Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Mexico
My life is pretty special, not only do i live somewhere that allows me, if not celebrates me drinking at all hours, early, late, morning, early morning, all morning - also my best friend in life happens to be my wife. She is my true blood, my “buddy”, my love and some nights (all nights) most importantly, my drinking partner. Alot of fellas have their group of guys to hang out with, and that is not to say I don’t have some great male friends. I just really do most my drinking at home ( I am a family drunk, after all), with my wife, and with my own bottles (who can pay bar prices!?). That’s me.
When hangin’ out with Mark Holt at the S.F.T. Tequila bar, and the great folks behind Taste Tequila.com, Scarlet and Grover, we got to discussing what is a good Tequila to drink with your buddies. Your pals. Your “Compadres” as we say here in Mexico. This is what Mark and I (great buddies, I must say) thought. Enjoy!
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Love, Mark Alberto Holt, Mexico, My Friends, the S.F.T. Tequila Bar
More fun and frivolity with TasteTequila.com at the S.F.T. Bar in Sayulita, my town by the Sea. Grover and Scarlet shot this great video about what’s the best Tequila to pair with food, and posted it on their great Tequila site, and you can see it and their site HERE.
In my humble opinion, what Tequila goes best with food? All Tequila! I personally always loved to read about the old drunks that never ate, they drank their meals, and liked it. Here is my “on Camera” opinion.
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Drinking partners, Mark Alberto Holt, Mexico, My Friends, My life, Tastings, mezcal, raicilla, tequila, the S.F.T. Tequila Bar
Another rockin’ time at the S.F.T. Tequila bar here in Sayulita. More fun with Grover and Scarlet from TasteTequila.com, at the end of the day, with the famous skull and crossbones coke bottle booze (see my posting where we previously reviewed the Raicilla from this very same bottle HERE). In this bottle is Raicilla, a variation on the theme that is Tequila, but more like Mezcal’s ugly little illegal sister. This is real Mexican moonshine, so young it makes YOU cry like a baby, and is straight from the still. Rumor has it, too much of this will make you blind. Just when I thought was starting to see things clearly… This concoction is bought and sold, and often enjoyed on the side of the road, also where you may be found after drinking too much. It tastes like something worth putting in an old plastic coke bottle, but gets you real high. Check it out, and get some if you can, if only for the experience.
Mark, Grover, Scarlet and Me behind the camera…no coincidence that I did not take a shot… and I drink anything!
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Mexico, Tastings, tequila
One thing I love about my life (being an Alcoholic), is that I get to meet lots of other great people with similar interests (Alcoholics), and talk (drink) with them. I have lots of great drinking pals in my town of Sayulita Mexico, main one being my wife and prime-enabler Andrea, with my sober home-boy Maximo a close second. When at the bar, I hang with Mark Albert from the awesome S.F.T. Tequila Bar, and recently we got to pour-sip-pour with some new friends, Grover and Scarlet from the sweet Tequila site TasteTequila.com. They know their Tequila like crazy, and are super cool cats to boot. They had just gotten married in near-by Tlaquepaque, and have the neatest Tequila themed-fueled wedding you could imagine, agave replacing all the basics trappings of tying the knot - these guys are real people, real drinkers, and are a true example of a Tequila Romance! cheers!
Anyhoo, Grover and Scarlet naturally love the
S.F.T. Tequila Bar, Mark and Sayulita, and stopped by to shoot some segments for their their website. I, being in the right place - right time - right bar… always, was lucky enough to be asked to hang out - and awesomeness, hilarity, and heavy drinking ensued. One conversation that kept popping up was Patron Tequila, and how we didn’t think very much of it. I personally can totally enjoy a big, fat, heavy glass of most any tequila, so you know I can enjoy Patron. The drunk in me, which is the real me at 2am, loves Patron. I love that it’s pricey, I love that people want to drink it, and I love that I don’t get to drink it often, so that = fun. The Tequila snob in me wants to rant and rave about the Americanization of Tequila, Paul Mitchell’s pony-tail, and, well, blah blah blah. Whatever. Who cares what I say? Patron is easy on the mouth, and people love that. It’s not that I do or don’t drink it because of that - I don’t drink it mostly because it costs $90us a bottle in my neck of the woods, and may cost even more in yours. Look…I am a drunk, not a rich drunk. There is a huge price distinction between those two levels of lifestyle. Whatever. I love em all, but if ya can choose, and I sometimes can, I don’t buy Patron. TasteTequila shot this awesome vid of Mark, owner of the S.F.T. going off on the topic here - check it out now!
Then… things got silly. Deep in the heart of dark-sunshine (?) that is the Mexican coast we call Sayulita, at the S.F.T. Tequila Bar, I pulled out my crappy 1984-meets-2007 bullshit camera, and shot this shaky-oldmanwhosdoneonetoomany-cam drink-thing. Never forget…the Journal ain’t pretty.
Enjoy?
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Ed Schwartz, wine
My good friend and drinking partner Ed Schwartz is a wine man from way back. He drinks wine, he writes about wine, and he knows his stuff. Here is a recent story he did about Wine in Mexico.
I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy task and it wasn’t. I had some basic directions, but it was at night and I was in a new town and might get lost. The thought kept coming back to me—what will I do when I get there? Will I blow it and come back empty handed? Will I be a flop at what I know best? Will I humiliate myself? I was starting to get nervous but I tried to reassure myself that it would all work out. Or, maybe not.
Finally after a few wrong turns I arrived. The place was open; that was a break. I stepped through the door and a soon wave of panic swept over me. The moment of truth.
Oh, I should tell you where I am—in a wine shop in Sayulita. We have a house there and we’ve invited some people for dinner the next night. I know they like wine, so I am getting some bottles.
The store is new and it is lined with many bottles of wine. I walk up and down the aisles and soon come to the conclusion that I have never seen or heard about any bottle of wines in the shop. Nada. Still, no problema—I’ll get some help from the nice salesman over there at the register, reading a book and totally ignoring me. I walk up to the salesman and ask him in my halting Spanish if he speaks English. He says he does. No problema. Now I ask him the 64 peso question. Does he know anything about wines and if so, could he make recommendations? He gives me a very blank stare and tells me he doesn’t know anything about wine; he drinks beer and, on top of that, he just started working there two days ago, but his boss, who does know about wine, will be there in a few days.
Si, problema–now, I am panicked. Hopeless, hapless, helpless. I need the wine now, as in for tomorrow. What to do? Suddenly, it comes to me. Take my own advice. Stop sweating and start sipping.
And that, dear sippers, is what I did. I know I like Sauvignon Blanc, so I bought five different bottles, none of which I ever heard of before. I would open all five bottles and see which one I’d like the best.
And, like all good wine stories, this one had a happy ending. Four of the bottles were good, but one was great! It was a Santa Digna reserve Sauvignon Blanc from Chile . Nice intense flavor, fresh, fruity, aromatic and very clean. It’s from the Torres Vineyard, grown near the banks of the Guaiquillo River . $9 bucks for this beauty. The next day, I bought six bottles of the Santa Digna. My guests thought I had picked the perfect wines. Once again, I had saved my shaky reputation as a wine writer, even south of the border.
- Ed Schwartz
Ed Schwartz has been involved in many aspects of fine wine for 30 years and has worked with top wineries in California, Italy and France. His writings on wine, food and travel have appeared in the SF Chronicle, LA Times and Image magazine. He currently is the PR Man for our very own S.F.T. Tequila Bar in Sayulita.
Tequila in a can - el Jimador’s “New Mix”
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Mexico
Me. On a boat. After way too many “New Mixes”
El Jimador is a pretty well known Tequila brand here in Mexico, the name standing for the what the master harvester of Agave plants for the production of Tequila are called. El Jimador is distilled by Casa Herradura (meaning “Horseshoe”), another famous name in Tequila, and has been around successfully for 14 years. Recently El Jimador began producing a ready-to-drink Tequila cocktail in a can called “New Mix”. Simply, Tequila in a can, mixed with some sort of flavored nightmare. The idea of the whole thing kinda makes me go a big floppy, but I knew that someday, in the name of the advancement of Alcohol related studies, I may come upon a can full - and though I never really dug the “Smirnoff Ice” craze, surely someone can dig up a picture or 2 of me downing Bartles and James years back. We all have skeletons, yo.
We took a great day out on the ocean with some friends recently and I was presented with the opportunity to study New Mix up close, and in large quantities. New Mix comes in a delightful alcoholic cornocopia of flavors, including Paloma (like grapefruit soda), Margarita, Spicy Mango Margarita, and Vampiro (kind of Bloody Mary-ish). I had the pleasure of enjoying large quantities of “Charro Negro“, a mix of Tequila and spicy Cola. It means “Black Cowboy” - Really. Deeelicious.
Look, we were out on the ocean, on a great boat with friends, and the drinking started at 9am. With that said, New Mix is like soda-pop for the A.A. crowd. You don’t feel like you are drinking a bunch of tequila, can after delicious-too sweet-sticks to your teeth can, but you are, and they are sure to catch up with you. Mind you, I am no kid here - we had a flask flowing strong sips of Centenario Plata between soft-drinks, and cold Bohemias and Modelos filling the cooler - but my Cola-like Tequila cans were the “fun” of the cooler, even if I probably won’t drink any again soon.
the S.F.T. Tequila Bar (in honor of our hometown bar)
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Drinking partners, Mark Alberto Holt, Maximo, Mexico, My Friends, My life, bartenders, the S.F.T. Tequila Bar
Mark Alberto and Yours truly behind the bar at the S.F.T., beholding and be-drinking the new batch of beauties!
My hometown bar, my fave haunt, my watering hole, the wood upon which I sit and drink, not to mention the best new international top shelf Tequila bar in Mexico (if not the world…) - the S.F.T. Tequila Bar - has re-opened after a long, dry summer. Well, I haven’t been dry, that is for sure, but I felt dry without my fave bar open. In Sayulita, things close for a well deserved break after a long, hard tourist season, and the S.F.T. is no different. Monday Mark Alberto Holt, my homeboy and fave bar-owner/Tequila obsessive, re-opened the font, and life is good. On the first day open, I took my boy Maximo for a walk and took up our seat at the bar. Things were good and right again in the world.
THE ONE AND ONLY S.F.T. TEQUILA BAR, SAYULITA MEXICO
One Day at a Time…
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Mexico
12 steps my ass… 12 steps to my ice box
Mark Alberto Holt and The World International Tequila Conference
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Drinking partners, Idol worship, Mark Alberto Holt, Mexico, My Friends, bartenders, events, tequila, the S.F.T. Tequila Bar
(L to R) Mark Alberto Holt, the Fiend (me!) and Son, Maximo Lobo
I met Mark Alberto Holt in 2004 when we hired him and his restaurant, Sayulita Fish Taco, to host our rehearsal dinner for our wedding in Sayulita. We had heard from local friends of this great guy, full of life and character, and the wonderful restaurant run by him and his wife Dora. Mark and Dora not only showed us all an amazing night, but took our hearts with them as they fed us and made friends of us forever. Mark ended the night giving Andrea and I rustic iron stars that matched the tattoos I have on my forearms - which we took home to San Francisco, hung on our wall, and never forgot the night and kindness. Time passed, and when we moved back to Sayulita full time in 2006, we wasted no time in looking up Mark. Not only did he remember us, but welcomed us warmly as if we never left, and truly made our new home feel like just that - home.
Over the last 4 years, we have had the honor and joy of becoming great friends with Mark and his family, and always having safe haven in his restaurant and bar. Earlier this year, Mark opened the super-awesome S.F.T. Tequila Bar, my bar away from home. Mark ended his first great season with over 250 bottles on the wall, and a line of fans waiting for his October 5th re-opening. Luckily, I always have a seat to pull up there, and if I bring my son, there is a high chair with his name at the bar as well. Only in Sayulita!
I love Tequila, but I am honestly obsessed with all alcohol - thus the wonderful title given to me by all living things - “el Alcoholico” - has a nice ring to it, no? Like something you could have clubs or meetings around - anyway, Mark is not like me, but a freak of another flag. He is obsessed with Tequila. The bottles, the labels, the flavors, the makers, and all it’s glory. God bless ‘em. Last week he went to the World International Tequila Conference in Guadalajara and was kind enough to write a special report for the Sayulita Tequila Journal about it below. Enjoy!
(above) Mark Alberto Holt, Jimador!
The World International Tequila Conference - an on location report from the one and only Mark Alberto Holt, owner and proprietor of the S.F.T. Tequila Bar, Sayulita, Nayarit Mexico - September 13-18, 2009 Guadalajara, Mexico
“Conference” – (noun) a meeting for consultation or discussion:
This was no typical Sunday. I was up at the crack of dawn to catch the Pacifico Bus to Guadalajara. I thought I would sleep a bit, but the anticipation was acting like a triple espresso shot as the plush, precious cargo carrier wound around the curves toward Guadalajara. Figuring I couldn’t beat it at this point, I managed to slip on my Sony Studio headphones and play some classical music. Ok, it was Metallica - S&M with The San Francisco Symphony. Close enough I guess.
Arriving to Guadalajara was like my Spirit coming home. This Conference was falling into place every step I took. As soon as I walked in the hotel lobby, I met David Ruiz the Organizer, and family member of Tres Mujers Distillery. David was not unfamiliar with my history. In fact he has eaten at the Sayulita Fish Taco Restaurant before and constantly asked me for my secrets throughout the event. I was first asked to participate in July after I had contacted David on the possibility of starting my own label. He knew the success I‘ve had and encouraged me to come participate as a sponsor for the first World International Tequila Conference.
That evening was a grand Reception for the 30 or so involved and invited to participate at this very prestigious event. The fiesta took place at the Tequilas del Señor in Tlaquepaque. I personally met Manuel Garcia Villegas, the owner and Director General of the Distillery. Don Manuel gave me a private 1 on 1 tour of the cellar where he holds 100 barrels of the 12 year Herencia Historico Tequila. This is one of my personal favorites. I must have had 8 glasses that night of the Historico.
For the next 5 days I experienced lectures and workshops from experts within the Tequila Industry.
Lora Baker, Deputy Council along with Vice Consul Christopher Elms for the US Dept. of Commerce International Trade office. The two spoke on Import and Piracy protection.
Francisco J. Soltero Jimenez, Director General the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT) discussing the increasing demands for tequila in the world. The CNIT has offices around the world promoting and guarding the exported Tequila Industry. Their Mission: To be the highest institution in Mexico and worldwide to promote and to protect the values of Tequila as Mexico’s most Prestigious and Representative Spirit.
Carlos Camarena, Tequila Master Distiller Tequila Tapatio. Don Carlos is the Rebel of the tequila industry. His El Tesoro de Don Felipe brand has won award after award. Still Don Carlos main inspiration is his passion for tequila making. This Master incorporates total copper stills and one of the last operating Tahona stone, for crushing the Agave to extract the juice for fermenting. These and other old world techniques make for the true masterpieces.
Tres Mujeres Fermentation process - the soup of the soul
Miles Karakasevic is a 12th generation Grand Master Distiller from Yugoslavia who now has Charbay distillery in Napa, California. Miles is an expert in almost all aspects of the Spirit and Distilling World. He is a very serious gent with a highly intellectual since of humor. I watched him on numerous occasions, in frustration; lower his intellect to normal standards to get his point across. He knows the science and total process from the agave plant to the tequila distribution. He has also just releasing his own Charbay Blanco tequila. A total balanced tequila from start to finish.
The group piled into 2 white passenger vans for 2 ½ days of traveling. First stop, the CRT Headquarters. The Consejo Regulador del Tequila, was a rare stop because it is not open to the public. We were escorted to the CRT World Conference Room to be briefed on the functions within. The Tequila Regulatory Council (in English) oversees the total world of Tequila and sets the standard on the quality of which the contents within the bottle may claim the name of Tequlia. I saw later in the Labs, soil samples being tested for environmental studies from distilleries locations. Other Scientists were working on DNA samples of new Tequila wanting to hit the market. And after all the Labs, the CRT threw us our own reception on their private rooftop terrace. In other words …more Tequila.
For 1 full day we traveled the Tequila Trail. Along Jalisco’s Tequila Trail, more than 146 registered distilleries produce 50 million gallons of the liquor a year. Our first stop is Tres Mujers. This family ran Distillery still finds a way of producing som pretty good Tequila. I spent most of my time in the fields and around the the brick Hornos or the ovens where the agave is steam cooked. I got right in there to lay a hand with the workers loading the 25 pound half agave piñas in the horno.
Next we traveled into the town of Tequila. Winding around other huge distilleries down streets of Obsidian to the back of Tequila where Distillery El Tequileño rests. We saw the Beautiful Copper Stills and there proto type Compost Facility that uses their waste water to cool and break down the used agave fibers. The end result was mind blowing. Totally natural, high mineral compost made with an environmentally safe water system. I am not an expert at all on this but from what I understand, this will be in effect with all distilleries by 2012. After viewing the Compost Facility, we had another reception with 1 of my favorite Tequilas El Tequileño Gran Reserva Especial Reposado. If you know the SFT TEQUILA BAR then you know I sell a ton of this tequila.
On day 5 we were in the Highlands. 1 ½ hours outside Guadalajara we climbed to over 7000 feet. On the way up to The Highlands, we past the prisonlike Distillery of Patron. Its high fences and unwelcoming and unmarked front entrance make for a secret weapons plant more than the leading maker of tequila. They are though employing over 1400 people in this plant. We continued on to 7 Leguas, where owner Juan Fernando Gonzalez de Anda was our host. I tasted the first distilled or Ordinario right out of the still. It was warm and sweet. Next the double distilled 55% Forte Blonco. Then upstairs to a formal tasting of the entire 7 Leguas brand. The tasting included the $100+ bottle of D’Antaño Extra Añejo. Don Juan later invited the group to his personal restaurant for… yes another reception and more D’Antaño Extra Añejo.
Last Distillery was in Arandas where we past the Famed Cazadores Distillery and traveled off the beaten path to Tequilas Tapatio and the Home to El Tesoro de Don Felipe. Again Carlos Camarena Greated us with open arms and warm hand shakes. Seeing his prosess was a lot different. Don Carlos’s passion is so overwhelming that I fell madly in Love with his operation. We walked and talked about his Rebel ideas within the industry. He believes in the purity of Tequila but appreciates the science to change it too. During a tasting of an unmarked bottle of 7 year extra añejo, I mentioned to him that I love his Paridiso Extra Añejo and have just got into the 70 Aniversario. This brought a sparkle to his eyes as he proceeded to tell the story of the 70 Aniversario Extra Añejo
This is from the web site that tells it best. “El Tesoro 70 Aniversario was made from agave harvested in 2000 by Carlos and his late father. The typical sugar content of blue agave lies between 30-33%. This agave had the highest sugar content of any of the plants they had ever harvested, 37% — we had to do something special with it. Was it a coincidence that the distillery was built in 1937 and the agave had 37% sugar content? Was it a coincidence that if we aged this tequila for 7 years longer than any other tequila is aged that it would be ready for the distillery’s 70th anniversary on 7/7/07? What is certain is that this tequila is truly unique and special.” http://www.eltesorotequila.com/products/aniversario
On the last day, two Attorneys spit out the overwhelming legalities of the biz. I think this should have been done in the earlier part of the conference rather then near the end. My brain was still working on processing the unnamed 7 year extra añejo from the day before thanks to Carlos Camarena.
Why did I join this 6 day, World International Tequila Conference in the first place? I am being driven by the force of which Tequila is. No other Spirit takes the amount of time to wait for its crop. And the world and I wait patiently while the Agave matures 8-12 years. Distilled and wait again as the Nectar of the Gods rests in its oak cocoon. Finally, the tequila is bottled and if its luck, will sit proudly in Collection Rooms like the one I have. Time slows down as there’s waiting again for that special person to appreciate the complex life journey of the contents within. I have seen the magic first hand. I live in a world of Tequila Fantasy that has been laid out in front of me just like the road to Vallarta. But this road is leading me and millions more to Tequila Ecstasy. I may have my own Tequila Label in the future and I may open my doors and let my friends sit and sip the Nectar of the Gods with me and then call it a day. I don’t know much about the others who attended this Conference, but what I do know rests in my heart. I Love You Tequila, until the day I die.
Mark Albert, at the heart of it all - Guadalajara
Tequila and Bourbon - 2 great tastes that taste great forever
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Bourbon, Drinking partners, Love, My Friends, Tastings, USA, Wisdom, tequila
“When I die, may the devils dancing on my grave have hearts full of fancy, songs full of madness, and glasses full of Bourbon and Tequila, spilling down onto the dirt above me.” - Me, today Sept 10 2009
My Father-in-law, the honorable Billy Stoops (Blues madman and soul-twangin’ leader of Junkyard Jane and Billy Roy Danger and the Rectifiers) came for a visit recently, and as he is known to do, he brought 2 things - love and liquor. While the love lasts the longest and is best for body and soul, the liquor happily kept our glasses from floating away, while making our heads and hands heavy with easy-livin’. Billy is our godfather of Bourbon, the Master of the Mash, the Boss of the small batch, and has (with his daughter/my wife), taught me all I know about Bourbon, one of my most beloved liquors. Billy and Andrea hail from Kentucky, the birthplace and home of Bourbon, also known as American Whiskey. 95% of the world’s Bourbon is produced in Kentucky, the liquor itself named after Bourbon County, Kentucky. As far as I can tell, everything that comes from Kentucky is fucking awesome, trust me. Much like Tequila, there are exacting standards to the production of Bourbon, and many great distilleries lead to a variety of amazing product that us addicts can spend many a long, blurry night enjoying.
During this last visit, Billy treated us to a wonderful new bottle - Noah’s Mill Small Batch Genuine Kentucky bourbon “Handmade in the hills of Kentucky” (can you hear banjos playing?) - Deliverance jokes aside, this is an amazing bottle, bottled by hand, and lovingly allowed the time necessary to mellow this strong drink. Aged in wooden barrels, this bottle will shake your foundations at 57.15% alc./vol. (114.3 proof). It is also a surprisingly dark Bourbon, and as I poured my most recent glass, I could not help but ponder my own black soul in liquid form. Brown sugar on the nose and evil on the mind, I savored the dried fruit and spices blessed upon me. Good stuff. You will not find this sort of character and elegance in a younger bourbon, which reminds me of Billy as well. There ain’t no kids with a soul like my pop! I loved this sipper, every glass reminds you of the magic of Bourbon, and always of good times spent with Billy. This is in small batches and not endless, so if you see it, buy it. It retails at not-the-cheapest / not-the-priciest $36.99us.
When Billy is around, all things fall in line, the stars align, and often we end up on our backs. We stayed upright this time, but the cosmos were with us - as we were at the local blood bank (Liquor store) stocking up on my lifeblood, we randomly picked up a 2 pack of a Tequila we had never heard of before, called Factor 40. In all honesty, this purchase was purely a “more bang for your buck” buy, as 2 (corked no less) bottles of white and reposado for around $15us is a deal, and we drink like fish in my house. You sometimes just need good filler booze to keep ya going. What a surprise we received when we busted open the Factor 40 Reposado and found within a beautiful, dark, very bourbon like liquor. Very woodsy, refined, and full of spice and cinnamon. What really shocked us is that this Tequila tastes like a good Bourbon! No joke, even our master of ceremonies, Billy Stoops, could not believe it was Tequila. Far out. The Factor 40 Blanco is a bit more up my alley for casual sipping, and we have enjoyed quite a few bottles of this lately. Find a cheap and enjoyable bottle/box today.
Billy rounded out his gift basket with 3 (yes, 3!) bottles of Hendricks Gin, which you may remember I worshiped over in a recent posting. Damn, I love this Gin. It is just too much, and I wish the bottles had a never ending supply inside, instead of the 2 night duration I seem to get out of them. Oh well, when you are knee deep in the sand, nothing lasts forever. Now weeks after his visit, I have half a bottle of Hendrick’s left, half a bottle of Noah’s Mill, and a pile of great memories… You can’t buy those off a shelf.
Hendrick’s Gin Martinis, with my 2 role models: (L to R) the Fiend (me), Marcelo Villarrubia (My Dad), and the Little Devil himself, Billy Stoops
“Don’t Try”
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Bukowski, Drinking partners, Idol worship, Love, My life, Uncategorized, Wasted..., Wisdom, bum wine
“The nine-to-five is one of the greatest atrocities sprung upon mankind. You give your life away to a function that doesn’t interest you. This situation so repelled me that I was driven to drink, starvation, and mad females, simply as an alternative.”
—Charles Bukowski, Sunlight Here I Am: Interviews & Encounters 1963-1993, 2003
My drinking life leads me down many varied paths - emotionally, musically, artistically, and literary. My bookshelf is weighed down with a thick collection of books that focus around drinking, addiction and leaving it all behind for a better or worse life - tales of those that have lived a life stiffened up with a strong drink and other good medicines. These are the people who’s stories have made me on some occasions feel more normal, inviting me to be part of a larger group that matters somehow. In other occasions, they have given me support to keep on the semi-straight and narrow with their tales of lost ways. Most often, they have inspired me to stay true to who I am, to what I love, and to enjoy life for what it is…wonderful, and sometimes more wonderful with a drink in hand. Recently in these literary wanderings I have found my ideal example of a writer, and his name is Charles Bukowski.
“Some people never go crazy… what truly horrible lives they must live” - Charles Bukowski, Barfly (script) 1984
If you know Bukowski, you love him or hate him. I love him…ALOT. His words offend and are raw to the eye, and one cannot deny their honesty. He is known for being soft spoken and caring, an odd coupling to how his writing comes across. This all is what has brought me to reading and writing about him. A German-American Poet, novelist and short story writer, he is best known for his gritty, true-life, autobiographical tales based in his home city of Los Angeles - Bukowski’s writing is grounded in his love of Alcohol and Women, and his honest representation of the ordinary lives of the downtrodden American. Time Magazine called him a “laureate of American lowlife“, a title any of us could be proud of. His career was kick started with the 1971 novel “Post Office“, an ode to the drudgery of work, followed by an incredibly prolific career of writing - 6 novels, hundreds of short stories and more poems than one can count. This is not someone who fell naturally into fame, but stumbled into it while just living his hard life. As the documentary about him was so aptly titled, he was “Born into this“.
“Anybody can be a non-drunk. It takes a special talent to be a drunk. It takes endurance.” - Charles Bukowski, Barfly (script) 1984
In reading his 1978 novel “Women” I have been floored by the acceptance of his condition and role in life. He does not seek out fame, does not seek out money, or any sort of improvement of his life. He is happy just living, being alone most the time, drinking - and when not alone, being in the company of women. Lots of women, till of course they leave him, he bores of them, or something else happens. For Bukowski, sometimes things just happen. People get bored, Love is not meant to last, and generally he didn’t really like people - “I don’t hate people, I just like it better when they’re not around” he wrote - and hated the trappings of everyday life, in preference to the mundane simpicities. Love is there to entertain you, entice you, then hurt you. He was happy alone for all these reasons.
“I could see the road ahead of me. I was poor and I was going to stay poor. But I didn’t particularly want money. I didn’t know what I wanted. Yes, I did. I wanted someplace to hide out, someplace where one didn’t have to do anything. The thought of being something didn’t only appall me, it sickened me . . . To do things, to be part of family picnics, Christmas, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Mother’s Day . . . was a man born just to endure those things and then die? I would rather be a dishwasher, return alone to a tiny room and drink myself to sleep.”
— Charles Bukowski, Ham on Rye, 1982
Alcohol always played a great part in his life, from his first drink. He stated during these early days saying “This (alcohol) is going to help me for a very long time”. Unapologetic about his life, he lived it and took what came. Warts and all, he lived as he wanted and things came to him as needed to, good and bad. I am inspired by his writing to be satisfied with who I am, whether its the days I do not want to do anything, the days I want to drink everything, or the perfect constant calm in between it all, being a good husband, father and person. I do love that when reading Bukowski I want to have a drink, and feel that I am drinking with the author, which is a treat for me as the reader.
“That’s the problem with drinking… if something bad happens you drink in an attempt to forget; if something good happens you drink in order to celebrate; and if nothing happens you drink to make something happen” - Charles Bukowski, Women 1978
Bukowski died on March 9, 1994, six years shy of his planned death in the year 2000 - he loved the roundness of the number, and had hoped to have sex with an 18 year old on this, his last year. Alas, this did not happen. His gravestone reads “Don’t Try“, a phrase which Bukowski uses in one of his poems, advising aspiring writers and poets about inspiration and creativity. In a 1963 letter to a friend, Bukowski explains what this meant to him - ‘Somebody at one of these places … asked me: “What do you do? How do you write, create?” You don’t, I told them. You don’t try. That’s very important: not to try, either for Cadillacs, creation or immortality. You wait, and if nothing happens, you wait some more. It’s like a bug high on the wall. You wait for it to come to you. When it gets close enough you reach out, slap out and kill it. Or if you like its looks you make a pet out of it.‘
I am not a writer, but just some guy that writes. I often get stuck when I feel an obligation to write, and force myself to put something out for some invisible audience, or just for me. “Don’t Try” reminds me to let things just happen, let the good things come, or not come. Let ideas be just that, not forced, but natural. Just be. I will always think of Bukowski when feeling that I have no inspiration, and remeber that its ok to not be inspired, I will be again…and go have a drink instead.
the Hawaii Tequila Journal
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Drinking partners, Hawaii, Mai Tais, Mark Alberto Holt, Mexican Holiday, Mexico, My Friends, My life, USA, Wisdom, holidaze, moonshine, the S.F.T. Tequila Bar
Welcome True Believers, followers and just plain bored and drunk friends/wanderers - to the first ever in a hopeful series of “the Journal on the Road“. Of course, as we are poor of money, but rich in spirit(s) - we can rarely afford to travel, so the next one in this series could be 4 years from now! The important thing is the now, or better yet, the then. This was then. Hawaii, June 2009. As any reader of this diary of addiction / obsession knows, I love to write about what I drink, and Hawaii proved to have some great soul-looseners for me to enjoy and record in ink and blood - some old favorites re-discovered, some new treats, and some shitty versions of my Mexican standards.
To my Tequila loving brothers and sisters, you may already be raising an eyebrow to the fact that I have recently been writing about all sorts of booze but our sweet Agave’s daughter. I gently remind that though this is the Tequila Journal, I am an equal opportunity destroyer of all sorts of bottles. I do not discriminate, and when in Rome… drink what the Romans drink and drink the best. With that said, I cannot be far from Tequila for long without getting kinda itchy, and rarely do we find a good selection when away from home. Naturally, I planned for my 2 weeks away from Mexico by packing my bags with 3 bottles of the sweet elixir, 2 old faves, 1 new bottle - all Blancos/Silvers, as is my M.O. 3 bottles was not enough, and I will plan better next time…
Bottle 1 (shelf life 2.5 days) : Mi Tierra Silver - though poured out of an awesome styled and corked bottle, this ends up being a middle of the road Silver to me. I had enjoyed the Reposado of this before and really enjoyed it, but this just did not make me want to seek out another bottle - plus my wife really didn’t dig it at all (that means more for me, so that isn’t the worst news). With that said, if you check this out, it is fine as an entry to the Blanco world, with earthy agave notes. Not the best, not the worst, but great to sip in your hotel room in Hawaii in the middle of the night, without a doubt.
Bottle 2 (shelf life 3 days) : Gran Centenario Plata - I love this Tequila, and I am pretty sure it loves me. After about 3-4 taller than usual glasses, I know it talks to me, but love? Yes, it’s love. My dearest is unique for many reason, but mostly because it rests in french Limousin oak barrels for 28 days to soften the punch - unheard of for white Tequilas. This is a fruit bowl in a bottle, full of citrus and pear, and lots of agave to boot. A very good tequila, and well priced at around $20us. As you can tell I have tastes in the stars, but a wallet in the gutter…
Bottle 3 (shelf life 3 days) : 1800 Blanco - this is one of my favorite Blancos of all, or “Silver” as it’s labeled in the states. It is amazingly well priced (usually around $20-$25us) and goes down like luxury in a bottle. This is Cuervo owned and manufactured, but you can’t find that info anywhere on the bottle. In fact great lengths have been taken to separate 1800 from Cuervo, but when I am drinking it I could honestly give a shit. It is amazingly smooth, light on Vanilla, and strong on flavor. 100% Agave of course, and it has my heart.
Ok. That is what I drank in the hotel, at the pool, in the bathtub, when up taking a piss at night, in my cereal, while changing the baby and in the morning with coffee. What about the rest of the vacation you ask? Well, here ya go…
A fine medium bodied Jamaican Rum, fresh lime juice, some Orange Curacao/Triple Sec, and French Orgeat for a soft almond flavor. Lots of shaved ice and a large 15-ounce glass that would compliment the cooling of this new gift from the bar gods - the Mai Tai. The drink changed over the years, due to the original ingredients being scarce, and later the world’s palette adding more fruit, such as more lime and Pineapple. The rest is history, and I make mine with lots of Malibu coconut rum - that’s My Tai.
I love a good Martini. Shit, I love a bad Martini. Seriously, give me a cold cup of Gin and I am super happy (and later super drunk). I discovered my most favorite Martini thanks to a very special Gin called Hendrick’s from Ayrshire, Scotland. I had heard of this Gin from my good friend and booze mentor Ed Schwartz, who stated that he found it too strong for his taste. I liked it immediately upon hearing this, then quickly forgot about it. At the bar in our hotel, I saw the very unique, antique looking medicinal bottle calling me, and I made it mine (we finished that same bottle in 3 nights). This is such a great drink! As any Gin fan knows, there are some incredibly strong flavors in Gin that makes Vodka seem like water…great water, but still… This Gin has its own opinions while never arguing with the family, if you catch my drift. Think a Gin that fucked you with a cucumber then gave you a rose. We started on this bottle (which the bartender said was rarely drank) with olives as is our usual avenue, but learned quickly that this Gin deserves a softer kiss. The brine from the olive kinda messed it all up. We moved onto the natural choice, Cucumber, the base of the distilling process of Hendricks. That was it, I was sold, and Martini’s would never be the same again. Cucumber it is. Forever. Or till I only have olives. Never mind, try this today. It makes a hard day easier, a hot day breezier, and you…cooler.
Never order a Margarita in a dive bar in Hawaii when you live in Mexico. I assure you that you will be very disappointed… I was.
Life is funny, because as I finished (quickly) my horrible reminder of better Margaritas, I looked up and saw this “paddle-sign”. The fact that I laughed shows you how damaged I am.
I have had an off - and - on relationship with beer - I am a huge fan, but it weighs me down and takes too many to get me where I am going. I used to drink Franziskaner Weissbier - a refreshingly awesome wheat beer served in a wonderfully tall glass. It really is a meal in a glass. Have one for lunch today. When we moved to Mexico, the heat, the Tequila, the life - it all just got me hooked on sweet Mexi-beers - I am a Modelo Especial man, and you should be too, but too long on Mexican brews and you quickly forget the joy of full flavored beers. It was nice to find some great brews in Hawaii. We really enjoyed a few from the Maui and Kona brewing companies, including the Bikini Blonde Lager, and the Wailua Wheat, a personal favorite, flavored with light hints of passion fruit. The photo above is us enjoying a few on the Na’Pali coast - if you get a chance, go there and see God. She is beautiful.
On our flight home, 3 days since our last bottle of Tequila, we were feeling the pull of Mexico in the air. We were lucky to be on a Mexicana flight. Let me tell you, for anyone who knows that flights these days (hello United!) make you pay for everything including water, Mexican airlines rule. Not only do they speak Spanish which is always sexy, but they give you all the free drinks you want. Really, FREE DRINKS. ALOT. They don’t even look at you funny when you want 2 shots and 2 beers. Again. They served Cazadores Reposado, not my fave, but awesome on a plane, and Sol flavored with lime and salt. Shit, I felt like i was home, in the sky.
Ok, I am back home, a few weeks later, and this is what sticks with me.
Buy more Cucumbers. Put them in your Gin, silly.
Buy more Rum, and mix it in pitchers, take to beach. Repeat.
Go back to Hawaii some day.
Go make yourself a drink, writing makes you thirsty.
Happy National Tequila Day!
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under My Friends, USA, Uncategorized, holidaze
Yes, there is a National Tequila Day, celebrated in the U.S. , and it falls on July 24 every year. There is little info on the why, what and who of this obviously wonderful holiday, but lets celebrate it anyway, eh? I would imagine that Mexico would have a similar day, but alas it does not. Luckily, for some of us, every day in Mexico is Tequila day.
In Honor of the evening drink
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Drinking partners, Love, Mexico, My life, Uncategorized, Wisdom, wine
In a few weeks, my wife and I are taking the boy over to Hawaii. This is our first vacation since we moved to Mexico 3+ years ago, and we are stoked. Not that we don’t get enough beach time, but it’s a nice getaway, we get to hang with her family, drink tropical drinks and eat ad-naseum. As Hawaii demands intense eating, drinking and beaching, we decided to “cleanse” a bit and prep for battle, and for me that means taking a few weeks off of hitting the bottle. Not just that, but we are also eating better, and working out more often…but still, no drinking!? Madness, I say. Madness it is. It’s been 2.75 days since I had a drink (Who’s counting? Me!), and tonight, after a long day in the car, in Vallarta, in the heat…we as a family (the baby is not old enough to vote) decided to have a drink. One or 2 drinks, at most. Some might say that 2.75 days is not very long to go without drinking… Well, then I say, Good Sir or Madam, you do not drink very much!
The decision was a wise and good one. I just had my first glass of wine with my wife, and it went down just fine. A wonderful bottle, Stevenot winery Danza Roja - vintage 04 - it kissed me like the first glass of wine I ever had, and then It hit me with a honest and sincere warm slap that felt like it said “I love you Gabbi“. I love you too Winey. Very fine indeed. Since the gate is open, the night is young, and all is well in the world, I have gotten the Gin freezing, made the olives nervous, and put the shaker at the ready for my Martini.
What have I learned tonight? Always appreciate what you don’t have, love what you do, and drink when you can.
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Drinking partners, Love, Mark Alberto Holt, Maximo, Mexico, My life, bar photo, the S.F.T. Tequila Bar
What’s our poison? Tequila for Dad, Titty for Maximo - S.F.T. Tequila Bar, 6/09
Before you cast aspersions upon me due to the picture above, please consider the following. I live in a tiny little Pueblo in Mexico called Sayulita. My town is all about family, and everyone in town knows my son Maximo. It is neither illeagal nor odd (well, a bit…) to bring your Son to the bar on a hot Sayulita summer afternoon and have a drink. When we arrive at our local haunt, the S.F.T. Tequila Bar, not only do we get a baby seat pulled up to the bar, but Mark Albert and the wonderful staff treat Maxxi as their own, and show him nothing but love. He gets some avacado, while Dad bellies up to a nice glass of pure Agave and a cold Modelo. Ill be posting more pics of my life and times at the Bar in the months ahead, but you know this proud drinking Papa had to start off with his kid.
Mixtos, Bum Wines, Cheap booze and more drunk for your buck
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Ed Schwartz, Mark Alberto Holt, My life, Tastings, Wasted..., Youth, bum wine, mixtos, tequila, the S.F.T. Tequila Bar
Above: the Author, full of Cuervo Especial during his first tattoo, circa 1986
For most my drinking life, a life that has been long and prosperous, I have focused my laser-beam dedication to alcohol around affordable (read: cheap) and easily attainable (corner store) booze. From the very start, I ran with the lowest of the low, and I don’t just mean that as a descriptive for my friends…I speak of my drinks. In the early years of my troubled development I spent my nights running with the kind of people who gathered coins for booze before heading out to the rock clubs, saved the bills for harder things than alcohol, and were committed to finding great bargains with a real kick to get the night going. Let’s take a swim through the gutters of memory lane and remember what we have forgotten.
Youth is beer. Warm beer, boxed beer, lots of beer. A 12 pack per person is how I remember most nights growing up once I moved out (18). For beer it was Brown Derby and Pabst Blue Ribbon – both cheap beers, Derby coming in an extra small bottle with games under the cap. Tasted like wet air that took many a 12 pack to get you going…good stuff. As my metabolism (yes, I had one then) developed into an alcohol destroying machine and my liver (yes, I had one then) was just being discovered to be evil and plans made to destroy it were in motion, I moved up the line to cheap wines. Night-Train, made famous by my beloved Guns and Roses, and Thunderbird wine are both significant to me for various reasons. First, they led to my first real “adult” alcohol poisoning – a curiously proud moment for my ilk. I am talking hours of puking behind a practice space some bands and chicks were hanging in, and not remembering a thing about what lead up to it…but the Night-Train and it’s cough syrupy bad-ness. These lovely concoctions are often referred to as “Bum wines”, “Fortified wines”, “Twist-cap wines” or just Street juice. Trust me, a bottle of this and you will feel like a bum. You fall where you fall, and that night I woke up behind an abandoned building. Only happened once in my life, and this was it. Anyway, you can get a bottle of Night-Train for $3 us, and that will easily clear your schedule for 24 hours. I must quote a great site on the subject Bum Wine.com for their perfect description – “The night train runs only one route: sober to stupid with no roundtrip tickets available, and a strong likelihood of a train wreck along the way” – thank you gentlemen for your astute breakdown and ongoing studies in the matter. It is important to note for our further discussions that cheap booze is often made by big companies, in the case of the ‘Bird and the Train, it is famous wine vinters E and J Gallo Winery - though you will never see a mention of either on their site. Surprise? Not. I later moved into American whiskey, but since there is no such things as bad Bourbon, we will move on (my wife is from Kentucky, and we got pride in our local booze). Let’s just say Wild Turkey is cheap, 101 proof, and awesome. You can’t go wrong.
This naturally brings us to tap the main vein of my drinking, and true topic of our conversation, Tequila and another of its myriad forms. Like I am known to discuss ad-nauseam in this journal, Tequila played a big part in the developmental years of my alcoholism. It was a big boy drinker’s drink, and when you stepped up to the bar (or living room table in my younger years) with a bottle of Tequila, you knew the night was going to take a twisted turn. Back then there was only one Tequila we all knew of, and that was Cuervo Gold. We are talking late 80s, rock and roll drinking, and though not as cheap as Night-Train, it was generally cheap for the bang you got. What we did not really know back then is that while we were generally drinking Tequila, we were not drinking 100% pure Tequila – we were enjoying what is called in the business a “Mixto”. While all premium and near-premium Tequilas worthy of the name are made of 100% Blue Weber Agaves, meaning the only source of sugar fermented is of the blue agave plant - “Mixtos” are not 100% agave, but at instead 51% Agave (as by law they must be to be called Tequilas), and the rest a substitute of corn, or another substitute sugar source. Legally, Mixtos can contain one or more of the following ingredients - Caramel coloring, Oak extract, Glycerin and Sugar based syrup. There are actually more Mixto brands than 100% Agave brands, but the current craze for premium Tequilas is bound to change that. Mixtos originated in the early 1930s when Agave shortages allowed non-agave sugars to be used, and later in the 60’s the amount that could be used went up from 30% to 49% non agave sugars. This mellower taste helped the introduction of Tequila to the U.S. palate and has been key to many of our Tequila education, both in bar and book. All the above also educated many of us in the magic of a hangover as well, as all the ingredients of a Mixto also lead to a hangover. Better quality, 100% agave, less headache the next day, simple science. This does not say that a Mixto cannot be good, as many makers are working hard to make a Mixto offer much of the same taste as a premium.
In an ongoing effort to learn more about this amazing Elixir and get real drunk along the way, Mark Holt, owner and host at the S.F.T. Tequila Bar put together a great sit down around a diverse bottle selection of Mixtos. Some good people joined, including Myself (the Fiend), Cantinero Miguel, Ed “the Nose” Schwartz, and locals Tom and Mimi Sheehan. Here is what we drank…
Batallion “Oro” 38% Blend ($20Pesos / shot = approx $2us) – this Mixto had literally no nose, but a pleasant spicy flavor. This reminded us all of a basic 100% Agave Tequila…but it’s not.
100 Anos Tequila Blanco ($40pesos / shot) – A light white blend, with a dark musky after taste. The remains of the flavor aged very poorly in my mouth, and I felt I needed to drink more, or something else to move on from it.
Sauza Extra “Oro” Joven ($25pesos / shot) – This bottle stinks of youth as its name implies, and is followed by the strongest taste so far today. Spicy with a bite. A bit of tongue numbing that reminded us all of Mezcals.
Sauza Reposada Hacienda “Blue Label” ($40pesos / shot) – This is a tricky little bottle as it looks exactly the same as 100% agave bottle, minus label color – an average tasting mixto, much more suave due to its 35% alcohol proof. Hints of fruit but nothing too special.
Pancho Bravo “Oro” ($20pesos / shot) – Smells of old fruit with a smokey flavor reminiscent of Mezcal – a solid, cheap bottle.
Pancho Bravo Blanco ($20pesos / shot) – A hot, simple drink. Though you can taste the 51% agave due to it being a Blanco, you also have to live with an odd vinegar aftertaste. With that said, we all enjoyed this better than the “Oro”.
NOTE THAT AT THIS POINT, MOST OF US WERE GETTING A BIT OF A HEAD-ACHE, AND NOT THE MOST UPLIFTING FEELING THAT WE USUALLY GET FROM PREMIUM TEQUILAS …we carried on as all good soldiers do.
Orendain Tequila Joven Xtra ($30pesos / shot) – This bottle comes with a long family tradition of quality. This start by smelling of Vanilla, with a pleasant flavor to follow. This grew on me, and would put this in my mixed drinks, or in my brown paper sack on a hard night under a bridge.
Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado ($40pesos / shot) – The start of it all for me, this label was founded in 1795 and is my old friend from many a long night. Very sweet and candy like, you can see why Americans ate this up. Hints of orange, and memories of vomit, I thank it every day for introducing me to later loves.
Hijos de Villa Licor de Tequila w/ a once living pear inside the bottle ($60pesos / shot) – more of a dessert treat than part of the tasting, though a Mixto, it is more of a flavored Tequila. The bottle is actually hung on the pear tree while the pear grows inside, then plucked and filled the pear keeps growing when bottled. Awesome. This is delightful and while you can taste the pear, it does not overpower the Tequila. A great dessert Tequila my wife has really taken a liking to.
The future of the Mixto Tequila is in the hands of the distilleries, the customer and the Agave plant. There is currently a major Agave shortage, so making a better Mixto is in everyone’s benefit. While most Margaritas are made with a Mixto of some sort, getting a Mixto to be a great tasting sipper is the challenge. Also getting people to want to sip a Mixto when you can get a premium affordable bottle is another challenge.
Cheap booze will always be a draw for many, and even for me hanging out at my fave bar, price is important. While there are young hooligans looking for a quick fix, Bums seeking the right wine to warm the bridge fire, or just an honest drinker with a few bucks, lets hope there are always cheap bottles to feed the need. 
The S.F.T. Mixto tasting 2009: (L to R): Mark Alberto Holt, the Fiend, Cantinero Miguel, Mimi and Tom Sheehan
In honor of the Happy Hour(s)
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Mark Alberto Holt, Mexico, My life, events, tequila, the S.F.T. Tequila Bar
Happy Hour. The name itself implies so much goodness in such a short span of time that it barely fits into my demanding and satisfaction craving brain (see years of drug use and dopamine spending). An hour? Shit, I can barely figure out what I want to drink in an hour, much less get super happy before the climax of it…but if you promise to get me many drinks, in fast fashion, for a lowered price, with some adjoining food and fiends to share it with… sign me up. Ill listen for the bell ringing and assure to get my fill of the good stuff before the end is called. Recently my fave local Bar started a summer happy hour that I hope goes way beyond summer. Actually, I dont hope it does because it will surely make it harder for me to get an evening drink in high season with the popularity of said bar, but now, during summer, it is just too cool. More on that later…
For those of you born in a cave, and raised in a barn, with no bar in sight near this lost and lonely place, the traditional Happy Hour is a veiled excuse for a bar or restaurant to get customers to visit and get loaded during times that would generally be full of empty stools. Though a marketing tool in more modern times, there are many variations on the theme throughout our under-the-influence world. In some European countries, pricing of alcohol is regulated, so instead of a discount, you get double the drink - that makes me want to travel over the pond and drink some limeys under the table. Other places just give you free food, but keep the drinks the same price. Not too shabby - Ill eat ‘em under the table too.
History: On US Navy ships in the 1920s, on-ship performances and parties were called “Happy hours”, with happy meaning slightly drunk (as it still does to me), and this carried the word “happy” into a drinking descriptive for years to follow. These following years included the dark years to my kind, Prohibition. As any good drinker would know, these were the darker times of alcohol abuse, when laws were passed banning alcohol consumption in the U.S. As all survivors do, Drinkers carried on, and cocktail hours, or as soon to be known, “Happy Hours” were born. At speakeasys and hide-aways far from prying eyes, good hearted drinkers would gather and get their soul on before going to dinner, where you could not have a drop of the good stuff. Happy hours became part of the general popular lifestyle in the 60s when cocktail lounges came into fashion, and life got good again…the Dark Days were over, and we collectively take a deep sigh of relief at the thought.
Back to the reason for Happy Hour in my town and at my local haunt, the S.F.T. Though happy hour business helps everyone, in Sayulita, a happy hour that counts brings locals together in the heat of the hot summer nights. This particular happy hour and night got us together with the Romans , an awesome family living the good life free from the binds of the old world, and an inspiration for us all - as people, parents and family. We met, we ate, we drank and …did some sweating. My town is hot in all aspects, but mostly just in fucking temperature aspects. The beginning of June is now, and its muggy, sweltering, and heavy with moistness. The evening brings a respite to the pain, with nothing topping it off like a (really) cold beer, a good tequila, and some local fare, fish tacos from S.F.T. being the fare I speak of. Add 2 for 1 to that equation, and the math is perfect. When I was in my early 20s, Thursday night was the night i started partying, and it went through the weekend. Thursdays in Sayulita now start a happy weekend as well, more sleep, more good food, and more happy hours.
Drinking with the devil…
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Mexico
Bottom of the bottle…
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Blancos, Mexico, My Friends, My life, Wasted...
Even the best of drinkers get it handed to them by the better of bottles. My suggestion is never allow yourself a camera when feeling “great” or “sooo awesome” after finishing a bottle of Gonzalez Blanco Tequila with a few friends. You may think you feel cool, but you surely DO NOT LOOK COOL. Apologize to your wife, tell your friends you love them, and go to bed. Tomorrow is a new day.
The right drinking partner is forever…
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Drinking partners, Love, My life
I found my drinking partner years ago. Her name is Andrea Leigh Stoops Villarrubia, my wife, partner, best friend, baby-mama, you name it, she is IT. I had her name tattooed on my chest yesterday. Though our history is long, we married on May 23, 2004, which makes our anniversarry this weekend. I won’t gush much, but she is the chick I dreamed about meeting when I did not know her - She is the girl I dreamed of drinking with when I was drinking alone - She is the girl I wanted to light my smoke when I had no matches - and She is the girl that put me to sleep when I had been at it for days and just couldn’t get to sleep. She is my love, my wife, my son’s mother, but some nights, she is just my drinking partner. If you find yours, kill to keep her by your side.
Words to drink by…
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Uncategorized
“A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history, with the exception of handguns and Tequila” - Technology writer Mitch Ratcliffe
Below: Rare Hijos de Villa Reposado in 200ml Mexican Revolution replica gun bottle, for those of you who like to make your mistakes in style…
Justin Timberlake, the least Mexican of all Tequila makers
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Uncategorized, press
J.T. just did the last thing I was expecting - and I don’t mean becoming a genuine funny guy on S.N.L. - he has become part of the Tequila industry. Here is a guy (not a bad little singer, mind you) who is as white as you get, working on being as black as a white kid can be, now making the spirit most Mexican. I guess if Sammy Hagar can do it (I loves me some Cabo Wabo!) so can Mr. Timberlake. There is actually a recent trend of Hip Hop artists buying their own brands of booze, so this is really not too much of a surprise. I just think something like Tequila should be made and put out by someone at least slightly Mexican, if not completely-fucking-Mexican, but that’s just me.
Though I have yet to try this sure to be fine liquor, with reviews being limited, word on the street is that this is a top shelf Tequila, 40% Alcohol (80 proof), and the first outing is my fave, a silver. I look forward to judging it’s charms myself someday, as surely Mark will get some of this down the way at the Bar. What does the “901″ stand for, we ask? Its the Memphis area code where he grew up, but more importantly, according to J.T. and his press team “901 is that time of night when your evening is ending, but your night is just beginning” …. sexy? Back.
My 5inco de Mayo
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Mexican Holiday, My life, Tastings
As 5inco de Mayo approached, we were deep in Swine Flu ‘09, with the whole of our little town Sayulita, and most of the rest of the country in the throes of closings, warnings and just plain media chaos. In our area (as well as many others) you found closed schools, malls, theaters, and yes… Bars and restaurants. This is a major issue in our town, for we thrive on tourism, and we found that tourists hate killer disease, don’t know why, they just do. Suddenly all rental homes emptied, streets ran dry of the ugly traveler, and more importantly and most sadly, the 5inco de Mayo party at my fave Bar was canceled. Truly a let down for all involved, 
and anyone planning to visit Sayulita for a long deserved break and vacation.
Before all of this madness, Ed, Mark and I had met online a fellow Tequila enthusiast and great lady in the form of Diana Barrera, who runs a wonderful and educational Tequila website called Agavegal.com. She coincidentally had a trip planned to the town of Tequila and was going to be swinging through Sayulita. Even with bars closed under threat of high fines, Mark was kind enough to invite our small group to meet behind closed doors and prying government eyes, to celebrate in hiding like our own little prohibition. Breaking laws is delicious! Diana joined us with her friend Mike Strader, and we sat around our glasses, talking about the future world domination of Tequila, our love of the elixir whether life long or recent, and of course, we drank. These were no small shots, these were big glasses, excellent drinks, bigger smiles and good times. This is all thanks to Mark, who is a great host like no other. Diana really knows her Tequila, growing up in a family that appreciated this drink long before it was the trend of today, and can really talk the talk and walk the walk. Where in Mexico we get bottles straight from the source, in the U.S. you often get bottles that were made just for export, so we had a great time discussing bottles we had tried, that we each could not get in our resident countries, and then we discussed as we drank - our fave flavors and our overall love of the elixir. As Mark said, and I loosely quote“…Many of us stumble upon Tequila, often when there was a void to fill, and as alcohol often fills that void for many, Tequila filled mine…“ - I think Mark speaks for many of us… definitely for me.
On to the drinking - Here was our menu for the day:
Tequileno Gran Reserva Reposado 10 month aged - This is a lovely and warm drink, with hints of cinimmon. Rich in a taste that does not change from sip to sip, staying true to it’s start through your entire glass. This is aged 10-11months a
nd is produced from only 8-10year old Los Altos estate agaves. All this works in it’s favor, and our flavor.
Leyenda del Milagro Blanco Limited Edition Artisenal - Oh sweet vanilla! This Tequila is aged no more than 59 days in french oak barrels, and comes in the most amazing hand blown glass bottle, that has to be seen in person appreciate. The agaves are hand picked from the highlands of Jalisco, rich in volcanic soil, key to its flavor. And that flavor is very earthy, floral and the vanilla I mentioned is a key to my like of it. Leans strong on it’s reposado sisters in flavor, leaving you with a slight numbing burn. Good stuff.
Hotel California Reposado - This awesome Tequila is named for a hotel in Todos Santos, Baja that the Eagles supposedly wrote their song about (this is considered a total rumor denyed by Don Henley), so its got of Rock n Roll legend, and Mexico lore… my faves. A unique nose right of the start, I kinda fell in love with this bottle today. This has a strong citrus / orange scent, with bits of cedar mixed in. Not the deepest flavor, but sharply focused and complex - the citrus nose followed right into my pie hole, and I found the spicey orange flavor mellowed as it sat in my glass. I really enjoyed this!
Don Fulano Imperial 5 year - extremely long aged for Tequila (one of the longest restings), this top shelfer has a soft nose but big taste. A spicey, warm elegance and class, it reminds me of caramel and maple, but not overwhelmingly woodsy. Full flavored and 5 years old - great combo.
We ended the day with Hotel California Blanco - As you know due to me saying it ad-naseum, I love white Tequila, and this bottle just makes my day. The word “California” means from the spanish “a mythical land, a paradise not found” - well, I found some paradise in this bottle. The nose, much like the reposado, is pure citrus, sharp and spicey. Lord, the flavor is so good - “orange fireball delight” I wrote down during this tasting - not the most technical description, but it was after an afternoon of heavy pours and glasses of pure ambrosia. This bottle will sit high on my shelf, and strongly in the back of my head til it eventually leads me to do something bad…
In the end, we had an awesome 5inco de Mayo party at our fave bar, Swine Flu or not. The city, town our country, nor hell or high water (and flu) could keep this from happening in one way or another - yet another example of Tequila bringing good people together, for the sake of sipping, tasting and living.
Mark Alberto Holt, our Host and Diana “AgaveGal” Barrera at the S.F.T. Tequila Bar, Sayulita Mexico - Cinco de Mayo 2009
Vintage Tequila themed (and fueled) albums
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under music, tequila
Here are some awesome old Tequila and Mexico themed albums. My dad passed on to me not only his love of great music, but also his enjoyment of a great album cover. These are a few gems.
My fave cover of them all! A classic Tejano musician, with a knack for not only great covers but the accordion. Makes me want a drink and a record player.
This one is a classic 1966 Latin pop album. This is an Argentine guy, with an American name, idolizing Mexican music and directly ripping off Herb Albert. Gotta love it!
Great cover, great song track names on this one, including “Un Poquito Tequila” and “El Gringo”
These last 2 albums are by a Spanish/Argentine band called, of course, Tequila. They were formed in 1975, and rose to quite a bit of fame over the years.
The Cult of the Blue Agave’s Daughter (and why for once I hate bacon)
Posted by Gabbi "El Pulpo Negro" | Filed under Mexico, My life, tequila
Swine Flu. Lord, am I sick of hearing about this bug. Surely no matter where in the world you are, you know about this supposed sickness that is endangering the world, and all we hold dear. The end of civilization, a pandemic in waiting… oh lord. The news is eating it up. Well, it is the devil, and this is why…this little bug not only has all the restaurants and bars closed in Sayulita - I know - GASP! indeed… the bars are closed (weeeep)… but now our great Cinco de Mayo party at my local bar is also canceled. Travesty, followed by disaster, wrapped in Bacon. Sounds delicious, but not this time. The pig tastes funny. My personal beliefs regarding this little dilemma aside, I think we should all follow the rules of days past and future times, and cure our ailments with Alcohol (which has worked for me for years). Brandy has long been believed to work on sore throats among other things, and the Mexican people have forever believed in the curing properties of the Agave and it’s favorite daughter, Tequila. Today I am starting a new cult (just when you were looking for one to join, no?) - the Cult of the Blue Agave’s Daughter. We will pray to our highest sister Tequila at all moments of the day (or at least after noon), and ask her for her guidance in getting us to our highest spiritual mind and soul-set, and to help us reach the power and buzz to cure our every ailment and worry. Join me, brothers and sisters! Come one, come all and heal thyself!
