Agave Road Trip

Ten Angry Pitbulls, Inc
  • 4.5 (46)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. If you're interested in Mezcal, Tequila, Raicilla, or other things you'd drink in Mexico, this might be the place you're looking for.

  1. 9h ago

    The sex lives of agave: hijuelos, bulbils, and seedlings

    Agaves have three ways to reproduce: they can generate seeds, bulbils (semi-clones that grow on their quiotes), and hijuelos (clones from the roots). But sometimes, you’ll hear that a particular variety of agave doesn’t produce hijuelos, or its seeds aren’t viable. Why not? Which ones? And how did that come about? It’s our most sexual episode yet! 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 evolutionary biologist Daniel Moen. Episode Notes Thanks to raicillero Nereo Garcia Romero for the cover pose this episode! Shout outs this episode to Dr. Iván Saldaña, El Acabo Raicilla, the Herculoids, Tacho Guzman, and Emilio Saenger!

    The sex lives of agave: hijuelos, bulbils, and seedlings

  2. Oct 1

    What we drink when we don't know what to drink

    My frequent-but-not-frequent-enough cohost Linda Sullivan‍ has a beverage education business, seynasecreto. And while she’s doing the education part at events, sharing funky, interesting, and cool agave spirits, the guests are engaged and loving it. But when the education stops and the bar becomes open call, those same guests go back to their common-order comfort zones. Which makes Linda uncomfortable — but gives us something to talk about 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! Episode Notes Shout outs this episode to the shiftie, Licor Pajarote, Casamigos, Kool-Aid, Sloe Gin Fizz, The Ramones song “Somebody Put Something in My Drink,” the Tequila Report, the French Martini, and 818 Tequila!

    What we drink when we don't know what to drink

  3. Sep 24

    Proposed changes to the rules of Mezcal

    The Mexican government is considering a revised version of the NOM that defines what is and what is not Mezcal. My big takeaway is that it feels like the changes are either moving more toward protecting heritage mezcaleres or codifying things that were already allowed but weren’t anywhere in the existing NOM. Sergio Garnier’s view isn’t so different. But we argue anyway. Because that’s our love language. 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 food writer Sergio Garnier of Ultramundo Mezcal. Episode Notes To read the draft revised NOM-070 in Spanish, click here! To read the draft revised NOM-070 in Google Translate English, click here! Shout outs this episode to Queretaro’s spectacular table-in-a-farm restaurant Bárbaro Asador de Campo, Rancho Villa Organica, Campanilla,  Francisco Terrazas and the Tequila Interchange Project, Cristalinos, and Chava!

    Proposed changes to the rules of Mezcal

  4. Sep 17

    Has the Margarita become a victim of its own success?

    That’s what I thought we were talking about: the Margarita collapsing under the weight of its popularity, so to speak. But food writer Alisha Miranda thought we were exploring the question, Can we get past the Margarita? And that question itself suggests that, at least for Alisha, the Margarita has become a victim of its own success. And David Suro’s La Jefa Milpa Bar in Philadelphia doesn’t serve a Margarita, which suggests Alisha isn’t alone. So … what’s going on with the Margarita? 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 food writer Alisha Miranda! Episode Notes Check out Alisha’s article “Beyond the Margarita: Rethinking Tequila & Agave Spirits,” August 31, 2026. This week’s cover features art by Jose Guadalupe Posada, taken from the “El corrido de la muerte” broadside published by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo. You can access that file via the Library of Congress! Shout outs this episode to David Suro’s La Jefa Milpa Bar, vodka/sodas, Morgan Weber’s Marfa Spirits Co., Frankie Ramirez’s Amà, Nacho Jimenez’s Superbueno, Ricky Ramirez (and Jason Parr)’s Mothership, Squirt, Jon Langley’s Sobre Masa, and Palomas! Ad Links For a copita full of hospitable Mezcal, check out Mezcal Palomo! Carlos Mendez Blas makes delicious spirits, some of which were distilled with cacao, coffee, and mole! Chicotona Mezcal honors tradition while always looking for something better. Try a taste of family, culture, and tradition!  Head out on an Agave Road Trip with Finca 18!‍  ‍Greg Rutkowski will take you on his Agave Road Trip Route #2 - Raicilla de la Costa! Price includes a bottle of Paulo Rodriguez’s fabled, limited Tumbado batch! Order beautiful spirits to be delivered to anywhere in Mexico — beautiful or otherwise — through Agave Spirits Presents!

    Has the Margarita become a victim of its own success?

  5. Sep 10

    September 16 is Cinco de Mayo!

    As we approach September 16, we prepare to celebrate Cinco de Mayo: Mexican Independence Day! And we do so in Agave Road Trip style with lawyer and professor Dr. Juan Pablo Salazar Andreou, author of Con o Sin Derecho, about the history of Cinco de Mayo in the legal context. Take off your shoes, grab a machete, and join us for the fun! 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 and wisdom from Dr. Juan Pablo Salazar Andreou, with translations from Daniel Peñaloza of Chicotona Mezcal! Episode Notes Check out Dr. Juan Pablo Salazar Andreou’s book Con o Sin Derecho! This week’s cover features art by Jose Guadalupe Posada, taken from the “El corrido de la muerte” broadside published by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo. You can access that file via the Library of Congress! Shout outs this episode to Katherine May Lewis, Siete Rayas Yolixpa, and Julia of Las Chingonas Imports!

    September 16 is Cinco de Mayo!

  6. Sep 3

    NC Stevens read all the royal directives so you don’t have to

    When most people think about Mexican drinks, they think about Tequila. But Tequila's success is really built on the vibrancy of the broader landscape of drinks and drinking in Mexico. It’s not a standalone spirit. It comes from a history and geography and culture that made possible something as compelling as Tequila. And author and researcher NC Stevens argues that is one of the leading reasons that Tequila has become so successful. 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 Nic Comrade Stevens, author ofThe Complete Guide to Mexican Beverages: From Atole to Zambumbia. Episode Notes Shout outs this episode to the Cuba Libre, cactus tuna wine, Buchanan’s, and colonche! Ad Links Every time you drinkEl Acabo Raicilla, you’re helping to support the biodiversity of Jalisco — it’s a delicious way to help the environment! Head out on an Agave Road Trip with Finca 18!‍ ‍Greg Rutkowski will take you on his Agave Road Trip Route #2 - Raicilla de la Costa! Price includes a bottle of Paulo Rodriguez’s fabled, limited Tumbado batch! Order beautiful spirits to be delivered to anywhere in Mexico — beautiful or otherwise — through Agave Spirits Presents!

    NC Stevens read all the royal directives so you don’t have to

  7. Aug 27

    The reason to ID every drinker

    I was watching an episode of John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight” about gas-station drugs and it felt to me like, while never mentioned explicitly, the reason to ask every guest who orders an alcoholic beverage to show their ID. And I had Linda cornered so made her talk it through with me. 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. Episode Notes Watch the episode “Gas Station Drugs” on “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” May 4, 2026. Read“FDA pushes to restrict synthetic opioid derived from kratom leaf,” Washington Post, July 29, 2025. Read “The arguments against dietary supplements,” Harvard Health, March 12, 2026. Shout outs this episode to the Wild Mile, Monster Energy, and Rob Lowe. Ad Links Whatever you’re talking about when you’re talking about G4 Tequila, what it boils down to is Felipe Camarena! Chicotona Mezcal honors tradition while always looking for something better. Try a taste of family, culture, and tradition! Head out on an Agave Road Trip with Finca 18!‍ ‍Greg Rutkowski will take you on his Agave Road Trip Route #2 - Raicilla de la Costa! Price includes a bottle of Paulo Rodriguez’s fabled, limited Tumbado batch! Order beautiful spirits to be delivered to anywhere in Mexico — beautiful or otherwise — through Agave Spirits Presents!

    The reason to ID every drinker

  8. Aug 20

    Plastic and glass in the age of Mezcal

    “This brings us to the question of glass versus food-grade plastic, because both are used at José Alberto's palenque, and food-grade plastic is certainly used to store mezcal at every other palenque I’ve visited, and both are legitimate vessels for storing agave spirits.” That’s what Marcus Piña of Creador Spirits wrote in his online journal — and then he answered the question. We’ve talked a lot on this podcast about how agave spirits change when aged in glass. Marcus takes us beyond the claim to the details — as much as someone who is not a scientist can. It’s an episode of Agave Road Trip for the ages! 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 Marcus Piña of Creador Spirits. Episode Notes Read Marcus’ journal entry that inspired this episode: “What Happens To Mezcal When Rested In Glass.” Shout outs this episode to maestro palenquero Jose Alberto Pablo, maestro podcastero Mike Gr, Genius Liquids, David Dong of PM Spirits, Lalocura, mezcaleroVictor Ramos, Bar Singular, The Austin Shaker, and Edgar Angeles. Ad Links My favorite wood-aged spirit is Asil Raicilla! Go get some! Head out on an Agave Road Trip with Finca 18!‍ ‍Greg Rutkowski will take you on his Agave Road Trip Route #2 - Raicilla de la Costa! Price includes a bottle of Paulo Rodriguez’s fabled, limited Tumbado batch! Order beautiful spirits to be delivered to anywhere in Mexico — beautiful or otherwise — through Agave Spirits Presents!

    Plastic and glass in the age of Mezcal
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4.5
out of 5
46 Ratings

About

Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. If you're interested in Mezcal, Tequila, Raicilla, or other things you'd drink in Mexico, this might be the place you're looking for.

Information

  • Creator
    Ten Angry Pitbulls, Inc
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    332
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ten Angry Pitbulls, Inc
  • Show Website
    Agave Road Trip

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