Cocktails as cultural bridges
I’ve heard a lot about how bartenders use cocktails as a way to introduce their guests to Mexican spirits like Mezcal, Tequila, Raicilla, Bacanora, and Sotol. And lately, I’ve also heard a little about using those same cocktails to introduce guests to the communities those spirits come from – turning the cocktail into a gateway to another culture. So I spoke with some bartenders about exactly that. Alex Dominguez checks in from Calico in New York, Matthias Ingelmann from KOL in London, Mariane Garcia from Copitas Cholula, NC Stevens from the nomadic Drinking Folk, and Aithan Shapira from MIT Sloan School of Management. It’s a globe-spanning 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
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Episode Notes
Thanks to KOL Mezcaleria and Eleonora Boscarelli for this episode’s cover photo!
When in London, visit KOL, both the restaurant and the mezcaleria!
When in New York, drop in for a drink and a bite at Bar Calico!
When in Puebla, get your cocktails on at Copita Cholula!
When you’re thirsty for some drinks education, read DrinkingFolk.com!
And when you’re aching to transform art into cultural practice, check out TILT (and watch Aithan Shapira’s presentation at the IDG Summit)!