Do you recognise the man in this photo? Chances are, if you’ve been bartending a while, you do.
Alex McDowell has been in the liquor industry for more than twenty years. He took a year off out of the game, though kept himself busy shaping surfboards and setting up Island Beachcomber, his holiday home business on Phillip Island. Now he’s back, with three great products in his new business de Vino Mezcal, which focuses on his great love for the agave.
“I’ve started off with three brands that I truly believe in, having known the brand owners for a number of years and seen their operations. I have the ability to be able source limited run Tequilas and will do so over time.” he said.
He’s bringing in Montelobos Mezcal (created by Dr Ivan Saldana, who was recently out in Australia for Agave Love) and Ancho Reyes, an ancho chilli liqueur also created by Saldana (take a look at this month’s spiced spirits feature to get more info on this addition).
And he’s also managed to add L&J Tequila to his burgeoning portfolio. Created by Julio Bermejo — who you might know from such modern classic cocktail creations as the now ubiquitous Tommy’s Margarita — this tequila is made the very old fashioned way in a painstaking process.
As for McDowell, he’s looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.
“I look forward to getting back out across Australia and introducing people to the brands and helping inspire more to pour all things Agave,” he said.