direct to consumer Archives - Tequila Aficionado Media

Tequila Aficionado Magazine

Tequila Aficionado Magazine began as a direct-to-consumer online magazine in 1999 and run single-handedly by founder, Alexander “Alex” Perez. The online magazine went through several incarnations and design changes over the years but what remained the same was Alex’s passion for Mexican spirits: Tequila, Mezcal and Sotol.

In 2000, Alex met M.A. “Mike” Morales and, while discussing their tequila tasting during a podcast for Tequila Aficionado Magazine, Mike coined the phrase Sipping Off The Cuff™. From that day forward, Alex and Mike’s podcasts would be known as Sipping Off The Cuff™. As YouTube and Skype became more user friendly, Alex and Mike moved from podcast to videocast.

[Tweet “Happy Anniversary, Tequila Aficionado! 15 years and counting.”]

As often happens with labors of love, life’s labors called Alex and Mike elsewhere and Tequila Aficionado Magazine went on a short hiatus.

During this hiatus, Mike began hosting “Intimate Tequila Tastings”, tequila tasting events that introduced new aficionados to the finer points of tequila tasting and expanded the horizons of seasoned sippers.

He was then asked to host and co-produce a television program called “Last Tequila Standing.”

[Tweet “Look for Last Tequila Standing coming soon to Tequila Aficionado Media!”]

Tequila Aficionado Media™

In early 2012, with Mike’s first season of Last Tequila Standing already completed, Mike and Alex were approached by a social media consultant and novelist with a taste for tequila and a desire to see Tequila Aficionado Magazine relaunch as Tequila Aficionado Media.

Lisa Pietsch envisioned Tequila Aficionado Media producing and publishing podcasts, video programs, an extensive library of in-depth written reviews, books, magazines, apps, events and much, much more.

[Tweet “Tequila Aficionado Media will publish its first coffee table book in 2014.”]

With Lisa’s vision falling in line with theirs for Tequila Aficionado, Alex and Mike agreed to take her on as a partner. The three would each utilize their special skills to create a media company focused specifically on the Mexican spirits of tequila, mezcal and sotol.

Sipping Off The Cuff™

Sipping Off The Cuff™ began as an audio podcast in 2006 and is Tequila Aficionado’s first and longest running tequila review program.

Sipping Off The Cuff™ is broadcast Fridays (and occasionally Tuesdays) on YouTube and on Tequila Aficionado Media’s many social networks. If you are a Tequila, Mezcal or Sotol brand owner and would like your product(s) reviewed on an upcoming episode of Sipping Off The Cuff(TM), please contact Mike@TequilaAficionado.com.

Click here to see all of our Sipping Off The Cuff™ programming.

[Tweet “Has your tequila been featured on Sipping Off The Cuff yet?”]

Monday Madness

Monday Madness was created as a blooper by-product of our production process for the Tequila Aficionado exclusive video program, Sipping Off The Cuff™.

When M.A. “Mike” Morales and Alexander “Alex” Perez get together, whether in person or via Skype, to review tequilas for Sipping Off The Cuff™, something silly is bound to happen. Rather than present these clips with their reviews, we chose to respect serious viewers’ time and get right to business with each Sipping Off The Cuff™ episode to keep them each as close to ten minutes as possible.

The outtakes are often funny and show our silly side, so we chose to share them with you for your amusement, as well as ours, in our Monday Madness video feature. Monday Madness is the evidence of how very much fun we have doing what we love here at Tequila Aficionado Media.

Women in Tequila

M.A. “Mike” Morales found the growing population of women in the tequila industry a fascinating topic and decided to interview as many as he could contact. This was the beginning of the Tequila Boss Ladies and Women in Tequila series.

[Tweet “Meet the original Tequila Boss Ladies at Tequila Aficionado.”]

In this series, his interviews cover the contributions of these women, how they see the industry as a whole and advice they care to share with others in the industry, both female and male.

Founder’s Feature

Alexander “Alex” Perez loves interviewing people in all facets of the tequila industry. Over the years, he has interviewed some tequila superstars who share their personal experiences, thoughts on the industry, commentary on products and much more.

Over time, we’ve unveiled some amazing Founder’s Features that have been locked away in the Tequila Aficionado vault for years.

[Tweet “Tequila superstars are alive and well at Tequila Aficionado!”]

Brands of Promise™ Awards

The Tequila Aficionado Brands of Promise™ Awards are annual awards granted by Tequila Aficionado based on product quality (tasting or use for tequila related items), marketing (POS), and overall appeal and value to the consumer. These awards are granted for tequila, mezcal, sotol, glassware and bar items, mixers and garnishes, books and other related products. If the product is used by tequila lovers, it is eligible for a Brands of Promise™ Award.

There is no charge to be considered for these awards. All samples we receive: tequila, tequila based liqueurs, tequila associated products/foods and every other item we review is automatically considered, but not all are nominated.

Nominees are announced as their products are reviewed and the review will contain the Brands of Promise™ Nominee seal. All nominees are welcome and encouraged to make use of the seal in their marketing and POS materials as well as the Tequila Aficionado branded QR Code that connects consumers to their review at Tequila Aficionado.

[Tweet “Has your tequila entered the 2014 Brands of Promise competition?”]

Email Mike@TequilaAficionado.com for the personnel and addresses to send your particular products for review.

Education of a Tequila Drinker™

Everyone needs to start somewhere. To become a tequila aficionado, all you need is a passion for tequila and a desire to learn about this amazing spirit of Mexico. Join Lisa Pietsch as she embraces tequila culture and learns all she can about agave spirits, documenting her journey in the Education of a Tequila Drinker™ series.

[Tweet “To become a tequila aficionado, all you need is a passion for tequila and a desire to learn.”]

Tequila Aficionado Test Kitchen™

Some tequilas are best sipped and yet there are others that are so versatile that they make for amazing pairings either with food or in recipes. In the Tequila Aficionado Tequila Test Kitchen™, we enjoy exploring the perfect balance to mixology – cooking and pairing with Tequilas, Mezcals and Sotols.

[Tweet “Tequila Aficionado Test Kitchen: cooking & pairing with Tequilas, Mezcals and Sotols.”]