Best Maguey Podcasts (2025)

1
What happens to Tequila when there’s no more red volcanic soil? 28:24

20h ago28:24

28:24

I hear and read a lot about how the red, mineral-rich volcanic soil is what makes this Tequila especially delicious. Or about the arid earth that makes that Mezcal so special. But … those are not forever things, right? If the minerals produce an agave that makes a delicious spirit, that means the agave is taking something from that soil — is consum…

1
Yes, spirits can be aged in glass 28:00

8d ago28:00

28:00

In the world of whiskey, most geeks will tell you that a spirit won’t age unless it’s stored in wood. In the world of agave spirits, geeks will swear they do change. The agave geeks are right and, now, we finally have proof. It’s an evidentiary episode of Agave Road Trip! Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps g…

1
Mezcal and forgiveness 45:10

15d ago45:10

45:10

I was watching that short documentary that PKGD released about mezcalero Carlos Mendez Blas, “Capitan Palomo.” And I was struck by the revelations in that film and how I think there’s something in Carlos’ world view that could solve the problems around immigration. Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx b…

1
Another way to taste Mezcal 26:31

22d ago26:31

26:31

Linda has her method for tasting agave spirits. I have mine. And they’re relatively the same. But we just learned a new method from Rosa Perez Hernandez of Campanilla and it blew our minds! It’s a breath-taking episode of Agave Road Trip! Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand…

1
What can Raicilla teach us about Tequila? 20:30

29d ago20:30

20:30

Ron Aleman of Taco Mucho knows and loves Tequila. But he’s now finding himself drawn to Raicilla. “I’ve never had one I didn’t like,” he says. And I have a theory about that. So I run that theory by Marissa Paragano of The Tequiladies in this Jalisco-centric episode of Agave Road Trip! Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcas…

1
The precious world of thoughtful Mezcal 29:04

1M ago29:04

29:04

There are people in rural Mexico for whom Mezcal is 100% cultural heritage. And there are people there for whom it’s 100% business — sometimes tied to cultural heritage but sometimes tied simply to paying for food, clothing, shelter, and life’s aspirations and pleasures. So what does it mean when that business side taps into the cultural heritage s…

1
Are we really drinking less? 20:29

1M ago20:29

20:29

I see it all over the news, hear it in conversations: we're drinking less. But then I look at the sales numbers from DISCUS and it makes me wonder, are we really drinking less? Or are we just drinking differently? It’s a complex math equation that we try to solve in this episode of Agave Road Trip! Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-w…

1
Can Margaritas help us love immigrants 24:49

2M ago24:49

24:49

The fastest-growing spirits category in the USA is Tequila/Mezcal. The most popular cocktail is the Margarita. We love tacos, we love tamales. So … can all of that help us as a country learn to love the people who brought us these things we love? Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better un…

1
Agave Road Trip salute to additives! 28:09

2M ago28:09

28:09

At the DISCUS conference a few months ago, I was at a party that was populated by small-brand tasting tables. The one that drew my attention most was the one that was both least visited and most colorful. And my response to everything they were pouring was, Yes, please! But most especially, the White Chocolate/Raspberry Tiramisu whiskey! It’s an ar…

1
Blind tastings, decision-making, prejudices, spirits awards, and 818 Tequila 21:57

2M ago21:57

21:57

I thought this episode was going to be about blind tastings. And it is. Or, at least, it starts that way. But when you’re talking with Marissa, aka @tequilaencyclopedia , you rarely take as straight a path as you’d expect. So if you want to listen to a conversation about that … or about CostCo … or about the Agavos Awards … or how much I paid Maris…

1
Chuck Cowdery drinks Mexican whiskey 47:42

2M ago47:42

47:42

Chuck Cowdery was called “the dean of American whiskey journalism” by no less than Robert Simonson in the New York Times. So when I decided more than 250 episodes into this podcast to finally devote one to Mexican whiskey, I naturally invited my celebrated drinking buddy over. It’s (perhaps) the corniest episode of Agave Road Trip! Agave Road Trip …

1
Are Mezcal geeks ruining Mezcal? Part 2 23:46

3M ago23:46

23:46

Last episode we contrasted the good done through the consumption of heritage agave spirits with the damage caused by same. This episode, we talk about the damage done by the casual consumption of agave spirits. And coffee. And chocolate. And … well, everything. It’s a casual-destruction episode of Agave Road Trip! Agave Road Trip is a critically ac…

1
Are Mezcal geeks ruining Mezcal? Part 1 30:20

3M ago30:20

30:20

It’s amazing and moving to see mezcalerxs whose lives have clearly improved as a result of the growing interest in agave spirits. But there’s another side to that story – or, really, multiple other sides to it: some good, some bad, and some … well, the jury is still out on those. We talk about those various stories in this episode of Agave Road Tri…

1
Some agave can't be farmed 21:34

3M ago21:34

21:34

When I first started drinking Mezcal, I was told that there were some agaves that couldn’t be farmed — that could only grow wild. And I still here that narrative some two decades later. And it still doesn’t make sense to me. So I did the only logical thing: I asked a farmer. Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that help…

1
Gringx bartenders can save biodiversity 23:00

3M ago23:00

23:00

In my consumer-focused tastings, I tell attendees that one of the big things I hope they walk away with is, they can lead a more delicious life and support a more sustainable ecosystem if they start drinking more than just Blue Weber processed in Jalisco and Espadin processed in Oaxaca – that’s literally 99% of what they drink now, and if they inst…

1
Corn as cultural heritage 29:27

4M ago29:27

29:27

Mexico has been purchasing about $3 billion of corn annually from farmers in the USA, the vast majority of that corn having been grown from genetically modified seeds. The Mexican government announced in 2020 that it would, in 2025, ban that GMO corn from the country, which was found to be in violation of the USMCA agreement of 2018. So now, the Me…

1
The CRT is no longer the sole certifier for Tequila 27:13

4M ago27:13

27:13

If you want to listen to that October 2023 episode with Khrys Maxwell, it’s “The CRT loses their Tequila monopoly.” You might also want to check out this episode: “The Birth and Death of the CRM,” in which MIA Chava and I discuss the end of the CRM’s monopoly on Mezcal certification. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pr…

1
Maguey and Madagascar 44:37

4M ago44:37

44:37

Check out Riker’s project, MadAgave, on the Web, on Instagram, and on Facebook — and consider making a financial gift. It will help support this important project and also help mitigate the damage done by the recent cyclone that hit the community. In the episode cover, that’s head distiller Fomesoa, and the other crew members are Samba, Tsimireke, …

1
You pay more for Tequila 34:49

4M ago34:49

34:49

Marissa is also a board member of Tequila That Cares, a philanthropic organization bringing positive change to the agave spirits industry! If you missed World Poetry Day, it’s not too late to celebrate. Click here for the archived celebration with Agave Road Trip Poet Laureate Larry Beckett and August Gladstone! Some numbers I culled from the DISCU…

1
How do you differentiate different Tequilas? 26:32

4M ago26:32

26:32

Shout outs this episode to Cambio Tequila and Puesto! And Howard Gardner’s “Theory of Multiple Intelligences”! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.By Lou Bank, Linda Sullivan, John Des Rosiers, Beau du Bois

1
Is Mezcal's moment over? 29:22

5M ago29:22

29:22

That one hit is from Australian Traveller: “30 of the best bars in Sydney right now.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.By Lou Bank, Linda Sullivan

1
Puntas: Drop-dead delicious or just drop dead? 26:50

5M ago26:50

26:50

This episode was inspired by a post that Mexican distiller Tomas Nava made in the Facebook group Mezcal Society. His post was inspired by the entry for “foreshots” at SpiritsBeacon.com. The response from Tom Bartram of Speciality Brands gave me the excuse to reconnect with Tom! Bonus! Tom’s puntas-filled annecdote! See Privacy Policy at https://art…

1
An American Distiller in Mexico 23:45

5M ago23:45

23:45

Check out 30A Distilling Co. when you’re in Florida! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.By Lou Bank, Brian Rabon

1
A Tale of Two USAIDs 25:42

5M ago25:42

25:42

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 …

1
The devils in the angel share 18:39

6M ago18:39

18:39

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! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.By Lou Bank, Linda Sullivan, John Des Rosiers

1
What do we call them when they’re not all agave spirits? 18:46

6M ago18:46

18:46

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! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
What’s the deal with Rusty Mezcal? 20:52

6M ago20:52

20:52

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! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-m…

1
Making old ale from agave syrup! 16:44

6M ago16:44

16:44

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 t…

1
The Secret Origin of Tequila Oro 17:32

7M ago17:32

17:32

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!) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy …

1
Making Mezcal from the flowering agave 16:06

7M ago16:06

16:06

Shout outs this episode to Oaxacan speakeasy Hembra, Marco Ochoa of Mezcouting, Sylvia Philion of Mezcaloteca, and Enrique Martinez of Metsal! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.By Lou Bank, Linda Sullivan, Natalia Sanchez Bustamante

1
The ominous threat of Mezcal tariffs 21:35

7M ago21:35

21:35

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! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri…

1
Should we limit the limited-release Mezcals? 26:03

7M ago26:03

26:03

Shout outs this episode to Mezonte, Off Premise: Wine, Agave, Whiskey & Craft Beer, and Alambique Serrano Single-Origin Oaxacan Rum! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.By Lou Bank, Linda Sullivan

1
Why is Espadin the only Angustifolia in Oaxaca? 15:49

7M ago15:49

15:49

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 Oa…

1
The 400 decisions of Tequila 37:21

8M ago37:21

37:21

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 pr…

1
The day celebrating the people who work at bars 19:27

8M ago19:27

19:27

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 hospitalit…

1
Another way to bring the desert to your bar 30:07

8M ago30:07

30:07

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., Sept…

1
A different approach to additive-free Tequila 21:47

8M ago21:47

21:47

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 no…

1
The physical cost of pre-industrial Mezcal 28:45

9M ago28:45

28:45

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. Sho…

1
Can culture and commerce coexist in a bottle? 29:05

9M ago29:05

29:05

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 Fo…

1
What happens when they stop calling it Tequila? 32:48

9M ago32:48

32:48

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 regardi…

1
When did “smooth” become a dirty word? 28:15

9M ago28:15

28:15

Dig whiskey? Dig the blog of the mighty Chuck Cowdery! Want to know more about Hacienda de Chihuahua Sotol? Click here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.By Lou Bank, Linda Sullivan, Francisco Prieto, Chuck Cowdery

1
The argument for pairing chocolate with Mezcal 32:00

10M ago32:00

32:00

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! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privac…

1
Is Mezcal More Authentic Than Tequila? 30:07

10M ago30:07

30:07

People in the Tequila chat groups get pretty outraged by things like diffusers and additives, and the basis for their outrage tends to be that these things aren’t traditional. But if it’s tradition they’re looking for, why aren’t they drinking Mezcal? Isn’t that more traditional than Tequila? And what exactly is tradition? It’s the most authentic e…

1
There Is No Traditional Mezcal in the Marketplace 47:42

10M ago47:42

47:42

In the comments section of the Agave Road Trip Instagram page, Craig Reynolds — founder of the California Agave Council — wrote, “Unfortunately, there is virtually no significant amount of truly traditionally produced Mezcal left in the marketplace. It’s not environmentally or economically sustainable. An unfortunate fact that is difficult to accep…

1
The World’s Most Environmentally Sustainable Mezcal Brand 33:36

10M ago33:36

33:36

This Mezcal brand replants agave in the wild, uses solar power, and only cooks with certified wood. They convert their bagaso into biodegradable planters. They are a model of best practices in the industry. And they just left the market because no one supported them. We question what you really care about in this episode of Agave Road Trip! Agave R…

1
The Argument for Pairing Tinned Fish With Mezcal 28:16

11M ago28:16

28:16

Gone are the days when jars of pickled eggs and pigs feet lined the back of a bar. But a bit of food in your stomach can sure help when you’re out drinking. So what should the new bar snacks be? And how can they enhance your drinks menu? Sustainable-seafood expert Barton Seaver makes the case for canned fish. We go fishing for a new bar-snack direc…

1
The Most Important Tequila of the Century 27:31

11M ago27:31

27:31

Once a century, Agave Road Trip goes out looking for the most important Tequila of that era. Now, there are still a solid 75 years let in this century, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say, this early in the game, I’ve identified that Tequila. And the winner is… Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx…

1
Does the Tequila in Your Margarita Matter? 29:00

11M ago29:00

29:00

I saw a number of posts online suggesting that, if you’re making a Margarita, it doesn’t matter what Tequila you use – it pretty much tastes the same. Linda and I decided to put that to the test with a jury of nine tasters. What’s the verdict? To find out you’ll have to listen to this episode of Agave Road Trip! Agave Road Trip is a critically accl…

1
The Politics of Mezcal 42:05

11M ago42:05

42:05

Not everybody who drinks Mezcal is politically liberal. Not everyone carrying a copita in their pocket is a Democrat. Not all of the folks traveling to rural Mexico lean left. In fact, probably most of the mezcalerxs themselves tend to be more conservative. In this politically hot season, it’s maybe a good idea to consider that the person across th…

1
Did Salsa Change Gringos or Did Gringos Change Salsa? 26:44

11M ago26:44

26:44

A recent article in the New York Times suggested, "As more foreigners, especially Americans, visit or move to Mexico City, some taco shops have lowered the heat in their sauces. Not everyone is happy.” That makes me think about how foreign consumption of Tequila and Mezcal have also influenced the flavors — and the recipes — of those other landmark…

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