Portland native Clayton Szczech leveraged writing, music, and civil service to the help the community around him. But as many stories twist and turn, (add disappointment with bureaucracy and a need for new horizons into the mix) Clayton found a new sense of purpose in agave spirits. Now the founder of such great curated tours like Experience Mezcal, and Experience Tequila, he is able to help invite people into the rich culture of Mexico. And to top it off he has also founded one of the only Tequila tasting bars in Jalisco, La Cata. We chat liberty, punk rock, agave sustainability, and more.

There are few more established and respected individuals in the hospitality industry than Jim Meehan. He has influenced a generation of bartenders with his cocktail havens PDT and Prairie School. His straight forward attitude and brilliant attention to detail make him one of the foremost cocktail experts in the industry. Now after an already successful career, he takes to writing his second book Meehan's Bartender Manual and offers an in depth look at everything bartending. We chat watches, Smashing Pumpkins, relationship, and ore.

Nicola Olianas eats and breathes hospitality. As an Italian native, his surroundings were always rooted in food and community. The lifestyle of learning, fostering communication, and appreciating nature were at the foundation of his journey. But as it can sometimes feel limiting, his insular Italian neighborhood couldn't satisfy Nicola's cultural and travel inspired appetite. After studying abroad and rooting his passion for hospitality with some academic feats, the greatest handshake yet occurred: forging his relationship with the Fratelli Branca family. We all know and love Fernet, but let's dig a little deeper. We chat fatherhood, health, hosting, and more.

 

The legendary Al Young has shared the beauty of Four Roses Bourbon for over 50 years. He's traveled the world, seen consumer tastes change, and now still stands at the forefront of Bourbon discussion as it returns to favor. Starting as a man of the stage, Al fully intended on studying drama, but love and commitment drove him to find a 9-5 day job. Starting with Seagrams in 1964, the impressive journey took foot. We chat actors, dedication, a fulfilling marriage, and good Bourbon tales.

Employee's Only's Dev Johnson is a LA native who's drift away from acting led to a massive dedication to hospitality. As many actor's find work far and few between, they seek out hospitality jobs to cover their expenses. Sometimes this empowers the career, and sometimes it creates a career change. Dev Johnson found that bartending became the perfect intersection of people skills and learning. Now years later, and one of the longest serving bartenders at Employee's Only, what does patience, dedication, and humility do for your career? Bonus: we chat Monkey Shoulder with Vance Henderson.

 

Esteban Morales Garibi revitalized craft cocktails, coffee, and culinary innovation in Guadalajara. His commitment to transparency, new projects, and sharing beautiful spirits with the world is a page out of an adventure novel. His introduction of La Venenosa introduced the world to Raicilla, a seemingly lost spirit that highlights the flavors of Jalisco. Likewise, his latest project Mezcales Derrumbes features beautiful mezcal from the states of Oaxaca, Michoacan, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, and Durango. And the projects don't stop there.... We talk food, Sotol, Mexico, ambition, and more.....

 

The world of mezcal is growing in a very rapid way. The divide between bottle pricing creates many questions for consumers and bartenders alike. With all the market opportunities, what does a burgeoning brand do to captivate the market and consumers alike. Fausto Zapata, the creator and CEO of El Silencio Mezcal, used his interest in people, real estate, and culture to bring a cost-effective spirit to the market. And now, a few years later, the bottle can be spotted just about anywhere. So where does entrepreneurialism end and passion begin? We chat agave blends, terroir, family, and food.

The road to Scotch was a much larger one than you might think for Beam-Suntory's Johnnie Mundell. As a traveler, and semi-aspiring film maker, his creative roots were moving in many directions. But as life and love ultimately shaped the journey, Johnnie connected with his homeland and perspective on teaching as he became a whisky brand ambassador. Through a few other brands, Johnnie ultimately found one of the largest challenges yet, representing Japanese culture and history through the lens of Whisky with Beam-Suntory. We chat Ken Loach, school days, Cognac, Jordan Felix and more.

Download   The fashion-forward and hospitality focused Nathan Reffell has helped shape the Houston hospitality scene. As an ambassador for the gin and rum categories previously, his newly formed role with Grey Goose Vodka pairs his love of spirts with fashion. A student of the small Rowlett, Texas created larger aspirations for travel and in a way, customer service. Nate studied fashion design while learning that perhaps larger horizons emerged ahead. Now years later, his work with the USBG Houston chapter and other fine cocktail establishments in Houston make him the perfect man to bring the fine tastes of Grey Goose Vodka to a larger audience. We chat tailors, travel, health, and more.

Download   Whether you say lee-sure or leh-sure, Austin's Derek Posner sets a great example on how to create balance in one's life. Developing a brilliant work ethic at the early age of 16, Derek found his social calling and talent prosper in the hospitality industry. And after a short-lived stint in baseball, the decks aligned and proved that he was going to be a long term player in this massive industry. San Francisco promises started to run down and a fortuitous chapter in Austin began to emerge. Now, a few years in, Derek works for the beautiful innovative and terroir driven vodka, Grey Goose. With a suit and a smile, we talk rock music, travel, dating, and more.  

Download   Dr. Ivan Saldana is a thinker, a scientist, an influencer, and a crazy inventor. As a safe keeper of mezcal, and plant lover, his early career may have taken him in a different direction. However, the studies abroad at Sussex full enveloped Ivan into his romantic relationship with agave. Years later, the entrepreneurial spirit took over and he helped developed the beautiful Ancho Reyes and Montelobos products. A vast personality with a vast wealth of knowledge, Dr Ivan has written the Anatomy of Mezcal which still serves as a pillar of agave education. We chat academia, children, turning 40, and more.

Download James Wallace Brown is a business savvy gent that swore by his rum and coke until a greater love came along. The Scottish-Mexican citizen appreciates people, honesty, and nature. So when the beautiful collection of Mezcal Amores met him on a fateful day, all of his passions were rolled into one reality. Coming from a deeply entrepreneurial upbringing, his family traversed many parts of the world encouraging James to become deeply adaptable. His career became just this, from one small role to another larger role, James never thought this path would lead him to world of mezcal. Now years later, James travels the world talking about the #2 selling Mezcal in Mexico, Mezcal Amores. We chat Mexico, PR, fatherhood, and more.

Download Both creative and highly analytical, Compass Box's Kerrin Egalka made the enviable shift into the hospitality world. As a computer science and art history "nerd", Kerrin tired of the day to day humdrum corporate life. With an articulate ambition and unrivaled ability to understand highly complex things, she entered the cocktail industry. She has represented some exceptional spirits, but none as bold as Compass Box Whiskey. We chat Jake Tapper, London, art, being aquarians, and more.

Download Tyler Tadej and Jonny Thompson creators and admins of the brilliant Mezcalreviews.com met each other in an interesting way and found Mezcal in an equally interesting way. Through their passion for the Mexican spirit, they have created the largest repository of Mezcal information for consumers yet. The dynamic duo has a keen eye for design and flavor of which their site shares every element of this. The dialogue about Mezcal is an ongoing one and these 2 are putting the discovery of information to the forefront of the narrative. We chat Florida, music, San Luis Potosi, and more.

Download Brand ambassador for Hendrick's Gin, Mattias Horseman found his perfect calling at the intersection of psychology and hospitality. Haling from Dorset, UK, and the son of 2 well traveled parents, Mattias embraces the many cultures of life while appreciating the human condition. His passions led him to study Psychology at the University of Chester. Here is where his work truly brought the cocktail world into his life. A few years later, the ambitious, insightful, and worldly thinker travels the US sharing beautiful drams of Hendrick's Gin. We chat boy bands, modeling, G&T's, and more.

Download Francisco Quijano, master distiller for Lunazul, has dedicated much of his life to the world of Tequila. He served as the President of the National Tequila Chamber of Producers where he worked tirelessly to promote and protect authentic Tequila values around the world. He succeeded in designating the Tequila fields of Jalisco a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, making it one of the few cultural landscapes in the world with this distinction. It is this relentless passion that makes Francisco one of the best in the business. His vast experience with production, business, and agave ultimately made him the perfect match to craft the beautiful flavors of Lunazul. We chat the Beatles, labs, Austin, and more.  

Download Carl Nolet Jr is the 11th generation son of one of the biggest spirits dynasties in the world, the Nolet's. Having crafted quality spirits for centuries, their flagship Ketel One Vodka and Nolet's Silver Gin have now emerged into yet another delicious category with Ketel One Botanical. A spirit which embraces elements of Gin and Vodka, the 3 expression represent lessons learned in flavor and how a father and 2 sons can keep the family business innovating. With a focus on flavor, health, and moderation, Carl is touring the states sharing delicious sips of Ketel One Botanical. We chat legacy, wine, family paintings, and more.  

    Download With an accounting degree in his pocket, and a guitar strapped to his back, Ilegal Mezcal's Eric Fry trekked to Antigua without knowing exactly how it would impact his life. As an aspiring drummer in Athens, Alabama, he completed an accounting degree without exactly knowing why. But as the band fizzled out and wanderlust started to take root, Eric set off into the sunset. This journey led him to the beautiful Guatemala and ultimately to sit in as a quick-stop accountant for Cafe No Se's Ilegal Mezcal Years later and a move to Texas, Eric shares the beauty of Ilegal Mezcal and has never seen a stranger. We chat drumming, Pink Floyd, agave, and more. Two extra points:

1. Please donate HERE to help the people of Guatemala in the wake of their volcanic tragedy.
2. If you ever find yourself wanting to stay in Antigua, please contact eric@ilegalmezcal.com for complimentary accomodations.

Download   Bryan Masamitsu Parsons lives a triple life. He's part engineer, part spirits educator/enthusiast, and part creator. His culmination of text books smarts and guttural passion for Japanese spirits pay homage to his rich heritage. From Florida to Austin, TX, Bryan did not expect to become one of the leading educators for Sake, but now 3 years later he's making the most of it. As the lead sake educator for Kemuri Tatsu-ya, and Ramen Tatsu-ya, it's possible he'll have to quit his day job soon enough. We chat Rad Racer, Cracker Barrel, Shochu, and more.

California native Veronica A Flores followed the expected path like many of us, but after deep reflection and introspection, went of course; a more focused and enjoyable one. With a love of people and learning, Veronica found her calling in the hospitality industry. She is now regularly accompanied by 80's movie backdrops and amazing video games behind the bar at Coin Op- Gaslamp. This is the beginning of a beautiful career. We chat divorce, desk jobs, Top Gun, and more.

A traditional Irish upbringing involves great dairy, lots of rain, and a deep connection to whiskey. For Teeling Whiskey's Niamh Cluskey, moving to Austin to share these beautiful marks was a dream come true. Studying journalism (and even having some experience with radio/interviewing herself) expanded into a deeper interest in people and places. Irish Whiskey perfectly bridged these 2 worlds of tradition and process. But as Niamh's time in the US winds down, what are the next steps and aspirations in such a lovely career so far. We chat Jack Teeling, fashion, radio voice, and more.

Musicians make the best ambassadors and for Glenfiddich's Mitch Bechard, touring around the world sharing art was second nature. Born in Scotland to Mauritian parents, Mitch was fortunate enough to spend his youth traveling the globe with his family, during which time he developed the kind of wanderlust that would become a central part of his career. Beginning in 1990, he started to take his first steps into the world of food and drink, cutting his teeth in hotel management, as well as running restaurants and cocktail bars in places as far-flung as Portugal, England, Scotland and Australia, as he traveled the globe chasing his passion for the spirits industry. We chat drumming, fatherhood, travel, and more.  

From beginning days in Portland, to traveling the United States now for Monkey 47, Pernod Ricard's Lacy Hawkins embraces the challenges before her. As a skillful beekeeper, the family business, Lacy appreciates the elements of nature in her travels, and especially in the composition of Monkey 47. We chat about western thinking, Austin, SpeedRack, and more.  

Download   It is a daunting task to master the art of Scotch maturation, but Glenmorangie/Ardbeg's Brendan McCarron is just the right man for the job. As part of a big Scottish family, Brendan flocked towards the sciences in school and chemistry became a clear winner of his interest. After time in the lab, Brendan worked with Diageo gems Lagavulin, Oban, and Caol Ila to manage production. As a new marriage began to unfold, so did opportunities in the Scotch industry. Now years later, Brendan introduces his first scotch love child Ardbeg An Oa. We chat Kubrick, soccer, Glenmorangie Astar, and succession plans.  

Download   New York native Matthew Korzelius has lived many lives prior to arriving behind the bar at The Roosevelt Room. The singing, sherry-loving, creative type has seen tragedy and rebuilding in ways that many have never experienced. Leaving the past behind and setting his sights on new creative outlets, Texas has punctuated a new chapter for Matthew as he finally enters the cocktail competition world and pursues new musical projects. We chat Springbank, Mutoid Man, love, and more.