Jessica Ramirez has parlayed her talents in event planning to transition into the hospitality, distribution, and now product industries. A trek to Texas for love and the avoidance of Michigan winters evolved into her latest role at Cadre Noir Imports. She evangelizes the great spirits which include: Combier, Banhez Mezcal, Control C Pisco, and more. With some well known labels and some lesser known labels, how are the challenges different than the other tiers? Creative solutions are abound. We chat mezcal, music, beauty queens, and more...
There are few names that are as synonymous with quality, trust, expertise, and compassion as David Suro's. A successful restaurant owner and agave impresario: David is the sane voice of the industry. He has traveled for agave, studied for agave, and managed to import some of the finest agave spirits ever to be conceived. With Siembra Metl and Siembra Azul, his perspective on terroir and flavor are elegantly expressed with unparalleled quality. Beyond spirits, David has also taken a keen concern regarding ethics and the overall political state of agave. In effect, he leads the most pressing conversations about agave via the Tequila Interchange Project This isn't mezcal 101, this is mezcal 202. We chat bats, Sotol, waiting, and the kitchen.
Passion goes a long way, and for Mike Morales his love of agave has drove him to assemble a massive archive of information. His site Tequila Aficionado is the most comprehensive and informative source for tequila, mezcal, and sotol on the internet and in print today. From his high school days in East LA, Mike has trekked through the health club, newspaper, radio, and food distribution industries. He finally met his true love Tequila while throwing a massively successful festival in New Mexico dedicated to the delicious spirit. Interviews, tv pilots, and many manuscripts later, Mike continues to spread the agave love every single chance he gets. We talk El Chapo, Sotol, David Suro, and shot girls.
A southern pilates instructor gone rogue, Carley Dunavant has been juggling health and hospitality for years now. After a full life entrenched in the southern culture of towns like Oxford and Memphis, love yet again brought another great person into Austin, TX. From behind the bars at Drink.Well., Qui, and JW Marriott to shifting to the distribution side of the house, Carley has maintained her integrity. In an industry of double-standards between men and women, how does Carley remain successful and focused? We chat Celiacs (for real), La Croix, and making the "shift" from behind the bar.
As Tacy begins her masterplan return to the Southwest, it's time to sit back and reflect on how all of this happened in the first place. The concept of homeschooling is foreign to many of us, but happens to be the impetus for this entire chat with Tacy. Fending to find herself amidst tragedy, seclusion, and sheltering, Tacy has emerged a reflexive and incredibly perceptive woman. The hospitality industry granted her freedoms to shape her career and flex her creative muscles. She's one of the most imaginative bartenders in the world, despite Vegas saying so as well. We chat Lavenue, Drink.Well., love, and more...
Tempus Fugit Spirits co-founder John Troia is a vestige of an olden time. He's traveled the world in pursuit of exquisite booze and come back to the states with some of the finest spirits available. He connects the new world to the old. This California native has always appreciated historical aesthetic and even brought that eye to the fashion industry. An interesting path of Chartreuse and hospitality ultimately sent John traversing the world in search of the best flavors. In the wake of this red eye lifestyle, we now have great spirits like Gran Classico, Alessio Vermouths, Fernet Angelico and more... We chat Mark Twain, Bourbon, vintage bottles, and more....
Making the move from behind the bar to across it (via distribution) isn't always the most intuitive career, but Austin's Nicki Petry is making the transition smoothly. A Wyoming born horn player and rockabilly extraordinaire, Nicki has had an interesting career path. From a booming Las Vegas economy to a stint in the military, he's seen it all an drank it all. But why now, what is it about Glazer's distribution that looks like the best fit? We chat Shibas, guitar, and talking it all out.
More midwest love on SDV this week. Brandon Cummins rose through the ranks of the hospitality industry to now work in product development with Altamar Brands. He has a brilliant collection of spirits to evangelize such as: Tequila Ocho, Right Gin, and Foursquare Rum. The traveling, creativity, and technological agility come from a rich background in wine and guitar. Band guys make the brand guys. We chat PJ Harvey, The Urge, and branding.
Don't go into the business he said, I want different things for you he said. But yet St Louis' Justin Cardwell found himself being pulled back into the industry despite his father's advice. Stints in computer science, film, and hockey were just temporary as the hospitality gene's dominance took effect. Justin is dedicated to improving his skills while also making simple flavors even more accessible. As a major voice of the USBG, co-conspirator at Lush Life, and general gentleman of cultural, Justin strives to bring the midwest scene to center stage. He sits as bar manager at BC's Kitchen for now, but what lies just on that next horizon. We talk DePalma, bodies of water, and the early days of Mezcal.