I travelled down specifically to meet up with a fellow Mezcal lover who was about to move to London and saw a great excuse to pack my bag with more than clothes and introduce Bristol to some of my products.

Crying Wolf

After reading many fabulous things about Crying Wolf I was very excited to see them! They opened their doors only a few months ago after years of running their very successful sister company The Dark Horse. Despite having been open only a short time, the first thing anyone would notice when visiting is that it has a wonderful sense of being established, as if the bar has been open for many years. Very few places have that warm feeling with a sense of home and this is definitely one of the few! Beautifully laid out and designed with excellent handcrafted woodwork, there is nothing to fault here! With excellent staff, who are visibly keen to work there and are excited about new things and exploring the world of spirits, this place is golden! They are also in the process of expanding their agave range… watch this space!

Masa & Mezcal (opening soon!)

Already having fallen head over heels for Mezcal the owners of what will become perhaps the biggest agave selection in Bristol took the time to see me and talk all about our joint passion: Mexico! We spoke for what felt like minutes but turned out to be much longer, I guess that’s simply what happens when you meet likeminded and passionate people. I have no doubt that the opening

of this venue will be one to remember, so make sure you don’t miss it!

Cargo Cantina

I’m not going to lie, by staring blankly at my gps I couldn’t find the bar, but like we all should do more often and lift our faces off the screen: Hey presto! There she was on the top floor of an awesome complex surrounded by lots of creative businesses including more restaurants and bars! Cargo Cantina is a gorgeous agave haven with some of the best tacos I’ve tasted in England. With an obvious love for all things Mexican, we of course talked and sampled and talked and sampled until I had to leave. What a gem and I can’t wait to go back!

Otomi

Otomi is a wonderful little Mexican shop where you can find all the ingredients to make your home feel like a holiday in Mexico, ranging from spirits to cooking books, from décor to actual toilet seats beautifully decorated! I couldn’t resist buying some tomatillos and blue tacos in preparation for a delicious salsa verde for when I got back home. The owners were an absolute delight and embodied the fun and happy vibe you feel when stepping in to their little haven!

Independent Spirit of Bath

My first stop in Bath was not far from the station and a wonderful spirits shop with a vast selection of spirits and craft beers. Despite dropping in without having arranged a meeting I mentioned ‘Tequila’ and their eyes lit up and I immediately knew I was welcome! The shop oozes a passion for spirits and their many masterclasses and tasting sessions prove that. I very much look forward to returning and doing a class of my own with them soon!

The Hideout

I’ve been looking forward to checking out an incredibly unique piece of history in Bath for a while and when I stepped in to the Hideout I was overwhelmed with the sense of so much ancestry.

This stonewalled underground bar used to be a meeting place for the outlaws of their day and even law enforcement wouldn’t set foot near it! The perfect spot to spend any bounty stolen from the rich! These wonderful connoisseurs of whiskey have decided it’s time to continue their success with the opening of a dedicated Mezcal hideaway! I’m very excited for this and can’t wait to see their plans in motion!

Amoeba

Back in Bristol my final destination was to meet up with fellow agave lover Rose who represents the first Mezcal I ever fell in love with: Enmascarado 54%! We met up at Amoeba which was delightful in every way imaginable and I am certain that if I hadn’t had to drive home in the morning I would not have left that night! The atmosphere was simply perfect, topped off with great staff and the hilarious messages in the loos had me cracking up throughout the evening e.g. ‘Whilst Mojitos are fantastic drinks, feel free to peruse the cocktail menu before making a decision’ or ‘Please do not drop names, bartenders are not paid to pick them up’. Unfortunately the evening had to come to an end but I couldn’t have hoped for a better way to spend it than with the awesome human beings I met that night!

I believe if you want something authentic then you need to find love for it and both Bristol and Bath are filled with some of the most passionate and eager people I’ve met on my travels so far. I have no doubt that it will grow to become a huge agave hub.

Saludos!

Jen

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Brighton Rocks

Brighton Rocks made me feel rather homesick, as it reminded me so much of our own bar ‘400 Rabbits’. Truly a ‘bartenders bar’, making everyone and anyone feel welcome. With quirky décor and banging drinks they know what they’re doing!! Without having the pleasure of staying long enough to see the bar in full swing late at night I am positive how fantastic the vibe there must be! With lovely and chatty bartenders, I was so comfortable I almost forgot why I even was in Brighton in the first place!

Plotting parlour

Just gorgeous! At The Plotting Parlour you will find such talent and skill behind each cocktail, all of which have been created in house. The setting is so comfortable, a very, very, very nice public house feel! There is character within every nook and cranny in this beautiful bar. Showing their dedication to helping the environment, they make sure everything is utilised and nothing is thrown away, so for example after juicing the fruit for their drinks they boil up the skin to then make into a chewy sweet as a garnish. Everything about this place is just fab!

Pull and Pump

When you find a bar recommended by other bars: GO!

With a backbar crammed with Agave goodness you can’t go wrong! The staff were so lovely and keen to find out more about us at Casa Agave. The lady working the bar that day gave a fantastic description of one of our Mezcals: La Medida Tepeztate. It reminded her of her favourite aunts house, who is a collector of antiques and the spirit gave her a sense of walking through the hallway and breathing in the history. I promised her I’d quote her on this as it’s one of the best descriptions I’ve heard! They even serve Sangrita and Verdita and dissuade people from the dreaded salt and lime, so for that alone I will love them forever!!

It’s lively, cosy and right in the heart of Brighton centre, a must see for any Tequila & Mezcal fan!

The Black Dove

Wherever you look in The Black Dove you will detect something new and fantastic that you weren’t expecting! I dread to think what was in the cage!! Although I arrived early and before their opening times the bartender was so kind to let me inside and sit at the bar while he opened up shop, such friendliness and openness is rather rare these days. This is, in my opinion, why we should be supporting the locals and the independents as they are out for making people happy, it’s just beautiful! I stayed far longer than anticipated but this was simply because I felt so at home, so comfortable and just didn’t want to leave my seat at the bar, chatting the poor bartenders ears off (He seemed to enjoy it!!)

Carlito Burrito

There are few places these days where an entire team is bursting with energy and passion for their work! Carlito Burritos is certainly one of those rare few. Such a pleasure to see such an exciting vibe and so much love for what I brought in with me… Just fab! The venue burst with the energy that was so visible in each of its staff, creativity pouring out of its walls, colours celebrating each corner and the music to match. Hugely recommend to anyone, whether old or young, classy or casual, its energy will flow through you!!

Twisted Lemon

Another absolute favourite would have to be Twisted Lemon!! Finding it was challenging but when you find the little alleyway you skip through it knowing you’ve found your destination and want to grab a drink to reward yourself! Twisted Lemon is one of those places you might plan to go for one or two but you stay all night! There is no escape and you will love every second as time flies by! With a backbar crammed with goodies and a passionate and bubbly team you will certainly feel spoilt!

In conclusion: What I found in Brighton was completely unexpected!

There is so much more to Brighton than a beautiful sea side. When you go down the hidden roads, talk to the locals you will find gems that you otherwise wouldn’t have known of.

With Tequila and Mezcal on the rise I am positive that Brighton will easily push it to its limits in her fair streets, through her fantastic bartenders and creatives.

Brighton is without a doubt one of the most fabulous cities I’ve come across with a great buzz.

See you soon Brighton, my new found love!

Salud, Jen

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Throughout my time in the Tequila scene I’ve heard heaps about Ojo Rojo Mezcaleria in Bournemouth. It did not disappoint! What a delightful place! The décor, the atmosphere and the selection was fantastic! It’s such a pleasure seeing people so passionate about the Mexican spirit (and spirits of course!).

They even have a book entirely dedicated to their impressive selection of agave spirits, explaining varieties, production and the individual brands. Simply excellent and would hugely recommend anyone going there! If I lived closer I would probably be a strong regular… One day, maybe!

The food was excellent too, and it is certainly not easy to find authentic dishes in England. The ceviche in particular was divine!

My next stop was Eden, fabulous little secret! They are an outside bar which can of course be covered up so you can still enjoy the outside whether it rains or shines. They have just given their backbar a little refurb too, expanding their selection of spirits. With a lovely team behind it, the bar is a must see for a cheeky tipple or two.

After being recommended to see the guys at 1812 at the Royal Exeter I took my trusty bag and introduced myself, to which I was surprised when the bartender said ‘Word is about that you are in town’! How absolutely splendid! The bar is really swish, and I felt a tad underdressed but they welcomed me with open arms and eagerly tried my offerings. Joe, who was working the bar, even made a few drinks for me using some of my products:

La Medida Espadin built with fresh lime, Tekali Almond Liqueur and topped with ginger beer and some good old fashioned angostura bitters – so easy and so good!

The second one was La Medida Espadin shaken with a dash of fresh lime, honey and yellow Chartreuse – herbaceous and delicious!

Whilst there, more and more bartenders and managers from other bars in town accrued which is always a great sign! If you fancy a well made quality drink I hugely recommend trying this gem out with a very knowledgeable team.

After meeting a chap from Level8, Skybar at 1812 I had to go see him of course. What a view! Located at the top floor of a hotel you will be greeted with not only a wonderful view, beautiful setting and a lovely team but also a nice array of spirits including a healthy dose of Tequila! But there’s never enough of the good stuff, right?

Afterwards I headed towards the beach to see the Urban Beach, predecessor of Urban Reef. Also within a hotel and as with Level8, everyone is welcome! Here I met a wonderful girl who had just come back from travelling Asia and she told me that the only thing she missed when there was Tequila! Music to my ears! She tasted, we talked, it was good! A lovely bar that makes you feel on holiday somewhere far away…

Finally my last stop in Bournemouth, or rather Southbourne, was the Larder House. Another recommendation and I will certainly recommend further and tell you all to check it out! They have a lovely Library upstairs that sends you to another time. Sit down with a book, a wonderful cocktail, created inhouse and just relax, letting the bartenders take you on a journey. What more can I say? Jim, who happily saw me, despite me dropping in unannounced, told me all about the story of the Library and the Larderhouse and was keen to learn more about the items in my little bag. Already having a vast knowledge of Agave spirits, he enjoyed my booze, which made me happy!

All in all: go to Bournemouth! What a splendid and happening place full of keen people who show real passion in what they do and can guarantee you a great night out. What’s more is that despite Ojo Rojo being the most authentic Mexican bar & restaurant in the area, I guarantee that the Tequila & Mezcal scene is booming there too, with loads of bars and bartenders insisting on a good backbar selection of agave products!

See you soon!!

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One of the first places I went to visit before Casa Agave was even properly launched was Sheffield. A city I had admired for a long time being the home of one of my absolute favourite actors since childhood: Sean Bean. It didn’t let me down. A great city that is constantly growing and becoming more and more diverse in terms of independent bars & restaurants.

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting some smashing people and hearing about their journey to opening their unique bars.

A new Mexican cantina opened early this year in the up and coming area of Kelham Island called Pina, named after the heart of agaves. When you step inside this gorgeously spacious building you will be welcomed by fabulous hosts who love Mexico as much as we do here at Casa Agave and a beautifully artistic setting with lots of bright colours and great artwork.

After grabbing one of their luscious cocktails you can wander outside to sit down and take in the holiday weather we have been enjoying before you order a taco or two… maybe three… four? They are ridiculously moreish and delicious.

Anyone wanting to try authentic Mexican dishes (vegan options available too and they are excellent!) and drinks has to go see this magical place that sends you straight to Guadalajara. Check out our La Medida Espadin and Tepeztate while you’re there. The team lovingly serve it in a jicara with sal de gusano and slices of orange, for you to nibble at while your tastebuds go wild over the incredible flavours of our Mezcal.

In Sheffield city centre there is a fantastically original bar and hidden gem that is located in converted, who would’ve guessed, the old public toilets!!

Public is just brilliant and the guys behind it have done such an amazing job with the limited space and have even managed to squeeze in a small kitchen next to the bar! Be sure to dress up for this sit-down service cocktail bar, as it sends you back to the days of speakeasys and hidden bars, not just through the beautifully smart appearance but also through the customer care, and spirits knowledge that is some of the best I have had the pleasure of witnessing. If all that isn’t reason enough to go then let it be the fact that you’ll find some of our products there, so make sure to ask for a Mezcal Margarita with La Medida Espadin!

The general manager here has even won awards including the best cocktail menu in the UK! Simply a must see!

The Great Gatsby is another great setting within the heart of Sheffield, providing a wicked atmosphere throughout the night, transforming from a chilled hang out in the afternoon to a party bar later on. They offer a great food selection and more importantly, a great booze selection!

Highly recommend stopping off and saying hi to the wonderful staff at The Great Gatsby

Having been recommended to see Cubana I had the bar set pretty high and upon arriving the recommendation couldn’t have been better! What a great bar! It has a huge range of spirits (mainly rums but we’ll have to forgive them for that, being a rum bar!), great staff, and great music.

Sheffield is definitely up and coming and certainly the place to discover new cocktails and more importantly a vast array of agave spirits and having a wicked night out!

Salud!

Jen x

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We got lost a few times driving in the centre but aside from that, what a great city! It’s always so lovely to see a close nit bartending community and where venues recommend each other and are just happy to be part of the circle.

Of those I visited some stood out with their history and style!

Starting my tour of Newcastle, I went to ‘Pleased to Meet You’ and had very high expectations, as it was recommended to me by so many friends! I was not disappointed! Such a fantastic place with so much character. The bartenders were very keen to expand in their extensive knowledge and already had a love for agave spirits, which they incorporate in their very own cocktails. Tom and his head bartender brought to our table some spirits from their backbar to compare the flavours of their existing brands and my new ones. They did not disappoint! Animas Mezcal Espadin/Papalometl was even tried and tested in a classic Martini cocktail with a twist – Apricot liqueur, Lillet Blanc and a lemon twist; lush!!

I was then introduced to the guys at ‘Lady Grey’ which was such a lovely pub! It was still cosy but had a young and fresh atmosphere which was unlike any pub I’ve visited before! A place where no one worries about the next day… I only wish that I had gone there for a night out! The only thing missing here was some 100% Agave Tequila which after I introduced them to 30-30 Blanco, they immediately loved!

‘The Mean Eyed Cat’ stood out by a mile in terms of creative expression in their whole design and layout. Such a great gem just off the beaten track with fabulous staff who genuinely care for the place and its customers! A true love for Mexican spirits is also very clear here. When travelling to the Americas the owner brings back bottles of Mezcal which sell out very quickly!

A prejudice of mine was thinking it was going to be difficult to find unique and independent bars in Newcastle (no idea why!) How much more wrong could I have been??

What on earth could be more unique than a pottery workshop within a bar and restaurant?? ‘The Kiln’ was such a beautiful place filled with creativity! The gorgeous venue showcased its own in house made creations immaculately and had a wonderful window to look in to the room where all the ceramics are made. Just stunning!

Finally, ‘The Poison Cabinet’. What can I say? An underground speakeasy behind a medieval prison door? How cool is that!! Unique cocktails made in house and brilliant art work! Their mezcal selection at the moment is fairly limited however the combo of the knowledge of their bartenders and the fact that they have their own mezcal cocktails on the menu, I believe it’s only a matter of time before everyone falls head over heels (in love I mean!)! All I can say is that I hope I don’t embarrass myself when I go back on a night out because I will be back!

All in all, I strongly believe that Newcastle is going to embrace agave spirits as the next best thing for the simple reason of their bartenders already loving mezcal and tequila. The only thing to do now is stock up their backbars with more and more variety!

Salud!

Jen x

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