Maguey Minis

Maguey Minis + Episode Three 

How do agaves reproduce?

In our third installment of Maguey Minis we talk reproduction! Lorena Teran Ibarra explains both sexual and asexual reproductive mechanisms. We dive deep into the ways in which challenging environmental circumstances can initiate this plant’s inherent intelligence, driving it to reproduce. 

In this episode, you will learn about the anatomy of the quiote and its inflorescence. How pollination occurs or doesn’t, and all the ways genetic clones are produced. Please please please check out the images we curated and formatted for this episode, it really helps to have a visual reference for everything we cover:)

Each Maguey Mini episode has its own web page at TUYO.NYC and includes supportive educational materials such as diagrams, images and charts. We also created a vocabulary page with a list of terms and topics used throughout this series. Please take a look and tell us what you think!

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta

Maguey Minis

Maguey Minis + Episode Two 

How do agaves grow?

In our second installment of Maguey Minis, Lorena Teran Ibarra explains the anatomy of the agave plant. We begin with the difference between monocots and eudicots and describe the latter’s particular spiral growth patterns.

We discuss the leaves or pencas of the plants and touch on some of the different morphological variations they can present. 

Did you know magueys breath at night?! We explain CAM photosynthesis and the impressive way these plants store their carbon dioxide for later use.

Each Maguey Mini episode has its own web page at TUYO.NYC and includes supportive educational materials such as diagrams, images and charts. We also created a vocabulary page with a list of terms and topics used throughout this series. Please take a look and tell us what you think!

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta

28 + Maguey Minis / Episode One 

What’s in a name?

Introducing our new miniseries all about agave plants! Joining Sabrina is our resident agave educator, Lorena Teran Ibarra. Lore is the director of Copita Project for El Buho Mezcal where she leads the regenerative agriculture and educational programs.

In this first episode, we cover the origin of the word Agave and explain the binomial nomenclature system that classifies all living things. We also introduce other names for the plant given by first nation communities in their native languages. We share some stats on how many species are used to make mezcal, and Lore describes the four new agave species recently classified in 2019. 

This is episode one of a three-part miniseries all about the agave plant. In future episodes, we will cover morphology, growth strategies as well as sexual and clonal reproduction.

Each episode clocks in at around 20 min each. Our goal was to break down the info into digestible segments. We consider this series a comprehensive introduction to the plant itself. Think of it as agave plants 101. If you love mezcal and agave spirits we hope this miniseries will make you appreciate these majestic plants even more!

We created a vocabulary page with a list of terms and topics we will use throughout this series. It includes all relative links and can be found by going to the official episode webpage.

Check out the !Hey Hey! Agave page on our website to see pictures from our guests.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta

27 + Lorena Terán Ibarra

Regenerative Agriculture in Oaxaca

Lorena Terán Ibarra is the director of Copita Project for El Buho Mezcal where she leads the regenerative agriculture and educational programs. 

Initiated by the founders of El Buho, the Copita Project seeks to replenish and preserve the balance of the natural environment while planting cultivated and semi-cultivated agaves. 

Practicing regenerative, organic agriculture in Copita Field is not a one size fits all solution. Lorena was quite candid in explaining the importance of learning from the environment and adapting to its needs. She makes a case for thoughtful and deliberate interventions and strategies. Methods that take time but ultimately produce the most beneficial long-term and positive environmental impact.  

Gabriel, our co-host, who also works with El Buho was very helpful in organizing the incredible images we posted to our website. The Valles Centrales of Oaxaca experience extreme weather throughout the year and G was able to capture images from the same areas in both the wet and dry seasons. Check them out HERE.

 

Check out the !Hey Hey! Agave page on our website to see pictures from our guests.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta

26 + Felix Hernandez Monterroza / Adriana Correa / Fred Sanchez

Agua Del Sol

Félix Hernandez Monterroza is the founder of Mezcales Cuish and Mezcaleria Cuish; he and his wife Adriana Correa are the co-founders of Agua del Sol. Fred Sanchez is the founder and managing partner of Bad Hombre Importing. 

Adriana and Felix were super accommodating in speaking with us exclusively in English, sharing the story of Agua del Sol, and Felix’s family history selling and producing mezcal in Matatlan, Oaxaca. 

We often use the word respect when it comes to the production and consumption of agave spirits. In this episode, Felix and Adriana give context to why the Maestros y Maestras are so respected within their communities and how their understanding of local plants and deep connection with nature make them much more than simply distillers of agave spirits. Our conversation is a window into the various roles Maestros play, making them a cornerstone in their communities and why Felix and Adriana believe it is important to keep these distillates affordable and available for local folks. Fred shares how Bad Hombre has aligned with Agua del Sol in its mission to promote traditional small-batch agave spirits while supporting social justice initiatives on both sides of the border.

This conversation offers us the opportunity to learn about the cultural history of these spirits, which goes far beyond production techniques and practices. We hope you enjoy it!

Check out the !Hey Hey! Agave page on our website to see pictures from our guests.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta

25 + Martha Garza Vazquez

Cuero Viejo

We are joined by Martha Garza Vazquez the COO of Cuero Viejo Mezcal, produced in the town of Nombre de Dios in the state of Durango. Martha shares the history of Cuero Viejo, a vinata and mezcal brand her father dreamed about for over 40yrs and realized in 2015. We learn about the land where the vinata is located and the spectacular environmental beauty and culture that make this region, an official Pueblo Magico. 

We discuss the fruit trees endemic to the area as well as the temperature fluctuations throughout the seasons, the natural spring water and volcanic stones found in Nombre de Dios. Cuero Viejo has experimented with a unique approach to bottling their expressions by separating out batches according to the seasons in which they were produced. This allows you to experience how the seasonal changes in the environment can influence the taste of the mezcal.

Martha shares the stories behind her family members and the talented vinateros that make Cuero Viejo possible and how they have integrated the family’s passion for mezcal with their new hotel and spa, Urajan de Luna. The spa, called Mezcalli Spa, offers Mezcaloterapia (therapies and treatments using mezcal and byproducts of mezcal) to provide a truly unique experience for guests. 

As always we have amazing pics of everything we discussed on the ¡Hey Hey! Agave page and feel free to drop us a line about topics you would like to see us cover.

 

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta

24 + Gabriela Badillo

68 Voices 68 Hearts (originally posted 11/15/20)

We are joined by Gabriela Badillo, the creator of Sesenta y Ocho Voces Sesenta y Ocho Corazones. Gabriela is also a co-founder of Hola Combo, a creative studio with a focus on animation, brand identity, and storytelling.  

Initiated in 2013, 68 voices 68 hearts is an animated series of Mexican indigenous stories told in their native language. These animated shorts are based on the philosophy that "No one can love what they don't know."

We speak with Gabriela about how she first conceived of the idea for 68 voices and how the project has developed over the past 8 years. She explains the creative process, logistics, and obstacles they face in producing each one minute short. We like to think of these animations as historical time capsules, each one preserving a story from an indigenous community in their native language, many of which are in danger of becoming extinct.

Mexico is one of the world’s most linguistically diverse nations. Within Mexico, there are 364 indigenous language subsets belonging to 68 distinct languages, which branch off from 11 language families! Nahuatl is one of the most widely-spoken indigenous languages of the Americas with approximately 1.5 million speakers in central Mexico.

We are excited to announce that a portion of the proceeds from our Cosmovision Collection will be donated to 68 Voices. However, because we are a small company and our sales are modest we encourage you to give directly if you can!

It costs $7000 USD to produce one animated short. How amazing would it be if we all contribute and help to produce one episode?!  Donate directly using paypal + Make sure to mark your donation in USD (not MXN) and write hey hey agave in the notes +

Check out the !Hey Hey! Agave page on our website to see pictures from our guests.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta

23 + Asis Cortés

Mezcal Family History

 

We are pleased to welcome Asis Cortés to the show. Asis comes from 6 generations of Zapotec mezcal producers and maguey cultivators in Matatlan, Oaxaca. This podcast is an excellent opportunity to learn about the history of mezcal culture and production from the perspective of a person whose family has been producing since the 1840s.

Asis has been involved in several mezcal projects over that past 15 years. Many of them you may be familiar with: Agave Cortés, Nuestra Soledad, El Jolgorio, and Origen Raiz. Asis is also the founder of Mezcalogia, Ofrenda Oaxaca, Puro Burro Sunset Bar and the branding agency, Stratos.

This conversation highlights his latest project Mezcal Dixeebe. A collaboration with his father Valentin, developed to honor their ancestors and amplify the connection between agave plants and their culture.

Asis explains how the introduction of adulterated mezcal in the 1980’s and ’90s created a serious problem for his family and other mezcal producers in the region. This proved to be a devastating and protracted event for the communities in and around Oaxaca and caused his father to stop producing mezcal for a time. Adulterated mezcal also called Conejo (rabbit), was mezcal that was altered by adding non-agave spirits or worse, synthetic materials, pushing down the price, and making it very difficult for authentic producers of 100% maguey distilled mezcal to sell their product. This is one of the events that instigated the creation of the D.O and N.O.M and eventually the CRM.

We cover many topics as they relate to Asis’s experience as an entrepreneur, brand developer, mezcal educator, and prolific advocate for preserving his culture, the culture of mezcal. This is a podcast not to be missed!

 

Check out the !Hey Hey! Agave page on our website to see pictures from our guests.

 

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta

21 + Rion Toal

Maestros del Mezcal

 

Rion is a co-organizer of the civil association Maestros del Mezcal in Oaxaca. He is the host of the podcast of the same name, Maestros del Mezcal as well as the founder of Of Spine and Vine an importer and distributor of rare beverages.

 

We discussed how Maestros del Mezcal promotes and advocates for the protection of traditional mezcal in Oaxaca and the surrounding states in Mexico. This social project has been in existence for over two decades but was officially formed in 2009. The association provides financial and technical support to producers to help improve their palenques, replant agave in danger of extinction, and reforest trees used for fuel in the production of mezcal. They also hold public tasting events that promote traditionally produced mezcal and are importing some of these expressions under the label Maestros del Mezcal.

 

The association is behind the proposition “Ley de Desarollo Sustentable de Maguey-Mezcal”, which is a proposed law aimed to manage all aspects of traditional mezcal production in Mexico. Currently in preliminary stages within the governmental process, its scope would essentially supersede the CRM and put in place new standards for the regulation of traditional mezcal as defined by the proposition. 

 

Rion has been living in Oaxaca since 2009. His vast knowledge of agave plants in the region is remarkable, we learned so much! Of particular interest is the species called Lyoba, which is predominantly found in the Tlacolula region and is commonly referred to as “coyote”. We also discussed the map he created that depicts the agaves endemic to the regions of Oaxaca. He’s working on making a print version available - in the meantime, you can see it here.

 

Please check out the Hey Hey Agave page on our website where we post links to topics we covered as well as images that our guests provide.

 

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

 

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta

21 + Salvador Picazo Chavez

La Luna Mezcal

Salvador Picazo Chavez is the founder and President of Puente Internacional and the founder of La Luna Mezcal and Gustoso Aguardiente Rum, both produced in Michoacán, Mexico.

This is the first interview we have had with a producer from Michoacán but definitely not the first conversation about the State and the mezcal produced there. Michoacán is a rich and fertile region of Mexico, where most of the Avocados consumed in the US are grown. It is home to a vibrant culinary tradition and has a history of sugar cane distillation and mezcal production. 

Chava’s story and the story of La Luna is a coming home of sorts. Chava was born in California and raised in Sonoma. His father grew up on a farm in Cotija, Michoacán and his mom is from Ecatepec, Estado de Mexico. Chava was drawn back to his Father’s home town and inspired by the potential he saw within his family and his network of friends to create a brand of mezcales that would express the specific terroir of the region. 

Chava explains La Luna’s evolution from purchasing distillates from one producer to building vinatas and distilling with his own team. They are currently building vinatas in Indaparapeo, Cotija and Etucuaro. We discuss the different production styles, which vary among their vinatas. We learn about the agaves of the region, both silvestre and cultivated, and discuss what the future holds for La Luna.

Check out the !Hey Hey! Agave page on our website to see pictures from our guests.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta

20 + Niki Nakazawa & Leonardo Comercio

Neta Spirits / PM Spirits

We have two guests with us for this installment of the pod. Niki Nakazawa co-founder of the Agave Spirits Brand NETA and Leonardo Comercio of PM Spirits, an importer and distributor of small-production distillates made by artisan distillers from around the world.

Niki has lived in Mexico for the past 12 ½ years and has been involved in several culinary and spirits driven projects. In this conversation, we learn how Niki fell in love with agave spirits early on in her life and how her friendship with Max Rosenstock led them to bring Neta to the US market. 

We discuss how Max and Niki have built and developed their relationship with the cooperative of producers they work with called Grupo Productor Logoche from Logoche, in Lachigüizo which is a town outside of Miahautlan, Oaxaca. The group is composed of immediate and extended family who are mezcaleros and agave growers.

Leo tells how he was introduced to the brand and how PM came to import Neta, which is bottled as an agave spirit. We discuss PM Spirits' commitment to sourcing artisanal handcrafted spirits from around the world and their philosophy on how they build their portfolios. 

Finally, we touched on the different expressions Neta offers and specific production practices that make these spirits very special indeed.

 

Check out the !Hey Hey! Agave page on our website to see pictures from our guests.

 

¡Hey Hey! Agave is dedicated to all things agave. Join us for conversations with industry experts, enthusiasts, producers and educators as we discuss the fascinating world of agave spirits.

¡Hey Hey! Agave is a podcast from TUYO NYC

Music: @milagroverdebk

Editing: Brittany Prater

Production: Sabrina Lessard and Gabriel Velazquez Zazueta