Agave Road Trip

Check out 30A Distilling Co. when you’re in Florida!

First and foremost, when claims are made about expenses by USAID or any federal agency of the US government, you can research for yourself at usaspending.gov. This is a great tool that is as close to absolute transparency in government as the USA has ever had. In the (literal) days since I recorded this episode (February 17, 2025), President Trump has signed an executive order that requires “radical transparency” of all government offices. In that very order, he highlights as an example of “how the federal government has wasted [our] hard-earned wages” this item: Numerous USAID grants have come under review, including $1.5 million to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities.” But he doesn’t share the Prime Award ID number or the recipient of that award. So you’re left to dig into that yourself. If you believe there should be “radical transparency” in the government, ask for those items so you can see, for yourself, that this claim is true. Or just go digging and try to find evidence of this claim. Or any of the others in that executive order or the many posts the president or Elon Musk have made. Now … to watch the beautiful sermon from Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde — a wonderful call for mercy — click here. To read the transcript of the bishop’s interview with “All Things Considered,” click here. While I don’t believe I actually mentioned it in the episode, even as an apathetic agnostic, I’d still encourage everyone to read the letter that Pope Francis sent to the USA. To read how the first Trump administration launched the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, click here.

Shout out this episode to Steve Catbagan, Denver, and its groovy agave scene; Arik Torren and his Lot 001 Brands, and fog nets. And of Cambio Tequila!

Shout out this episode to Quiote Mezcaleria! And when in Chicago go visit the desert house at the Chicago Botanic Garden. It’s as close to Mexico as anything 1,800 miles north of Mexico!

The previous episode that inspired this episode is “The secret origin of Tequila Oro.” Shout out this episode to Jason Cox at 5 Sentidos! Shout out to Tequila Cascahuin! Maybe dibs in Chicago actually was documented…? Click here!

That incredible beer-not-beer was made by tlachiquero Marco Antonio of pulqueria El rincon de Mayahuel in San Felipe, Guanajuato. I was introduced to Marco by Malena Villasuso and Juan Pedro Valdes of Mezcal Villasuso. This episode was recorded outdoors at Bárbaro Asador de Campo, an amazing table-in-farm restaurant in Queretaro, where we stopped to have lunch with our travel companions: environmental scientist and SACRED program manager Regina Gonzalez and Brian Rabon of 30A Distilling Company.

This episode was inspired by a bottle by Victor Ramos, sourced from his tasting room in Miahuatlan, Oaxaca, labeled “Mensoncle de Arroqueno.” It’s the first time I’ve seen that spelling, but it refers to the heart of the agave — like mezontle. mesonte, and Mezonte. (Hi, Pedro!)

Shout outs this episode to Oaxacan speakeasy Hembra, Marco Ochoa of Mezcouting, Sylvia Philion of Mezcaloteca, and Enrique Martinez of Metsal!

Check out the diverse selection of Mexican spirits being imported by Lot001 Brands! They have Mi Casa Tequila, Parejo (which offers Sotol and Lechugilla expressions), Rancho Tepúa (which offers Bacanora, Lechuguilla, and Palmilla expressions), Whiskey Maíz Nation, and Pelacañas Rum!

Shout outs this episode to Mezonte, Off Premise: Wine, Agave, Whiskey & Craft Beer, and Alambique Serrano Single-Origin Oaxacan Rum!

Mezcal geeks love to run down all the varieties of Agave Karwinskii they can name. And when we talk about Agave Americana, we talk about Arroqueno and Coyote and Sierra Negra. But the most prolific of agaves in Oaxaca is easily Angustifolia, represented exclusively by Espadin. But that’s not the sole variety of the species – at least, outside of Oaxaca. So why don’t we talk about varieties of Angustifolia in Oaxaca? And is that a possible solution to the growing monoculture in Mezcal? It’s another head-scratching episode of Agave Road Trip! Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. This episode is hosted by Lou Bank with special guest Linda Sullivan of seynasecreto with insights from mezcalero Arturo Campos of San Juan Espanatica, Jalisco.

In addition to our quoted friends at Cambio Tequila and Tequila Torrente, we also mention this episode Felipe Camarena of G4 Tequila and Greg Rutkowski of Finca 18 and 30 Topes Mixto de Agave, and Chava Periban of the podcast “Heritage Mezcal.” And Steve Dahl. And Dark Matter Coffee’s Star Lounge. To learn more about the fascinating agricultural practices of Tequila Torrente, read “A Better Way to Grow Agave Leads to World’s First Certified Regenerative Tequila” in UnderstandingAg.

National Bartenders Day is the first Friday of December. That’s December 6 in 2024! Listen to Bridget’s podcast, “Served Up,” here! To listen to the episode I was on, click here. Healthy Pour is a boutique coaching and consulting firm dedicated to transforming the global landscape of work. Founder Laura Louise Green has deep roots in the hospitality industry and does much of her work with hospitality folks.

If you’re in Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca, go drink pulque at Reina Cortes Cortes’s A&V La Casa del Pulque. Drink the pulque — all the pulque — but also check out Quiote de Maguey Escabeche from Mujeres 5 Estrellas! Check out Lyanne’s article that inspired this episode: “Meet the Cactus Powering a New Generation of Latino-Owned Businesses,” Inc., September 16, 2024 Tia Lupita Foods offers a range of chips made from nopales! Nemi Snacks has a line of nopale-based chips, too, but shaped more like Takis — but significantly healthier! The movie Lyanne references is Flamin’ Hot!

If you’re not already all over the Tequila Matchmaker app, you should be. Scarlet and Grover have built an amazing resource for anyone interested at any level in Tequila. They started the Additive-Free Alliance, a coalition of Tequila brands, retailers, consumers, and producers of other agave-based products who are dedicated to processes that do not use additives. “An Undercover Operation, a Raid and the Fight Over What Makes a True Tequila,” Wall Street Journal, June 29, 2024 If you want to learn about the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act and what came before it, check out “History of Nutrition Labeling” from the National Library of Medicine.

Shout out to Lalo Angeles of Lalocura for his insights about the damage done to the palenqueros who mill agave by hand. Shout out to Jake Lustig of Mina Real and Mezcal Don Amado for his efforts to reduce smoke in the lives of the people from whom he sources his spirits. Shout out to Neta for supporting the healthcare of mezcalero Celso Garcia. Shout out to Dark Matter Coffee and Maguey Melate for supporting healthcare costs for some families in need in rural Oaxaca.

Want easier access to beautiful spirits? Add your signature to ShipMySpirits.org! Live in Illinois and want easier access to beautiful spirits? Send a letter to Deputy Governor Andy Manar! Read the article that inspired this episode: “U.S. Craft Distilleries Are in Crisis,” Food & Wine, July 31, 2024 That quote from Peter Holland, rum expert and Foursquare Distillery’s UK brand ambassador, appeared in “Could independent bottlers transform rum?,” The Spirits Business, September 24, 2024 Haven’t heard about Empirical’s Doritos spirit? Click here!

Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. This episode is hosted by Lou Bank with special guest Marissa Paragano of The Tequiladies. Note that this episode was recorded on September 25, 2024 -- before some of the latest developments regarding additive-free Tequila. Marissa is also a board member of Tequila That Cares, a philanthropic organization bringing positive change to the agave spirits industry!

Dig whiskey? Dig the blog of the mighty Chuck Cowdery! Want to know more about Hacienda de Chihuahua Sotol? Click here!

Thanks to road-tripper Shain Bela Lugosi in San Diego for pointing me to Oslo Sardine Bar! Caputo’s offers the most amazing mail-order selection of chocolate! Read Rowan Jacobsen’s Wild Chocolate book, on sale now! When in Chicago, drop into Dark Matter’s Sleep Walk Chocolateria!