About me

Author of over 35 articles about mezcal, pulque and Mexican craft beer and 250 articles about Oaxacan life and cultural traditions for both local and international magazines and newspapers, as well as travel websites……….. First Canadian to be certified as a Master Mezcalier by Asociación Pro-Cultura de Mezcal, A.C. ……….. Contributing Writer for Mexico Today, a program of the Mexican Government’s Marca País – Imagen de México. ……….. Trained and licensed by the Government of Mexico to teach aficionados, bartenders and bar owners, and restauranteurs about the culture of mezcal and pre-Hispanic fermented drinks (i.e. pulque). ……….. M.A. in social anthropology (York University, Toronto) in addition to a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School. ……….. Author of Mezcal in the Global Spirits Market: Unrivalled Complexity, Innumerable Nuances, (Oaxaca, MX: Carteles Editores – P.G.O., 2014). ……….. Extensive travel throughout the central valleys of Oaxaca since 1991, and a permanent resident since 2004. ……….. Student of Oaxacan fermented drinks and distilled spirits since 1993. ……….. Oaxaca “Destination Expert”. ……….. Special assistant to on-site production team, Echo Entertainment, Inc., for Veria Network’s Oaxaca segments of its sustainable living television series entitled Under the Sun. ……….. Locations consultant for UK television series Mexican Food Made Simple (hosted by Thomasina Miers of Wahaca Restaurants in London), produced by Blink Films UK. ……….. Fixer, Interpreter and on-camera bit performer in a program produced for French and German television by Petit Dragon, Ltd., Happiness in the Plate, centering upon the food and drink (i.e. mezcal and pulque) of Oaxaca centering upon Chef Pilar Cabrera (for 2016 release). ……….. Fixer for Patterson & Murphy Public Relations, sourcing best locations and attending with crew photographing street food locales for recently published book, Hugo Ortega’s Street Food of Mexico. ……….. Consultant to numerous foreign interests regarding mezcal and pulque. Vice-president of CANFRO (Canadian Friends of Oaxaca Inc.), a registered charity for the benefit of needy Oaxacans. ……….. Personal collection of more than 300 mezcals. ……….. Co-author of the most comprehensive, full color bilingual mezcal tasting wheel.