Alberto Espinosa is pensive, hospitable, and superbly present. He has created a style of tasting for mezcal that is inclusive, thoughtful, and above all else, connective. His two Mezcal tasting rooms (one in Oaxaca and one in CDMX) are simply called Recia. These rooms are curated with every sense in mind and feature some of the best mezcales in the world. We chat about introspection, creativity, balance, and the absence of arrogance.
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Ep 338 – Jeff Duckhorn: Standing Among The Giants
Jeff Duckhorn is the master distiller for Redwood Empire Whiskey. His career trajectory shows that sometimes if you’re crunching numbers in the back of the room, they might eventually ask you to run the still. With a deep concern for the environment, balance, and attention to detail, Jeff crafts delicious whiskey in Sonoma County, California. As the whiskey markets become even more saturated with MGP marks, Jeff flourishes with unique blends and bottled in bond creations. We chat classical music, food waste, malt whiskey, and more.
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Ep 335 – Niki Nakazawa: The Latest from NETA Spirits
Some years ago, I was able to speak with Niki Nakazawa of NETA spirits about her life, mezcal beginnings, and pop up life. Now that travel is back, tastings are back, and she makes her first trip to Austin, things are about to get good. We chat Oaxaca, rent, education, sustainability, and the beautiful town of Logoche.
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Ep 320 – Jack Murray: Once Was Found, But Now Is Lost
Jack Murray has imbued Texas with his big Irish energy. With an energetic personality, partially fueled by Red Bull sales in Ireland, Jack has helped shed light on the category of Irish whiskey. As the point person for Tully in Texas, he created staple cocktails, shots, and a mainstay for Irish whiskey behind most Austin bars. COVID shifted his gears and led to some interesting situations as an Irish person with limited status as a citizen in the US. But now, he’s back with a new brand and a new sense of purpose. Lost Irish is a beautiful whiskey that blends many global barrel components. From wine to sherry to…
