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
