Agave spirits like mezcal, tequila, bacanora, raicilla, and tuxca have become increasingly popular, but the vast array of choices can be overwhelming for consumers and even seasoned agave spirit drinkers. With so many different brands, labels, and varieties, how do you know which to choose? If you're curious about the rich history, diverse flavors, and [...]
© Photography: Liza de Guia We first tried a version of this cocktail at Forrest Point, one of our favorite Bushwick hangouts. The bartender graciously shared the recipe which, requiring chamomile syrup and fresh pineapple juice, was admittedly intimidating at first! We are so glad to have put forth [...]
Come sample Erstwhile Mezcal's new mezcal releases at Mexico in a Bottle in Chicago! Join us as we celebrate Mexican craft spirits, wine, food, music and art. This event is wildly popular and always sells out. Don't wait. Get your ticket here today. When: Sunday 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT, April 23, 2023 Where: [...]
Love food? Mezcal curious? Then you would enjoy our FREE guide: "8 Easy Amazing Mezcal and Food Pairings". Elevate your next cocktail party, charcuterie board, Sunday brunch, or a special date night with mezcal pairings that will tantalize your taste buds! GET YOUR MEZCAL + FOOD PAIRING GUIDE Unleash the Power of Contrasting Flavors Uncover the magic of [...]
What does Erstwhile mean? What is the story behind Erstwhile Mezcal’s logo? We get asked these questions a lot from folks who are getting to know us for the first time. I figured it is high time that I write a blog post addressing these excellent questions. WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND [...]
Did you know that the Missouri Mule was a cocktail before becoming the official state animal in 1995? Created for President Harry Truman by Joe Gilmore - renowned Head Barman of the Savoy Hotel's American Bar in London - this cocktail pays homage to Truman's home state and the Democratic [...]
Come sample Erstwhile Mezcal's new mezcal releases at Mexico in a Bottle in Phoenix, Arizona! Join us as we celebrate Mexican craft spirits, wine, food, music and art at Walter Studios. This event is wildly popular and always sells out. Don't wait. Get your ticket here today. When: Sunday, September 18, 2022, 4:00 PM – [...]
Agave Fiesta Saturday, April 30, 2022 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Hotel Congress, 311 East Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States $50 | 21+ This annual signature event showcases all things agave, including presentations, over 50 artisanal and ancestral mezcals, and agave cocktail specials. Enjoy live music from Frontera Bugalú (El Paso) and DJ [...]
Agave Fiesta VIP Borderlands Jazz Concert Saturday, April 30, 2022 6:00 PM 9:00 PM The Century Room, 311 East Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States $40 Ticket includes choice of agave inspired cocktail or neat mezcal pour (sip it, don't shoot it!) 21+ Amilcar Guevara Latin Jazz All Stars joins Diana Pinzon (Zinacantán Mezcal), Yuan [...]
W H A T Four days of impactful agave celebration W H E R E Hotel Congress & beyond in Tucson, Arizona W H E N April 28 -May 1, 2022
Come sample Erstwhile Mezcal's new mezcal releases at Mexico in a Bottle in Denver, Colorado! Join us as we celebrate Mexican craft spirits, wine, food, music and art at The Hangar at Stanley. This event is wildly popular and always sells out. Don't wait. Get your ticket today. Date and time Sun, May 15, 2022 [...]
Master Mezcalero Juan Abel Quiroz Agustín prefers to go by “Abel”. Born and raised in Santa María Sola where he still resides, Abel saved for years before achieving the dream of building his own palenque next to his house. Santa María Sola is a municipality in the district of Sola de Vega, in the [...]
Juan Hernández Méndez - our friend; Erstwhile Mezcal's partner producer; loving husband and father of four; skilled mezcal artisan from Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca - passed away on Sunday evening, September 27, 2020. We are drinking Juan's mezcal tonight to remember him. We hope you are too. Where to begin? Juan was kind. Juan was welcoming. [...]
It was winter, perhaps 2000 or 2001. I would sometimes go to Chef Waldy Malouf’s (now defunct) Beacon in the evenings for a burger and a cocktail. But the real treat was hanging out with the bartender Audrey Saunders. Audrey and I knew each other from the old AOL Online Spirits Boards where, before the [...]
https://youtu.be/u8e1AFhJ5H0 It was winter, perhaps 2000 or 2001. I would sometimes go to Chef Waldy Malouf's now defunct Beacon in the evenings for a burger and a cocktail. But the real treat was hanging out with the bartender Audrey Saunders. Audrey and I knew each other from the [...]
Welcome to the third installation of Erstwhile Mezcal’s blog series, in which I share my firsthand experiences and takeaways on Why Is Mezcal So Dam$ Expensive in the United States. In Part I of this blog series, I observed that for Erstwhile’s first shipment of mezcals from Oaxaca to the United States, our production costs [...]
Join us on Thursday 6 PM Pacific time / 9 PM East Coast time, May 7, 2020 for a Mezcal (Virtual) Tasting Party, hosted by Suzanne Henricksen and Evan Rothrock at the Crafty Cask. Suzanne and Evan launched this series of virtual tastings to support craft wine & spirits makers and small craft businesses from around [...]
Welcome to the second installation of Erstwhile Mezcal’s blog series, in which I share my firsthand experiences and takeaways on Why Is Mezcal So Dam$ Expensive in the United States. In a previous post, I observed that for Erstwhile’s first shipment of mezcals from Oaxaca to the United States, our production costs account for only [...]
Ever wonder why some mezcals cost less than $50 per bottle, and others close to $150 and more? Are the expensive bottles better? And if so, in what ways? Before entering the mezcal industry, I had these same questions. That was before my co-founder and I set forth to start Erstwhile Mezcal, an importing company, [...]
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:6] This cocktail is smooth on the palate with a touch of creaminess, smoke, medicine, and spice. The creaminess can be adjusted by substituting the hard-to-find Bogart's Bitters with more common Angostura. A note on this marvelous glass. This is a stunning late 19th century Venetian art glass coupe designed by [...]
Erstwhile Mezcal and the Princeton Club of New York are hosting an intimate evening of mezcal tasting, mezcal cocktails, and spirited conversations. This is a PRIVATE EVENT for Club members and their guests. […]
Join us at Encima Mezcal Bar, in the heart of Rittenhouse Square, for a mezcal-fueled evening of conviviality, delicious bites, and spirited conversations! Only 30 seats available. Get your ticket here today before event sells out. We are preparing a feast for you. You choose your adventure: juicy tacos, zesty elotes, or piping hot tamales, and [...]
Recently, I had a disturbing but thought-provoking experience with a discussion thread on Reddit. It occurred to me that the problems underlying my experience are not limited to the mezcal industry, and may manifest themselves in other industries as well. I want to share what happened and how I responded, in case my fellow [...]
What is the proper way to drink mezcal? This is by far one of the most common questions we receive when hosting tastings and mezcal education events. While there are no hard and fast rules – we at Erstwhile Mezcal believe you should enjoy your mezcal in any way that makes you happy – we [...]
Erstwhile Mezcal and Vintry Fine Wines in Manhattan, NYC are hosting a free in-store mezcal tasting + informal mezcal education seminar. Drop by for a chance to sample some incredible rare mezcals from Erstwhile! […]
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Last Sunday (June 16, 2019, which also happened to be Father’s Day), we made our mezcal debut at Colonia Verde’s sold-out Sunday Asado. Although the event was only three hours long, the turnout, incredible energy and all-around good vibes were free flowing and permeated Colonia’s Verde lovely Brooklyn backyard from the get-go. We had a [...]
Hello, fellow mezcal lovers! We have some really exciting news to share with you. You can now order Erstwhile Mezcal online directly from our website, and have your favorite mezcals shipped directly to your front door or to family / friends all over the country! To fully understand why this is such a big deal for us, consider Erstwhile [...]
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 16, 2019. Weather forecast predicts a perfect summer day in NYC. Still looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift? How about treating your father, or the father(s) in your life, to an unforgettable afternoon of life-affirmingly delicious BBQ, mezcal, and scintillating conversation in Brooklyn. Are you intrigued? Read on. SUNDAY ASADOS [...]
Erstwhile Mezcal and Juice Box Wine & Spirits in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn are hosting a free in-store mezcal tasting + informal mezcal education seminar. Drop by for a chance to sample some incredible rare mezcals from Erstwhile! […]
