Cynthia Villalobos from Aventureros del Mezcal talks with Niki about her experience helping mezcal producers professionalize their companies. Both in the costing of mezcal production and in the treatment of waste, Cynthia displays all her technical knowledge.

Jesús Espina Ortiz from Archivo Maguey, tells us how he turned his knowledge and passion for design into a unique mezcal tasting experience.

Learn more about this episode of The Nectar Corridor at www.whetstoneradio.com, on IG and Twitter at @whetstoneradio, and YouTube at /WhetstoneRadio.

In this episode of The Nectar Corridor, Niki talks to:

• Cynthia Villalobos: Chemical engineer and co-funder of Aventureros del Mezcal @aventurerosdelmezcal

• Jesús Espina Ortiz @chucho_espina: Designer, Mezcal expert and co-funder of Archivo Maguey @archivomaguey

Episode Highlights:

Mezcal´s production costs

• Costs in the palenques

• Concept of tequio (community work)

• Challenges for mezcal producers

• Fair payment for a mezcal producer

• The maguey cost table from the CRM (Consejo Regulador del Mezcal - Mezcal Regulatory Council)

What is a good mezcal?

• Aventureros del Mezcal Asociation´s objective

• CRM (Mezcal Regulatory Council) parameters

• Vision of Cynthia Villalobos

• Tips for consumers

Impact mitigation in mezcal production

• The treatment of vinasses (waste)

• Reforestation

• Sustainability in the production of mezcal, is it possible?

• The importance of the chemical process for the mezcal producer

The design applied to the mezcal

• The definition of quality based on historical memory

• Chucho Espina: his beginnings in design

• Festivals, mezcalerías, and teachers who inspired him

• Methodology for a sensory analysis of mezcal