Does transparency ruin the mystery of Mezcal?
In the December 2025 episode of his amazing podcast “The Curious Bartender,” Tristan Stephenson asks Foursquare Rum CEO and Master Distiller Richard Seale, “How important is transparency in rum?” And Richard’s answer was not at all what I expected. Close the kimono and call in Linda — we talk about the beautiful mystery of Mezcal 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
If you’re not already listening to “The Curious Bartender,” stop listening to this podcast and go check out what Tristan Stephenson is doing. When our podcast grows up, it hopes to be that. And Tristan did give us permission to run the audio of Foursquare Rum CEO and Master Distiller Richard Seale answering the question, “How important is transparency in rum?” But then I forgot to send it to Roy. Again … when (or if) this podcast grows up, it wants to be “The Curious Bartender.”
Shout outs this episode to Marco Ochoa of Gusto Historico and formerly of Mezcaloteca, Zach Jarosz of Jeppson’s Malort, maestro raicillero Paulo Rodriguez, Greg Rutkowski of Finca 18, and Sparrow, a rum bar in Chicago!
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