Howard Scott Gentry’s 670-page Agaves of Continental North America (University of Arizona Press, 1982) is a seminal work in the field. Gentry included thorough descriptions of over 136 species … and identified the 11 best agaves for spirits production. Which 11 are they? And what makes them the best? You’ll have to listen to this episode of Agave Road Trip (or read the book) to find out!

Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. This episode is hosted by Lou Bank with special guest evolutionary biologist Daniel Moen.

Episode Notes

Thanks to Google Books for digitizing Jose Carmen Segura’s El Maguey (Impr. Particular de la S. Agrícola Mexicana, 1901)! The images that are used for this week’s cover and social-media posts were taken from that book.

Shout outs this episode to KFC’s Original Recipe, Traditional Juan Matador Cantina, Mezcal Lagrimas de Dolores, Gilberto Roldan, Mezcal Del Maguey, Ron Cooper, and Gary Nabhan.

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For a copita full of hospitality, check out Mezcal Palomo! Carlos Mendez Blas makes delicious spirits, some of which were distilled with cacao, coffee, and mole!

Head out on an Agave Road Trip with Finca 18!‍ ‍Greg Rutkowski will take you on his Agave Road Trip Route #2 - Raicilla de la Costa! Price includes a bottle of Paulo Rodriguez’s fabled, limited Tumbado batch!

Order beautiful spirits to be delivered to anywhere in Mexico — beautiful or otherwise — through Agave Spirits Presents!

In my quest to lower my blood pressure, I stumbled on an article suggesting that jamaica — the Mexican agua fresca made from dried hibiscus flowers — can do exactly that. So I started using that as a base for an energy drink. Which maybe mitigates the blood-pressure thing, but, anyway, that’s where I landed when I invited Linda Sullivan‍ over to talk aguas fresca.

Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. This episode is hosted by Lou Bank with special guest Linda Sullivan‍ of seynasecreto!

Episode Notes

“What to Drink to Lower Blood Pressure Quickly: These 9 Drinks May Help,” GoodRX, May 5, 2026

Agave Road Trip episode: “Does Mezcal help you hydrate?”

Shout outs this episode to Monster Rehab, Tazo Tea, Big Works, Mello Yello, Mountain Dew, Electrolit, Cocktail MD Ryan Aycock, Thirsty Whale Justin Sajda, Four Loko, Malort, Quiote Mezcaleria, Labo Fermento, Finca 18, and is/was Brewing.

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If you want to taste 24,000 acres of wild desert, get yourself a bottle of Mezcal Ultramundo!

Head out on an Agave Road Trip with Finca 18!‍ ‍Greg Rutkowski will take you on his Agave Road Trip Route #2 - Raicilla de la Costa! Price includes a bottle of Paulo Rodriguez’s fabled, limited Tumbado batch!

Order beautiful spirits to be delivered to anywhere in Mexico — beautiful or otherwise — through Agave Spirits Presents!

I've been having a lot of conversations recently with people who own brands of agave spirits. And my friends who own Tequila brands, they're a little uncomfortable with the state of the market. And then my friends with Mezcal brands, they really don't like the state of the market. Not so long ago, Mezcal was hot. Is it still cool? or is it cooling down?

Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. This episode is hosted by Lou Bank with special guest Linda Sullivan‍ of seynasecreto!

Episode Notes

Shout outs this episode to Tomas Virgen, Maguey Melate, Clase Azul Tequila, Michael Rubel, and John Douglass at Pretty Decent!

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Every time you drink El Acabo Raicilla, you’re helping to support the biodiversity of Jalisco — it’s a delicious way to help the environment!

Head out on an Agave Road Trip with Finca 18!‍ ‍Greg Rutkowski will take you on his Agave Road Trip Route #2 - Raicilla de la Costa! Price includes a bottle of Paulo Rodriguez’s fabled, limited Tumbado batch!

Order beautiful spirits to be delivered to anywhere in Mexico — beautiful or otherwise — through Agave Spirits Presents!