Agave Road Trip

4.6 (40)
PLACES & TRAVEL
UPDATED WEEKLY

Agave Road Trip provides gringo bartenders with firsthand knowledge about heritage agave spirits from Mexico, including mezcal, raicilla, bacanora, and destilado de agave.

1 HR. AGO

A different approach to additive-free Tequila

The additive-free-Tequila movement was launched by Grover and Scarlet Sanschagrin of Tequila Matchmaker. As it’s gained steam, it’s gotten the pair – and the movement – sideways with the CRT, the body that regulates Tequila. How sideways? Well, it includes a raid on the couple’s home and threatening letters to brands who are using the “additive-free” language – or third parties using the language on their behalf. So what’s the solution? I think I have one, and explain it all in this 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 wisdom from Tequila-geek royalty Khrys Maxwell.

21 min
NOV 14

The physical cost of pre-industrial Mezcal

I love these agave spirits that are made using pre-industrial methods, and I’ll often talk about the value – if not the actual cost – being greater because of the inefficiencies. But a cost that I’ve only recently recognized is the very real human cost. 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.

26 min
NOV 7

Can culture and commerce coexist in a bottle?

An article in Food & Wine highlighted a crisis in craft distilleries in the USA. I think there's a lot of overlap between that crisis and what so many of these families in rural Mexico are experiencing — the discomfort of trying to preserve something that's art-focused in a world that’s more commodity-focused. But is the market even built for that? We try to suss it out in this 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 Jordan Tepper of Apologue Spirited Liqueurs with insights from Morten LJ Koch of Mezcal Chulele.

28 min
OCT 31

What happens when they stop calling it Tequila?

Both Tequila and Mezcal are Denominations of Origin — Bacanora and Raicilla, too. Meaning: the Mexican government owns those word and if you want to use them in commerce, you need to follow their rules, including paying for certification. But what happens when you don’t use those words? When you simply call your agave spirit and “agave spirit”? By any other name, this is still an episode of Agave Road Trip!

33 min
OCT 24

When did “smooth” become a dirty word?

I’ll admit, when I hear people describe agave spirits as “smooth,” I blanch. To me, smooth is the opposite of complex, and what I’m looking for in my agave spirits is that: complex. But … what about everything else I consume? Is it unreasonable … hypocritical … to expect people to want complexity from their Tequilas, Mezcals, Sotols? And am I even correct in my view of what “smooth” means to most people? 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 Francisco Prieto of Hacienda de Chihuahua Sotol and whiskey legend Chuck Cowdery.

27 min
OCT 17

The argument for pairing chocolate with Mezcal

Pickled eggs and pigs feet have disappeared from bars across the USA. You can sometimes find corn nuts and some places offer free popcorn. But I think it’s time for a bar snack revolution! We started with tinned fish a few weeks ago and now we’re back with an argument in support of chocolate. Joining me for this leg of the bar-snack campaign is James Beard Award-winning journalist Rowan Jacobsen, whose book Wild Chocolate is out now! 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 Rowan Jacobsen.

32 min
OCT 10

Is Mezcal More Authentic Than Tequila?

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 episode of Agave Road Trip ever! 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 wisdom from master potter Rufina Ruiz Lopez!

28 min
OCT 3

There Is No Traditional Mezcal in the Marketplace

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 accept.” I don’t accept that, but Craig did accept my invitation to debate the matter on this 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 Craig Reynolds of the California Agave Council.

48 min

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4.6

out of 5

40 Ratings

Best agave Pod

05/30/2023

TonyBeruvides

Been tuning in to Lou and Chava for a while now . Very fun banter and great Info sharing on all things agave ! I always Look forward to every episode .
Energetic & Educational

04/14/2022

Argee_23

Love staying up to date with all things agave spirits. I appreciate how respectful the co-hosts are of Mexican communities.
A lot of fun and very informational

09/26/2021

MuchoSpanish.com

Living in Mexico City, I’ve fallen in love with mezcal. This podcast is full of information and expertise, and it’s a lot of fun to listen to.

Agave Road Trip provides gringo bartenders with firsthand knowledge about heritage agave spirits from Mexico, including mezcal, raicilla, bacanora, and destilado de agave.