Beans, mezcal, and the the culture that unites them

Beans, mezcal, and the the culture that unites them

Nov 26, 2019 | Food

I was reading The Best American Food Writing 2019 on the plane to Guadalajara last week and was so happy to see the Bean Freaks article by Burkhard Bilger from the New Yorker made it into the collection. It’s about Steve Sando of Rancho Gordo who is most well known...
Balancan Destilado Artesanal tasting notes

Balancan Destilado Artesanal tasting notes

Nov 21, 2019 | Brands, Tasting Notes

An extremely distinct uncertified mezcal from a young talent in the Oaxacan mezcal world. I talked to the the founders of the Balancan brand in another article about the details of this project. Details Location: Santa Maria Ixcatlan, OaxacaUncertifiedAgave:...
Balancan Tuxca Artesanal tasting notes

Balancan Tuxca Artesanal tasting notes

Nov 21, 2019 | Brands, Tasting Notes

This label from the Laika Spirits, the importers of Cruz del Fuego and other Mexican spirits, is part of the burgeoning space of uncertified Mexican spirits. This one represents the borderland of Jalisco and Colima, potentially the birthplace of mezcal, definitely a...
Jaguars and serpents rule my dreams

Jaguars and serpents rule my dreams

Nov 21, 2019 | Brands, Denominación de Origen

Balancan is a newish label designed to represent uncertified Mexican spirits. It comes to us from Ismael Gomez and Mackenzie Shults, the folks behind Laika Imports – recently added to the High Road Spirits portfolio – which imports Cruz de Fuego mezcal,...
Bespoke mezcal for your bar

Bespoke mezcal for your bar

Nov 20, 2019 | Brands, Oaxaca, Products

Maguey Melate, the company that has started a mezcal of the month club with artisanal distillers in Oaxaca, is now offering a new service: they will source a unique mezcal batch for your restaurant or bar. I’ve seen bars do this on occasion here in the United...
What does Mexico in a Bottle sound like?

What does Mexico in a Bottle sound like?

Nov 19, 2019 | Mezcal: Mexico in a Bottle

Anyone who has been to Mexico in a Bottle knows that it has a special sound. That’s because we work with amazing local DJs everywhere we go who conjure up a sound that brings the party and animates the mezcal spirit. This year DJ Pedro Julian stepped up to the...
The Blue Gold Rush is on

The Blue Gold Rush is on

Nov 15, 2019 | Agave, Sustainability, Tequila

Driving around Amatitán last week one thing was clear. If there’s any arable land, even the most liminal, there is blue agave growing in it. Roadside shoulders, a patch of dirt between rocks, under fruit trees, let alone open fields – it if wasn’t...