Chris Simmons, National Agave Spirits Specialist for Mezcal Vago, joins us today to tell us how to pair Mezcal Vago with pretty much anything -- but especially a Charred Corn Avocado Salad with Pickled Onions! Snag our recipe here: https://littlespicejar.com/charred-corn-avocado-salad/

The Pairing: We're going complementary flavors here -- corn with corn! Vago Mezcal uses charred corn in the second distillation and those flavors will marry perfectly with several elements of our salad. Do not sleep on pairing foods with agave-based spirits! Chris claims Italian food and Mezcal work beautifully.

What Makes Mezcal Vago Special:

• American best friends Judah and Dylan traveled to Oaxaca and decided to open a beachside bar. One day, Judah had an ear infection, and ended up falling in love with his nurse, Valentina. Valentina's father Aquilino grew agave for Mezcal as a hobby. They decided to sell his wares to fellow surfers on the coast, and it became wildly popular. Mezcal Vago was born.
• Mezcal Vago has four bottlings from four different palenques (distilleries) in Southern & South-Central Oaxaca, with 4 different 'Terroirs' and village styles. Elote was the first they produced.
• Vago in Spanish means a "Lazy bum," but also a term of endearment. Think: your grandmother yelling you to come inside after dark. "Time to come in, Vago!"
• Corn adds a roundness and slight sweetness to this Mezcal Elote

Differences between Mezcal and Tequila:

• Types of Agave: Tequila and Mezcal are both agave spirits, but Tequila must all come from Blue Weber Agave, while Mezcal uses upwards of 3 dozen different agaves
• Production Method: Mezcal is a more ancient style of production, while Tequila uses more modern methods. All agave needs to be cooked or steamed to convert the starches to fermentable sugars. In Tequila we use steam in an autoclave, while Mezcal we often cook agave in underground pits heated by firewood
• Aging: Tequila is more likely to be aged versus Mezcal. Barrels were not traditionally found in most Mezcal-producing areas

Learn more here: https://mezcalvago.com/ Mezcal Vago on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mezcalvago/

Alex Lacroix, CEO & Co-Founder of Siempre Tequila, joins us today to tell us how to make his famous Mundo Paloma cocktail!

The Pairing: You're opening an expensive, aged Tequila, but you want to lose the pretense of it all. It's time to take the stuffiness down a notch by making a Mundo Paloma!

How to Make a Mundo Paloma:

• 3 ounces Siempre Rebel Cask Tequila (or any Siempre)
• Squirt Soda
• Sea salt
• Grapefruit for garnish

Directions: Pour Siempre into rocks glass. Top with Squirt soda and grind the salt into the glass. Garnish with grapefruit! What Makes Siempre Special:

• Female founder, Monica Sanita and Co-Founder Alex Lacroix grew Siempre into a successful International brand from $9000 and a credit card. They put it all on the line to build a brand around Monica’s grandmother’s lifelong agricultural experience and creating agave spirits in Mexico.
• During Prohibition, Banditos used to smuggle Tequila into Texas, but their clientele wanted something closer to Whiskey, so Tequileros started oak aging their spirits for that unique time and called it "Mexican Whiskey." Rebel Cask is a nod to that special era
• The 100% Tahona crushed, wild-fermented, agave fibers in the tank, rested in "whatever crazy barrels we can get our hands on." <--This one happens to be Bardstown Bourbon barrels!

Learn more here: https://www.siempretequila.com/

Watch Alex's Bottle-Rolling Video on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C793M6LvwHZ/?igsh=bHd6MXU5cDBjaTM=