Author Talk with Gary Nabhan and David Suro-Piñera

Join authors Gary Nabhan and David Suro for a discussion of their 2024 James Beard Foundation Award Winning book, Agave Spirits: The Past, Present, and Future of Mezcals.

Nabhan and Suro share an in-depth look at the cultural, historical, and ecological dimensions of agave-based spirits; the evolution of mezcal and tequila production; the importance of traditional practices; and the broader network of people and environments that shape the agave spirits industry today.

Gary Nabhan (left) is a MacArthur Fellowship–winning ethnobotanist, plant conservationist, and literary naturalist who has spent more than 50 years studying agaves and the communities that cultivate them. His research explores the relationships among biodiversity, food traditions, and cultural heritage, bringing deep scientific and historical perspective to the world of agave spirits.

David Suro-Piñera (right), a native of Guadalajara, founded Philadelphia's Tequilas Restaurant in 1986 and has become an internationally recognized advocate for traditional agave spirits. He created the Siembra family of tequilas, founded the Tequila Interchange Project and the Siembra Suro Foundation, and co-founded the Bat Friendly project, championing sustainable production, biodiversity, and fair practices across the agave spirits industry.