The Nectar Corridor

In this episode, we speak with Cynthia Villalobos from Aventureros del Mezcal and Jesús Espina Ortiz from Archivo Maguey about their efforts to shine a spotlight on mezcal and the folks that make it.

Cynthia provides financial, educational and technical support in order to elevate independent mezcalero brands. And Jesús offers unique mezcal tastings using his knowledge and passion for design.

The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned content that centers the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. The Nectar Corridor is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about The Nectar Corridor here.

Find show notes here.

And transcript here.

In this episode we talk with Raúl Guerrero about pulque, a maguey-based fermented drink that has its origins in pre-Hispanic times and has been consumed for more than 2,000 years.

Raúl is a cultural manager and researcher of pulque from the State of Hidalgo. Pulque comes from native Mexico, traversing many of the territory's historical periods, and in some ways, precedes mezcal as its older sibling.

The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned content that centers the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. The Nectar Corridor is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about The Nectar Corridor here.

Find show notes here.

And transcript here.

This episode we take a spiritual journey through the rituals that accompany mezcal. Niki meets with Mar de Cortés and Asís Cortés in their space called "Espiritus Mágicos" and together they examine mezcal culture from a different perspective.

The traditions of the peoples, families and origins of mezcal remain in those who care about creating a connection through rituals, extending respect for the culture and mezcal production through generations.

The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned content that centers the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. The Nectar Corridor is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about The Nectar Corridor here.

Find show notes here.

And transcript here.

In this new episode, we cover the history of mezcal from the mid-1900s to the present day. We speak with Félix Monterrosa, creator of the mezcalería "Cuish". Félix retells anecdotes of more than half a century of a family dedicated to mezcal.

The conversation touches on historical issues related to conflicts between mezcal producers/marketers and authorities. Niki and Félix dicuss the long history of prohibition, corruption and high taxes. Faced with these phenomena, there were different unions between the mezcal workers who raised their voices to mitigate the persecution.

The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned content that centers the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. The Nectar Corridor is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about The Nectar Corridor here.

Find show notes here.

In this episode, we discuss regulation and current state of mezcal production, particularly in northern Mexico.

We speak with Luis Loya, founder of Nación de las Verdes Matas, where he sells traditional spirits from Sonora, Nuevo León, Durango and Tamaulipas.

We also speak with Diego Mayagoitia, a first-generation mezcal producer who lives in the state of Durango. Diego tells us about the importance of community organization in the face of the growing exploitation of wild agave for the production of mezcal.

The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned content that centers the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. The Nectar Corridor is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about The Nectar Corridor here.

Find show notes here.

In part two of "What's in a Mezcal?", we continue our tours with producers Eduardo Angeles and Cuca Cortez. We learn about fermentation, the native yeasts and friendly microbes that transform sugar into alcohol, and how each maker approaches distillation.

The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned content that centers the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. The Nectar Corridor is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about The Nectar Corridor here.

Find show notes here.

What goes into making mezcal? In this first of a two-part episode, we learn about the life cycle of the agave plant, how they reproduce, how long they take to mature, and what their cooking process entails. We visit with producers Eduardo Angeles of Lalocura in Santa Catarina Minas and Cuca Cortez of mezcal Cortez in La Pila, Miahuatlan.

The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned content that centers the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. The Nectar Corridor is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about The Nectar Corridor here.

Find show notes here.

Welcome to The Nectar Corridor, a podcast where we explore the incredible world of mezcal. In this first episode, we consider what mezcal means to some of the people who have dedicated their lives to it. We speak with Sosima Olivera, Marco Ochoa, and Eduardo Ángeles about their family legacies, their relationships to the plants they work with, and how they have fought to preserve the mezcal-making traditions of their respective communities.

Sósima Olivera is a maestra mezcalera and co-founder of the Tres Colibri cooperative and the traditional mezcal brand, Fanekantsini. Marco Ochoa is owner of the Gusto Histórico agave spirits brand and co-founder of the rural tourism company Mezcouting. Eduardo Angeles is a fourth-generation maestro mezcalero from Santa Catarina Minas, and the visionary behind Lalocura.

The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned content that centers the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. The Nectar Corridor is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about The Nectar Corridor here.

Find show notes here.

Here’s a first look at what to expect from our new podcast, The Nectar Corridor, as narrated by host Niki Nakazawa (@nikinakazawa). The Spanish version is already out, but it will stream in English starting on February 25.