Tag / international tequila day

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: An Adventure into the Agave Fields with Patrón Tequila

My friends, thanks for joining me as we kick off another weekend via the Friday Read, your source for what’s new and what’s next when it comes to menswear, spirits and more. Last week, we talked more about rugged USA-made menswear from California-based Devium, and we’re shifting gears slightly this week, as I’m on the move.

I myself have been planning a Brooklyn apartment move — which you know if you follow me on Instagram — but my latest move of sorts is one that’s taken me out of the country, down south and in pursuit of a new adventure (and a new spirit). We’re coming to you live from Jalisco, Mexico, were I’m venturing into the agave fields to learn all about Patrón Tequila and its new Cristalino expression.

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This trip is part of the many hats I wear when it comes to freelance writing, including covering all manner of gear, spirits and more at Maxim.com. In fact, you can look for a dispatch on this particular trip over at Cool Material, where I’ll be diving into the world of agave.

It’s far from my first trip to the region (how cool is that!?), which brings you through the vibrant city and culinary destination of Guadalajra. I trekked to Mexico last September with El Tesoro Tequila, and I’ve also visited the region with 1800 Tequila last spring.

But back to Patrón: More than 2,500 employees work to craft this fine tequila at Atotonilco el Alto, using brick ovens and ancient Tahona stones to cook the agave and dial in that “just-right” flavor you’ve perhaps found in your favorite margarita or cocktail.

Along the way, we’re staying at the Hacienda Patrón an exclusive VIP guest house on site. Here, the itinerary includes plenty of tequila, round after round of gourmet meals, an agave cutting demonstration, a tour of Patrón facilities and a deep dive into how they make this premium spirit. Not bad for a work trip, right?

 
 
 
 
 
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Of course, I’ll be outfitted with some of my favorite gear along the way, including sturdy Flint and Tinder work pants, my trusty Blundstone boots and even some tequila-themed headwear (workers in the tequila fields often wear oversized straw hats to block the sun, dirt and grime during long days in the agave fields).

Shop Huckberry menswear and gear for your next trip

Between exceptional tequila, next-level accommodations and the chance to put some of my favorite menswear and gear to the test in rugged fashion, my latest trip checks all the boxes for me — and for that, I couldn’t be more thankful!

There’s more to come on my jaunt to Mexico if you go ahead and follow me on Instagram, but for now, just now that we’re focused on matters of style with two upcoming weekend posts. Cheers to tequila and cheers to real-world adventures, folks — thanks for reading!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: An El Tesoro Tequila Trip & The Best Waxed Jackets from Huckberry

It’s hard to believe it’s Friday, and it’s even more difficult for me to believe that I’m back in the States after a whirlwind week that touched on a bit of everything as it relates to my many freelance writing pursuits. In covering everything from menswear to watches, I attended New York Fashion Week last week and saw new watches from Breitling and new (old) vintage menswear from L.L. Bean, as you might have seen on my Instagram.

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And then from there, it was time to get down to the real business seen at the top of the page: A lightning-fast, 48-hour trip South of the Border earlier this week with none other than El Tesoro Tequila. It was part of a trip to sample expressions new and old at the famed La Alteña Distillery in the highlands outside of Guadalajara, and it was well worth the short turnaround time.

It was also well worth adding another arrow to my quiver, so to speak, in terms of covering spirits for sites like Maxim.com (in addition to the fine menswear you see on this site and at my other bylines).

The absolutely gorgeous agave fields proved a stunning highlight, as did a distillery tour that included sampling tequila right from the still (a high ABV mixed with a dangerously delicious taste and old-world craft). We also sampled some stellar El Tesoro flagship expressions and enjoyed an excellent, stone oven-fired traditional Mexican lunch. Most notably for yours truly: The chance to sample a top-secret, as-yet-to-be-announced release that uses, let’s say, some distinctive aging processes.

In fact, it builds on the El Tesoro legacy as the oldest traditionally made tequila in the world, and again, it was well worth the short yet highly informative, highly delicious visit. Look for much more on my trip to Mexico in the weeks ahead!

Best waxed trucker jacket for men.

Now, let’s shift gears here from some of the best tequila on the market to some of the best fall menswear, as I find the two go hand in hand quite nicely these days. That holds especially true if you’re shopping just about any new collection from the good folks at Huckberry, very much including the new Huckberry Waxed Jacket Outpost.

Huckberry waxed jackets review.

A full lineup of versatile, rugged and nearly too-good-to-be-true waxed jackets is dropping every week as we roll into fall, and if you haven’t yet experienced the joy of the wear-with-just-about-anything Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket, there’s positively never been a better time.

In fact, I trust Huckberry menswear to help me crisscross the continent and the globe, as I wore my tough-as-nails Proof Rover Pants out into the agave fields (watch my Instagram soon for a recap post, of course). In my experience, the brand’s gear is as reliable as it gets, whether you opt for a classic Huckberry ballcap or something more sturdy and yet refined, like its Rhodes Footwear lineup of boots.

Shop men’s boots and more at Huckberry

Either way –with excellent El Tesoro Tequila or hard-working Huckberry menswear — you can’t go wrong any way you slice it this fine early (early) fall weekend. Check back tomorrow for the first of two regularly scheduled fall weekend style posts, and let’s raise a glass in fine fashion, my friends. Salud!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Lollapalooza, Summer Travel and the Best-Dressed Men of the Week

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here.  

As we kick off another Friday, I’m once again looking back on this week and heading to my home state of Michigan, as I was earlier this month for a summer wedding — that’s a lot of quality time (much-needed) back in the Mitten. And it caps off a busy week, particularly when I look back at the stellar time I had rocking out — and rocking some great menswear at NYC’s Panorama festival. On that note, is anyone heading to Lollapalooza this weekend? Or already there? Jealous! Either way, I hope you’ve been getting all your summer tunes and travel in  — and dressing to travel in style, too.  The summer’s definitely flying by, but it seems as good a time as any to look back. It’s taken me upstate to see Lucius, it’s taken me on a stylish Memorial Day trip,  and it’s taken me around New York City for some excellent product launches and blogger events in between — all while striking that tricky balance between versatile style and ease of movement, not an easy task in the heat of NYC. That busy schedule also leaves a lot of menswear news to catch up on — and I’ve picked out a few favorite pieces from this week below. After you’re done reading, follow along with my adventures back in Michigan via Instagram or Twitter, and check back here tomorrow for our Style Pick of the Week — rest assured, a full trip recap is coming along Monday.

  • Who dressed well this week? What lessons should you take from ’em? Those are precisely the questions Esquire answered as part of its summer-friendly Best-Dressed Men of the Week feature.
  • Lest you think that fashion is only for us average Joes, Starbucks is setting new dress code regulations for employees — that includes neutral colors, denim that’s not overly dressed and a recommendation toward small, subtle patterns in shirts …. those sound like some decent #menswear missives to follow, right?
  • Here’s one for all you spirits fans out there — I had the pleasure of attending a delicious celebration of this past Sunday courtesy of the fine folks at Patron, who dubbed it International Tequila Day. Since it is Friday and all, if you fancy stirring up some delicious drinks for yourself, check out some delicious tequila recipes from my buddy Sam over at The Manual.
  • And on the menswear front, you can never have enough stylish, durable socks — right? The team at American Trench knows this very well (and if you read The Style Guide, so do you!). It’s fitting that the brand just launched the latest addition to its line of well-made socks — the Mil-Spec Sport Sock is made with anti-microbial silver filament yarn in the heel, toe and sole. In layman’s terms, that means these socks kill bacteria and help keep your feet dry while feeling super-comfortable (and looking super-stylish). Look for more on those socks this fall on The Style Guide (wink, wink).

Want one more story to read? Here are two.

  • Yours truly appreciates a lot more than just fine menswear and craft beer — I also love me a great steak or burger, so I pulled together your top summer grilling essentials over at The Manual.
  • Just as I dig a great craft beer or some awesome live tunes, I also dig a well-made chambray shirt (and often combine all three at the same time). My latest GearMoose post covers the best chambray shirts for men — and you should buy one, or several, ASAP.