Good Afternoon everyone! Welcome to another issue of In Good Spirits! Couple of things you might’ve missed this week: I posted a whole video breakdown of the ongoing Feud between Tequila Matchmaker & the CRT, though if you have been reading this newsletter for a bit, you’ll probably be up to date. I also made a video a few weeks ago where I Challenged Applebee’s $1 Dollarita, and i Made it better!

If you are in Massachusetts, I URGE you and Implore you to please vote No on questions 5 next week. It could destroy the restaurant industry as we know it in our state.

On to this weeks Newsletter!

Could Cocktail Bars be the solution to Failing Shopping Malls?

Okay hear me out on this one. Its a bit funky and out there but I found this utterly fascinating. Eater Boston recently posted this article, Boston’s Hottest New Cocktail Bar Just Opened Inside a Mall Food Court. Basically one of the Bostons areas best bar groups, is opening its next project in a food court in Cambridge (the actual city where Harvard & MIT are, which is not Boston, and is across the river. Your welcome for the Knowledge).

I have not been to this funky new Food Court cocktail bar but i have been to many of their other establishments and they are incredible. Birds of Paradise & Blossom Bar are two of my favorite spots around Boston and they are known for pushing the envelope and experimenting and doing really cool stuff.

Now why could this work? Well malls used to be the center of our culture in the 80s and 90s. Whether you liked it or not, it was. Just watch any movie that glorifies this, or for you youngins, that season in Stranger things where the mall was central to everything. But since the heights of popularity, malls have become basically obsolete.

Mall food courts were never really seen as the destination for quality food and drinks but they were centers of culture and gathering. And what is a bar if not a place for culture and gathering. The Marriage of these two things just makes sense.

And they aren’t the first, the team behind The Dead Rabbit opened something similar in Penn Station in NYC called the Irish Exit.

So could this work? I think it has the ingredients to, and the team behind it is very good. I just don’t know if a great bar is enough to revive peoples interests in malls, but hey it couldn't hurt to try right?

Mezcal Brands I Am Obssessed With

Mezcal is a world unto itself. Unlike its more famous cousin, tequila, mezcal embraces a vast array of agave varieties, production methods, and flavor profiles. From the smoky and earthy to the fruity and floral, there's a mezcal out there for everyone. Below you will find some of my absolute favorites.

1. Real Minero

• Why I like it: Since the late 19th century, the Ángeles family has been crafting Real Minero Mezcal in the Oaxacan mountain town of Santa Catarina Minas. Founded by "Papá Chico" (Don Francisco Ángeles), this family-owned business began as a clandestine necessity and is now revered as a luxury. Today, siblings Edgar and Graciela Angeles Carreño carry on their father's legacy, overseeing the production of this exceptional spirit.

• What to try: Look for their expressions like the Real Minero Largo with its notes of herbs and citrus, or the Real Minero Tobala with its intense minerality and earthy flavors. But truthfully anything they make will be well worth it.

  Fun Fact: Due to a feud with the Governing body of Mezcal, the Real Minero team decided to remove the word “Mezcal” from its bottles.

2. Origen Raiz

• Why I like it: Origen Raiz is all about showcasing the unique terroirs of Durango with the Expertise and history of Mezcal making in Oaxaca. Born from a collaboration between families in Oaxaca and Durango, they harvest maguey responsibly, supporting biodiversity.

• What to try: Explore their Origen Raiz Espadin from San Baltazar Guelavila for a classic, balanced mezcal, or try the Origen Raiz Tepeztate from San Luis Amatlán for a more intense and complex experience.

3. Derrumbes

• Why I like it: Derrumbes is a brand that emphasizes sustainability and ethical production. They work closely with local communities and focus on preserving traditional mezcal-making techniques. Each expression of theirs comes from a different region and different producer.

• What to try: The Derrumbes San Luis Potosí is a great introduction to their range, offering a balanced profile with hints of fruit and smoke. It is also made with the Salmiana varietal of Agave which has a very unique flavor.

4. Rey Campero

• Why I like it: Rey Campero stands out for its commitment to using wild agaves. This results in mezcals with intense, complex flavors that reflect the unique characteristics of each agave variety. Rey Campero represents the culture, tradition and art of Candelaria Yegolé, a small town in the Southern Highlands of Oaxaca, with a fertile ground on its slopes and canyons.

• What to try: The Rey Campero Jabalí is a must-try for its distinctive wild, savory notes. If you can find it, their Rey Campero Tepeztate offers an incredibly complex and long-lasting experience.

5. Hacienda Oponguio

• Why I like it: Hacienda Oponguio is a family-owned brand that focuses on traditional production methods. They use natural fermentation, resulting in mezcals with a rustic charm and depth of flavor.

• What to try: Their Hacienda Oponguio Espadin is a great example of their traditional style, offering a smooth and balanced profile. Lots of fruit flavor as well.

6. La Luna

• Why I like it: La Luna Mezcal comes from the mountains of Michoacan, where families have been making mezcal the same way for generations. Michoacan is a beautiful state in Mexico with beaches, mountains, and a rich history.

• What to try: La Luna Cupreata is a fantastic choice, known for its complex herbal and fruity notes.

  Fun Fact: They have done some collaborations with some friends of mine, keep a look out for their Batch with Lucas Assis & with Saeed (Cocktails by Hawk)

7. Del Maguey

• Why I like it: Del Maguey is a pioneer in the world of mezcal, known for its "single village" approach. They work with individual villages to produce mezcals that express the unique character of their terroir.

• What to try: Del Maguey Vida is a widely available and excellent introduction to the brand. For a truly special experience, seek out one of their more limited releases like Del Maguey Chichicapa, which is the Mezcal originally used in my favorite cocktail, the Naked & Famous.

Best Video We Saw This Week:

My friend, Miguel, better known as Holy City Handcraft is a wizard with a camera and this Halloween inspired cocktail felt like i was watching a film. The dude is uber talented with a camera and makes some of the best most professional looking work in the whole cocktail space.

Also he apparently takes Halloween incredibly seriously and knocked it out of the park with all of his Halloween costumes.

OH! It would also be rude of me not to mention (since i forgot to do this all this month) but @Join_Jules does a yearly Halloween cocktail countdown on her page. I know, I’m very late on that since you know, its November 1st. But follow her anyway, next year is just right around the corner 😂

In Other News

• Steve the Bartender made a great video on Batching Cocktails (and also celebrating his birthday, so go say happy birthday!)

• Again, a little late But Anders Erickson posted this video with some great spooky Halloween cocktails. Idk man! Maybe you’re going to a Halloween party this weekend and still need some Inspiration.