NOLADrinks Show – 3-15-18 – Agave Week – Bourbon and Bluegrass

On this edition of the NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, we talk Agave Week and Top Taco NOLA. We have a series of three interesting interviews from the industry seminar and panel that took place as part of the festivities. We talk with Luis Navarro of El Tesoro Tequila, Eric Rubin of Espiritus Group and Blue Nectar Tequila, and Evan Meeker of Del Maguey Mezcal. Next up, we talk with Heaven Hill Whiskey Ambassador, Bernie Lubbers. We talk whiskey and his fun and informative presentation melding bourbon and bluegrass music!

Pictured above from left – Bernie Lubbers of Heaven Hill Whiskey and Bryan Dias of NOLADrinks.

NOLADrinks Show – 3-15-18 – Agave Week – Bourbon and Bluegrass

We start things off talking about this week’s show. We also discuss some concepts and ideas presented during the industry panel and seminar that was part of Agave Week and Top Taco NOLA. We touch on some industry trends with Tequila and Mezcal, the changing landscape in the segment, and some social issues – environmental and cultural – taking place in Mexico with agave production.

At left – Bryan Dias of NOLADrinks moderates an industry panel as part of Agave Week in New Orleans.

We then have three interesting interviews from the Agave Week industry day that took place at the Audubon Aquarium. First, we chat with Luis Navarro, Brand Ambassador for El Tesoro Tequila, who helped sponsor the event. Second, we welcome Eric Rubin of Espiritus Group who has Blue Nectar Tequila – a brand recently made available in Louisiana. Lastly, we talk with Evan Meeker, Southwest Juez (listen to hear about the meaning of that cool title!) of Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal. These are all interesting chats that touch on production, the agave segment, and ecological and social concerns with its production.

Next up, we catch Heaven Hill Whiskey Ambassador, Bernie Lubbers, right after his bourbon and bluegrass presentation that took place at Barrel Proof here in New Orleans. We talk about his fun and informative presentation that brings these two Kentucky traditions together. Bernie tells stories, leads a guided tasting, and weaves in bluegrass tunes he plays on guitar.

We talk about Heaven Hill, his background, some of the whiskeys we tasted during the presentation, and more. Bernie is a real character and a fun guy with which to chat. Don’t miss it!

We close things out with a bit more on agave production and its social consequences and what it might mean to the cost of a bottle. We also talk about next week’s show featuring the food of next month’s French Quarter Festival, and a mention of the upcoming Bloody Mary Festival here in New Orleans.

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Cheers, You All!

~ Bryan