I’ve been a lover of mezcal for a few years now, so it was super-exciting for me to make the switch from writing about music (which has typically been my main source of income for the last decade or so) to writing about agave spirits—especially one as beautiful and breathtaking as mezcal. I recently wrote this story for the San Francisco Bay Guardian about mezcal’s current political plight in the face of increased demand for tequila and maguey, and the continued struggles of small mezcaleros to certify their products.

For it, I conducted interviews with Max Garrone and Susan Coss of Mezcalistas, who will be hosting Mezcal: Mexico in a Bottle this weekend; Raza Zaidi of Wahaka Mezcal (who signs his emails with the words “Mezcal Head”; all credit due to him); Judah Kuper of Mezcal Vago; and Rachel Glueck of the burgeoning El Amor Del Diablo brand, which is still raising funds for its launch.

Read the full text here, or peep scans of the print version below.