 Back on September 19th 2019, when things were a little different, I had the opportunity to sit down with the amazing Silvia Philion, founder of Mezcaloteca. This beautiful and quaint Mezcaleria in Oaxaca Centro reminds me of a past life, a former glory, and many other emotions that are almost overwhelming. But in the midst of this feeling today, Sylvia's story is an incredible one, and I hope you enjoy the return of the podcast with thoughts of sipping beautiful Mezcal together again. We chat advertising, scalability, and the universe. 

Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G

Ep 297 - Silvia Philion: A Quiet Place

 The world of whiskey has been forever changed by Compass Box, but the brand is knocked into the stratosphere by folks like Kerrin Egalka. Good with numbers, cats, cocktails, and conversation, we chat about this interesting time and her recent experiences in Houston on lockdown. Listen for some Black Sabbath, Pickles, Nintendo, and whiskey chat. 

Ep 296 - Kerrin Egalka: Fireside Chat #3

 The world of whiskey wages on even despite the world seemingly being at a halt. In this week's chat, I sit down with one of the world's favorite whiskey men, Adam Harris. As he sits and sips some Booker's 25th Anniversary Bourbon in Houston, we ponder life, film, and what we can do to think about one's self in these times. We chat QT, Brad Pitt, Squirrels, and more. 

Ep 295 - Adam Harris: Fireside Chat #2

 The Covid19 world is new and different. So I'm taking the time out, in reverence to Social Distancing, to do some remote chats on Instagram Live. This is the first of many with my good friend Antonio Matta. He's a great bartender, and manager with an astute interest in all things agave. We chat Metal, horror, and more. 

Ep 294 - Antonio Matta: Fireside Chat #1

 It has been a very serpentine road for Cinco Sentido's Leslie Cobos. Spending much of her youth in Ciudad de Juarez and El Paso, her Mexican heritage paired perfectly with her affinity for hospitality. With a formative move to Fort Worth, the challenges of understanding American culture, learning English, and fitting into the new environment met her head on. After leaving the world of politics disillusioned by the system, an agave opportunity changed her life forever. We chat Mezcal, travel, cultural heritage, and that DJ life.... 

Ep 293 - Leslie Cobos: A Rebel With a Cause

 Dalla’s Charlie Moore has worked in many different areas of the hospitality industry, but like many others, whiskey became his true calling. With early days in Iowa and a bit of troublemaking intermixed, Charlie shuffled jobs for a bit before finally falling in love with hospitality. His love of people, learning, and structure combined perfectly to provide a larger sense of purpose. And as Dallas’ cocktail scene started to thrive, Charlie found larger and more creative opportunities. Now, as the a leading whiskey ambassador in Texas, what challenges and struggles are in store? We chat Glendronach, fatherhood, trouble, and more. 

Ep 292 – Charlie Moore: It All Works Out in the End

 Graciela Angeles Carreño is one of the leading mezcaleras in the Mezcal world. As a subject of the new film Agave: Spirit of a Nation, her motherhood is explored and her incredible mezcal Real Minero is captured with a beautiful lens. However, as the category expands rapidly, and her visibility increases, what does a notable figure from Santa Catarina Minas do with this added level of fame? We chat motherhood, sustainability, acknowledgment, and more. 

Ep 291 - Graciela Angeles Carreño - The Real Thing

 The job of an interviewer, at least a good one, is to offer up some vulnerability for your guest to hopefully encourage the same for them. It's not an easy job, but Kris Hart is the man for the job. With his successful show Whiskey Neat, and his gargantuan whiskey event the Houston Whiskey Social, what makes the man tick? The proud father was thrown into the role very young in life but now reflects on the amazing experience. Kris has united whiskey lovers, podcast listeners, and many seeking transparency in the world of spirits, but what's next? We chat QT, Destilado, FB groups, and more. 

Ep 290 - Kristopher Hart: Houston's Bourbon Socialite

 Benedicte Hardy has been representing the delicious flavors of Cognac for 30+ years. Her family has a legacy of making some of the finest Cognac's in the world. With the recent release of Hardy Legend 1863, the brand tries to modernize the elegant spirit and help bartenders get creative with Cognac. The introduction of Cognac into American culture is an interesting story, and a brilliant history lesson. We chat wine, tradition, family, and more. 

Ep 289 - Benedicte Hardy: Five Generations of Cognac

 For Noble Oak's Tom Johnson, a serendipitous moment drove him to the hospitality industry and another to bike across the country to end up in Seattle. Each chapter of his life becoming clear eventually, but there is no master plan. A thoughtful, funny, and experience hospitality vet, Tom never thought that whiskey would end up bringing him the largest opportunities yet. We chat Baby Yoda, Twitter, Trees, and more. 

Ep 288 - Tom Johnson: One Step at a Time

 Without the efforts of Compass Box creator John Glaser, the world of Whisky wouldn't be quite the same. A lover of literature and wine, John Glaser has challenged assertions about flavor and providence in Whisky. He's continued to fight for transparency in the wake of much controversy. And now, with the latest release of Myth's and Legends, he takes almost a textbook approach, but not exactly. We chat R.E.M., art, and influence. 

Ep 287 - John Glaser: Guided by Myths and Legends

 Jose Cortes of Tequila Herradura has deep roots in the agave fields. As a 3rd generation Jimador, he learned the lifestyle and pride garnered by harvesting agave. After years in the fields, his passion for learning and expanding his opportunities drove Jose into academia. His business acumen led him to learn English, receiving Tequila Expert status, and now being the director of VIP and Trade at Casa Herradura. We chat music, language, and legacy. 

Ep 285 - Jose Cortes: From the Fields to the Board Rooms

 As the first master distiller for Don Julio, Marco Cedano was just a man doing his job. As the element of celebrity has been attributed to master distillers now, his new Tequila, Tromba, brings him a whole new level of recognition. After a chance meeting with a few key Canadians, the new brand was born and his son Rodrigo became an essential piece of the plan. With astute business acumen and understanding of branding, the skills were aligned to produce a delicious Tequila. We talk about education, Texas BBQ, and quality methods. 

Ep 286 - Marco and Rodrigo Cedano: The Story of Tequila Tromba

 Amando Alvarez is a young Mezcalero hailing from the small town of Santa Maria Ixcatlán, Oaxaca. He is a 6th generation producer using very ancestral techniques. As we sit at his palenque outside of town and reflect on how the world feels about Mezcal, a simpler reality sets in. Amando does what he loves and what he knows. The balance of nature, tranquility, and community is unparalleled in this industry. We chat animals, music, and more. 

Ep 284 - Amando Alvarez: The Unique Taste of a Remote Place

 Guadalajara native Alan Ruesga-Pelayo has hospitality in his blood. As a helper with his parents social events, and a lover of conversation, the perfect stage was set for Alan to excel in the bartending community. After moving to meet his sister in Washington DC, a necessity to learn English and a great deal of opportunities in hospitality started to pave his career. Some years later, a chance meeting behind the bar led to his most recent connection with Cazadores as the new and colorful brand ambassador. We chat hosting, press, Austin, and more. 

Ep 283 - Alan Ruesga-Pelayo: When There's A Will, There's A Way

Life, limbs, booze, and personalities. SDV explores the liquor industry from both sides of the bar by interviewing the greatest personalities in the game. Although sometimes diverging into film, music, and non-booze topics, SDV is just about people with great stories. Sip, sit back, and enjoy.

hubhopper

Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G

hubhopper