Épisodes

  • Trailer

    Trailer
    Aug 2 2025
    Get ready to raise a glass with Tequila: Spirit of Mexico! Join host Claire Delish on an incredible journey from ancient agave fields to modern distilleries, uncovering the fascinating history behind Mexico's most iconic spirit. Discover how indigenous peoples transformed sacred agave into ceremonial pulque, explore founding families who built the industry from volcanic soil, go behind scenes of today's sophisticated production process. From skilled jimadores harvesting Blue Weber Agave to master distillers crafting premium expressions, this series reveals the artistry, tradition, and culture that make tequila extraordinary. Listen to Tequila: Spirit of Mexico—a Quiet Please series—anywhere you get podcasts!
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    1 min
  • Crafting the Spirit

    Crafting the Spirit
    Aug 2 2025
    Episode 3 provides an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at modern tequila production, following the complete journey from agave field to bottle. The episode begins in the highland agave fields with skilled jimadores harvesting mature Blue Weber Agave plants, explaining the expertise required to identify optimal ripeness and properly extract the valuable piñas. Listeners learn about the crucial cooking process that converts agave starches to fermentable sugars, comparing traditional horno ovens with modern autoclave systems and their different impacts on flavor development. The episode explores extraction methods from ancient tahona stone wheels to modern mechanical systems, fermentation techniques involving wild versus commercial yeasts, and the art and science of distillation in copper pot stills. Finally, the episode explains the different categories of tequila - blanco, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo - detailing how aging in wooden barrels transforms the spirit's character and creates the range of expressions available to consumers. Throughout, the episode emphasizes the balance between traditional craftsmanship and modern technology that defines contemporary tequila production.

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    28 min
  • Birth of Tequila

    Birth of Tequila
    Aug 2 2025
    Episode 2 focuses on the emergence of tequila as a distinct spirit in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, during the colonial and early independence periods. The episode examines the unique geological and climatic conditions that made the Tequila region ideal for agave cultivation, including volcanic soil, mountain spring water, and highland elevation that created perfect growing conditions for Blue Weber Agave. Listeners follow the stories of pioneering families like the Cuervos and Sauzas who transformed small-scale artisanal distillation into commercial enterprises, developing the techniques and infrastructure that established tequila as separate from other mezcals. The episode explores the technical innovations, political challenges, and economic transformations that occurred as the industry grew from colonial experiment to regional economic engine. Through detailed examination of early distillation methods, the development of skilled craftsmen like jimadores and maestros tequileros, and the gradual establishment of tequila as a protected geographic designation, this episode shows how a small Mexican town became the birthplace of a global industry.

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    53 min
  • Roots of the Agave

    Roots of the Agave
    Aug 2 2025
    Episode 1 explores the ancient origins of tequila, beginning with the sacred relationship between indigenous Mesoamerican peoples and the agave plant over 9,000 years ago. The episode reveals how the Aztecs and other native civilizations developed sophisticated agricultural techniques for cultivating dozens of agave varieties, using every part of the plant for food, fiber, medicine, and the ceremonial beverage pulque. Listeners discover the complex mythology surrounding Mayahuel, the agave goddess, and learn how pulque production involved intricate fermentation knowledge that wouldn't be scientifically understood for centuries. The episode then chronicles the arrival of Spanish conquistadors and their introduction of distillation technology, showing how this cultural collision transformed ancient pulque traditions into the foundation for modern mezcal and tequila production. Through detailed exploration of indigenous knowledge, Spanish colonial influences, and the gradual development of distilled agave spirits, this episode establishes the deep cultural and spiritual roots that continue to influence tequila production today.

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    29 min