Author | Christiane Nickel
In today’s market of artisanally enhanced, organically grown, and exclusively raw bounty of food and liquor products harvested around the notion of “small batch” (in regards to liquor), it becomes easily dismissive and passé. One becomes even more discerned about the latest small batch glocally-chic products growing on the market. However, to my luck and own personal enlightenment, Posture was invited to Ilegal Mezcal’s third annual pride brunch and I was pleasantly surprised by this game changing new brand.
This Sunday Brunch took place in a palatial loft evoking a Southwestern urbane esprit and featured a lavish mix of brisket hash, bloody marys, and desert flower cocktails. It was here that I had the opportunity to talk to Kaylan Rexer, the head of marketing, about the brand’s beginning and story.
Kaylan recounts it was her Uncle John Rexer that founded this lifestyle brand as after traveling to Mexico in the ’80s, he fell in love with Mezcal and maguey. Throughout the years John continued to travel to New York, the West Coast, Mexico and throughout South America landing in Antigua, Guatemala where his wanderlust found a home in a little bar he opened up called Café No Se. Rexer originally smuggled mezcal because you could not legally export it out of Mexico at the time – and in general there were very few good agave products available in Guatemala, despite the fact that it was a bordering country to Mexico. He usually describes himself as a “bar owner with who had a supply problem.”
It’s the grit and gusto of John’s story that makes the notion of Ilegal Mezcal so alluring: professing one’s skeletal self and creating histories in dark corners surrounded by caramel shadows against grainy espresso-hued wooden beams. He explains, “It’s like old hand-tooled leather versus cheap pleather. It’s seductive. People from all walks of life understand the difference. It’s a way of thinking and wanting to live as much as it is fine liquor.”
Their latest project is called Ilegal Confessions which consists of outdoor and online portraits taken by Nick LaClaire of individuals who offer up a confession about themselves such as “I refuse to be scared.” The website offers more of the stories at www.ilegalconfessions.com. In addition to donating the proceeds from the pride t-shirt sales, for every confession shared during the month of June, $1 will be donated to the Young Leaders group at the center. This past April the group held one of their mixers at the Ilegal Loft to raise money & recruit new members. Next year Kaylan hopes to work with a group in Latin America.
To experience the magic in person, make sure to attend their upcoming event below:
Empellon Pride
Sunday June 29th 12-4pm @ Empellon 230 West 4th Street (right off the parade route)
