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American Mandala by Don Patron

Patron-Exhibit

ARTIST STATEMENT:

The posters and graffiti I chose to recapture and preserve for American Mandala are heavily altered cryptograms. They are the manifestation of the images drastic change from their original state of display due to Weather , Human interaction , and mechanical systems all collaborating within the art that is chosen for exhibition.

The Depth capacity of these displayed illusory forms are a reflection of society’s archetype and psyche. These images express the corresponding rhythm of structure, the commonality of mankind, and that which has the resilience to endure from that which fades in energy and passes.

The sacred still exists in the choreography of our city, upon its ever changing hieroglyphic surfaces, life in urban settings survives in the consistent movement of energy resurfacing as mandalas that will and will not be, a testament to our own shifting impermanence.

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ASCoT Awards 2022 | Double Platinum

Ilegal Mezcal Joven has been awarded Double Platinum in the ASCoT Awards, blind-tasted and scored for appearance, aroma, taste, and finish.

Double Platinum: Outstanding, earns top marks from all judges. Highest award level

Tasting Notes: “I’ll be finding out what this one is after the awards are revealed; I can really get behind this joven!”

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Ilegal Mezcal moves to recycled glass bottles

“We measure success at Ilegal not just by cases sold, but also by our partners and environmental initiatives we can enact,” said founder John Rexer.

The new bottles will be made by family-run business Fusion y Formas, which recycles 10,000 tons of glass annually at its facility in Jalisco, Mexico. “We share the same vision with Fusion y Formas to build sustainably and scale responsibly, while maintaining quality above all else,” Rexer added.

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Why Mezcal Deserves Your Time and Respect

“The idea with Bar Ilegal is to bring a lifestyle to mezcal fans in the U.S.,” says Gilbert Marquez, Ilegal’s Global Brand Ambassador and a first-generation Mexican-American (and former bartender, punk rock musician and current part-time hatmaker). “We pop up at local venues in 13 U.S. cities and bring a taste of Ilegal through inventive cocktails, live music, on-site tattoo artists and more — it’s a way to experience the birthplace of Ilegal and create a memorable time for consumers with varying levels of mezcal knowledge.”

Which might be the smartest way to introduce a mezcal to the masses — associate it with good times. There’s a reason Ilegal touts itself as the “no. 1 most recognized mezcal,” as it’s probably one of only a handful of brands that casual drinkers could name.

Less visibly, Marquez and Ilegal also host several trade events for bartenders and other drinks professionals — having respected mixologists tout mezcal and use it creatively is certainly a tried and true way to bring recognition to a category.

Still, even with solid growth, the Ilegal team doesn’t have grand visions of mezcal becoming a dominating force in the drinks world — their production methods won’t allow it.

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How Tequila Replaced Cosmos As The Celebrity Quaff Of Choice

New York Times logo

For some people, drinking tequila, a type of mezcal made from the blue agave plant in specific regions of Mexico — as well as other kinds of mezcal — is even a way to signal dissent from the presidency of Donald Trump, who has made a border wall between the United States and Mexico a priority.

When Mr. Trump announced his intention to run for office, John Rexer, the founder of Ilegal Mezcal, a company based in Oaxaca, Mexico, started a line of merchandise denigrating Mr. Trump’s character. The company hosts concerts with Planned Parenthood at an unmarked theater in Manhattan’s West Village and only makes mezcal “with espadin agave because it’s cultivatable,” said Kaylan Rexer, 29, Ilegal’s brand director.

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1. When Did Ilegal Begin?

It began back in 2004ish, very informally and almost by mistake. I was bringing mezcal down from Oaxaca for my bar, Café No Sé, in Antigua Guatemala, and the mezcal became popular very quickly. At the time, we were bringing down unbranded mezcal from a variety of villages in Oaxaca that included: Tlacolula, San Lorenzo, Sola De Vega, Santa Catarina Minas, Hierve el Agua, Santiago Matatlan, and a few others.

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2. I hear you smuggled mezcal into Guatemala?

Well, let’s just say we were a bit creative in how we brought mezcal across the border. You see back in 2004, there were very few mezcals that were certified for export, almost none. Bringing a few bottles across the border was not such a big deal, but try getting 50, 100, or 500 bottles across and things get a bit interesting. Especially at the borders we were crossing; where back then, the cops, the military, the gangs and just plain old thieves had to be eluded or navigated or co-opted, if you get my drift.