Modern Bar Cart take-over
Not an actual episode of Agave Road Trip, but a cleverly disguised episode of Modern Bar Cart, Eric Kozlik’s cocktail podcast for home bartenders and industry pros alike. Erik interviews Chava and Lou and proves that they actually can talk for more than 15 minutes.
The Mezcal with the Chicken — Pechuga!
Maybe you’ve heard stories of a weird mezcal that is made with chicken. Maybe you’ve heard that it’s tied to celebratory rituals. Maybe you’ve heard that it’s precious and rare. Maybe all of that is right and maybe all of that is wrong. Maybe you’ll get the straight answer in this episode of Agave Road Trip! Or maybe not.
Did Mezcal Save Fiestas, or Did Fiestas Save Mezcal?
The religious fiestas in rural Mexico are often colored by the heritage agave spirits made in the community — which makes for a fun night when the festivities also include fireworks. In this episode of Agave Road Trip, we ponder the question: Did mezcal save the community fiestas, or did the community fiestas save mezcal?
Mezcal Cocktails and Cocktail Mezcal
Some mezcal geeks use the term “cocktail mezcal” as an insult. But we know you love cocktails! So let’s talk about why those geeks are wrong and how to make a righteous mezcal that can be used in cocktails! This and more in this episode of Agave Road Trip!
Bad Mezcal
It’s the cleanest spirit you can drink! It’s made from the best sugar source in the world! It’s made by hand! So … how could there possibly be such a thing as bad mezcal? Find out in this episode of Agave Road Trip!
Who Says It’s Not Mezcal?
Mezcal can only be made from the heart of the agave. Or … wait? It can be made from the leaves? And sometimes that worm in the bottle isn’t just for tourists? What’s true in one community is not true universally, and the only absolute truths are the ones the Mexican government puts to paper … until they edit that document. Join us for the most confounding episode yet of Agave Road Trip!
Heads, Hearts, and Tails: Where You Cut Matters
Most people think that when you distill a spirit, what comes out of that still goes directly into the bottle. But, in fact, different distillers make different decisions about which parts of the distillation they keep and which parts they leave out — and those decisions have a profound effect on the finished flavor. That’s what we talk about in this episode of Agave Road Trip!
How to Drive in Mexico Without Getting Killed
I tell a lot of stories about driving through Mexico. But perhaps the strongest reactions I get are to tales of driving through blockades — roadblocks set up by protestors to intentionally create traffic problems as a way of making a political statement. That’s what we cover in this week’s episode of Agave Road Trip!
The Difference Between Tequila and Mezcal
What’s the difference between tequila and mezcal? Is all tequila really mezcal? Is all mezcal made by hand? These and other questions are answered in this episode of Agave Road Trip!
Mercado Day in Mexico
All of the fruits and spices and flowers and herbs and meats and magic of Mexico show up in the mercados -- the markets. What should you look for there? What can you bring back with you?
How Much Alcohol Can I Bring Back from Mexico?
You’re headed to Mexico! Excited to drink agave spirits in their natural habitat! More excited to bring spirits home to share with friends! So … how much are you allowed to bring back?
How to Drink Spirits Neat
The margarita is almost certainly Mexico’s greatest ambassador. But how do you move from drinking cocktails to drinking neat spirits? We suggest one specific journey in this episode of Agave Road Trip.
15 Days to Distill
Many men and women in rural Mexico started learning to make agave spirits when they were 10 or 11 years old, from their parents. Then some learned in two weeks from a bunch of university students who randomly showed up in town.
What’s Heritage, Anyway?
The traditional methods of making agave spirits in Yutanduchi de Guerrero, in Oaxaca’s Mixteca region, go back to … the late 1990s? So what does “heritage” mean, in this case?
No Tequila is Mezcal
Maybe someone told you that all tequila is mezcal but not all mezcal is tequila. Hell, maybe you read it in the New York Times, USAToday, the Daily Mail, or the Chicago Tribune, or on VinePair, Thrillist, Chowhound, or Science 2.0. They’re all wrong.
Gringo Güero
Some folks are wondering what we mean when we say “gringo.” Here’s the deal….
The Arnold Palmer of Pulque
That sweet, sour, yeasty, and milky delight of fermented agave sap that we call pulque!
What’s in my Tequila?
Lou and Chava speak with David Suro of Siembra Azul Tequila about mixto tequilas.
Perlas Before Swine
Dr. Roberto Zenit explains the science behind perlas.
Ep 01 - Jump In!
Meet your hosts Lou & Chava.