barnes of Hotel Tango Distillery Has Redefined Success While Navigating Society As a Combat-Disabled Veteran
Don’t ever give up. Just keep your head down and keep moving forward. Don’t listen to critics, believe in yourself and work your ass off. I think that some of low points for me were times I was dwelling on the past and not focusing on the task at hand.
As a part of our “Unstoppable” series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Travis Barnes, founder and CEO of Hotel Tango Distillery.
Travis Barnes grew up near the small town of Albion, Indiana. After the events of 9/11, Travis was compelled to leave college in 2001, and enlist as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps. Later on, he was selected for the elite Marine Recon, where he served three combat tours in Iraq with First Reconnaissance Battalion. After obtaining his undergrad degree Travis went on to earn his law degree in the spring of 2013, where he met his wife Hilary. After law school, Travis and Hilary founded Hotel Tango Distillery in downtown Indianapolis. The mission of Hotel Tango is to create unrivaled experiences through premium spirits. In his spare time, Travis likes to hang out with his two amazing daughters & eat Korean BBQ.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! It is really an honor. Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
I grew up near the small town of Albion, Indiana, but the story behind my inspiration for the brand started after the events of 9/11. I was compelled to leave college and enlist as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps. After completing Recruit Training and the School of Infantry in Southern California, I was selected as a Reconnaissance Marine. Instead of heading straight to Basic Reconnaissance Course at Coronado Island, I was sent directly to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. I was assigned to Company A., First Platoon, and participated in the initial invasion of Iraq in March of 2003.
When I got overseas, I first saw combat during the battle of Nasiriyah and multiple skirmishes en route to Baghdad. My second tour was primarily in Fallujah and Ramadi, serving in Company A. Third Platoon. I saw combat throughout his tour, with some of his primary missions consisting of knock and talks, IED interdiction, ambush/counter-ambush and direct-action raids on High-Value Targets (HVTs). I served as a Team Leader in Charlie Company, Second Platoon (Chuck Deuce), during my third tour in 2005–2006. Seeing combat again throughout my time, I served in and around Fallujah, searching for IEDs, HVTs and weapons caches along the Euphrates River. I participated in Operation Green Trident, which discovered ten metric tons of munitions.
Throughout my three tours, I was hit by several IEDs, which resulted in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Because of that, I was eventually Honorably Discharged, but my time in the Marine Corps was instrumental in how Hotel Tango got to where it is today. My experiences in Iraq instilled a commitment to “My Mission, My Men, Myself.”
I returned to Indiana in 2006, where I completed my degree at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). As an undergrad, I was selected as the 2009 Richard Lugar Student Scholar of International Affairs, interning on the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington D.C., before graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. Through my experiences in D.C., I realized I was interested in the law and earned a law degree in the spring of 2013, where I met my wife, Hilary (Hotel).
During law school, Hilary and I decided to take my passion for making booze and our shared experience in law to open Hotel Tango Distillery in downtown Indianapolis. We wanted to use the opportunity to honor the military. In the military phonetic alphabet, H (for Hilary) translates to Hotel, and T (for Travis) translates to Tango, so that is how we got our company name, Hotel Tango.
As we built the company over the past eight years, we have learned more than we ever imagined. We are proud of the brand we are growing and the opportunities it has given to help veterans along the way.
Do you feel comfortable sharing with us the story surrounding how you became disabled or became ill? What mental shift did you make to not let that “stop you”?
I was hit with several IEDs over the course of my three combat tours in Iraq. It caused dizziness, headaches and mood swings. I also have PTSD, which causes sleeplessness, anxiety, hyper-awareness and mood swings. I didn’t know what was going on for a long time. At that time, the corpsman or battalion doctor would prescribe Motrin and water and immediately put me back out in the field. There was a belief that if you weren’t bleeding, there was nothing wrong with you, and if you did complain about not feeling right, you got a reputation as a malingerer. We had a job to do, so I just kept putting one foot in front of the other.
Can you tell our readers about the accomplishments you have been able to make despite your disability or illness?
I think my biggest accomplishment has been moving on from my time in Iraq. It was a huge part of my life and helped shape me into who I am today. However, I try not to let it define who I am and try to keep in mind that every day is another chance to start over and doing something good. I have three daughters that I am very proud of and am so happy they are in my life. They keep me grounded and allow me to appreciate how lucky I am to be alive.
What advice would you give to other people who have disabilities or limitations?
Don’t ever give up. Just keep your head down and keep moving forward. Don’t listen to critics, believe in yourself and work your ass off. I think that some of low points for me were times I was dwelling on the past and not focusing on the task at hand.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?
My wife, Hilary. Hil has always encouraged me to follow my passions and held me accountable when I wasn’t living up to my potential. I wouldn’t be here without the Marine Corps and Hilary Barnes, but mostly Hilary Barnes!
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
Hotel Tango has partnered with several veteran organizations to help serve those who have served us. It is humbling to see how the charities we partner with truly help people in our communities.
Can you share “5 things I wish people understood or knew about people with physical limitations” and why.
1. It can be really hard to discuss limitations with people who don’t share your condition.
2. Just because you can’t see a limitation doesn’t mean it’s not there.
3. Don’t feel bad or sorry for us.
4. We are just like everyone else — we have the same aspirations, goals, fears and setbacks as everyone else.
5. Never underestimate someone with a physical limitation.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”?
“We are surrounded and outnumbered… That simplifies our problem”
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this 🙂
Anyone that might be interested in investing in Hotel Tango or learning more about the brand and our core values.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Unstoppable: How Travis Barnes of Hotel Tango Distillery Has Redefined Success While Navigating… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.