ABOUT
Now in its 5th year of operation, Puro Burro was one of the first businesses to offer specialized educational mezcal tours for the bar industry. Puro Burro trips enable bartenders to experience the art and beauty behind the making of mezcal; From harvesting the agave to roasting the pinas in underground pits, to grinding the cooked pina with a
burro-drawn stone, to fermentation and finally to the distillation process.
Throughout all of this are tastings and discussions about the uniqueness of each different varietal and why they are different. Depending on the time of year, there are opportunities for the bartenders to get their hands dirty and actually help the master mezcaleros as they work their magic. This type of experience enables bartenders to immerse themselves not only in the making of mezcal, but to also gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the history and culture behind this beautiful spirit.
ERIC GIARDINA
GENERAL
CO-FOUNDER
Eric is the head Burro managing all aspects of operations including the bartender exchange program, tours, lodging, and merchandise. He is also the co-owner of the Ofrenda, the official Puro Burro tour resting place.
Eric has been working with agave for over a decade and is also a highly regarded bar manager and bartender in the San Francisco Bay Area. When not in Oaxaca running Puro Burro, he can be found managing the bar program for the award-winning cocktail lounge in Nevada City CA, The Golden Era. When in need of recharging, Eric can often be found in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, resting in the palapa or on the beach enjoying cocktails with his Puerto friends.
ASIS CORTES
SON OF THE AGAVES
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"Dixeebe; Thanks to the gods, thanks to mother earth, thanks to each person for sharing every moment"
DARREN CRAWFORD
CONTRALMIRANTE
CO-FOUNDER
Darren has been a staple in bar communities around America. Working with Pour boys inc, Darren has helped create some of the best bar programs in the Bay Area and beyond. Darren was also the winner of Best Mixologist at the 2016 San Francisco Nitey Awards.
As legend tells it, Darren and Eric were drinking mezcal on a far-off palenque, a mezcal that was so funky, it smelled like pure donkey, thus Puro Burro was formed.
ZAXACA SAFRON
AMBASSADOR
Zacxaca's passion for Mezcal runs through his blood. You can find Zach at local competitions holding down Puro Burro's name, and at Mezcal gatherings keeping the party going. A hard working lead at Woodbury Bar in San Francisco, Zacxaca is constantly coming up with new cocktails to keep his guest excited to come back.
Our Main group leader on trips, Zacxaca keeps you moving, opens your heart, and gets you through.
JAYSON NAONA
TAHONA
PRESS
Jayson, or as we call him Tahona, is our rock. No matter the situation, no matter how hairy, Tahona puts it all in perspective.
Tahona has been a supporter of agave and its rich culture for over ten years. He recently retired from Tres. giving him time to join us on our trips for sun, fun, and support. Questions about Puro Burro, and press inquiries are answered by Tahona.
Dixeebe!
TIO BOBBY
SALOON KEEPER
Bobby fell in love with mezcal many years ago, and after a long courtship, Bobby & mezcal finally decided they just couldn't be apart. He moved to Oaxaca de Juárez in December of 2015 to build a craft cocktail program in one of the world's best mezcal bars - Mezcalogia.
Bobby lives in the center of Oaxaca City and loves nothing better than meeting enthusiastic visitors to mezcal's heartland, showing them around, and occasionally mixing them a ferocious drink.
PETER HOUGH
INTEL
WEB AND TECH
Intel is in charge of all things tech, from web design, to shipping glassware, to solar chargers, and GPS tracking of our trips.
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A background in bartending, we found Intel with a broken collar bone and a CPU. Soon after healing, he was down to visit Oaxaca, and some say he never came home. Catch him running around the East Bay, talking all things agave.
TEDDY MACK
EL LOBO
FOREIGN AFFIARS
Teddy has been working around agave based spirits since he began bartending in Ajijic, Jalisco in 2009. He doesn't remember his first trip to Mexico, he just would rather be there. A natural-born cruiser, he is putting in his work as our head of Foreign Relations.