Story by Dave Eckert / Intro photo courtesy of Moon Shift Spirits
You might not realize it with Kansas City being nearly 1,500 miles from Agave production, but there is a strong Agave connection here. Kansas City boasts a tequila-producing family, an Agave spirits distillery, a local couple making amazing Mezcal, a world-class annual Agave event, and some terrific places to sample Agave-based spirits.
Let’s start with Una Familia tequila. “My grandfather, Luis Silva, was born and raised in Guadalajara, about an hour’s drive from Tequila. He started Spanish Gardens Foods in Kansas City in 1958. I bought my uncle’s company, Silvas Foods, in 2020, and Mama Socorro’s the year before, reuniting brands into Una Familia!” Una Familia’s Andrew Miller shared.
It didn’t take long for tequila to enter the picture. “I love tequila and wanted to bring a premium quality tequila to the Midwest, one with a good story and a good price point. We found a great partner in Casa Maestri, a family-owned distillery in Tequila that produces different styles for different people. But Una Familia has its own barrels, and our tequila is made to our specifications, ensuring the highest possible quality.”
Miller says you can find the four Una Familia tequilas: Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and Añejo Extra, in eight states, with Missouri and Kansas being the company’s biggest markets. To learn more, visit unafamiliatequila.com.
Photo courtesy of Moon Shift Spirits
Next, a KC couple, running a restaurant in Tulum, Mexico, who have gone from restaurateurs to Mezcal producers, The Moon Shift. “The Moon Shift was founded in 2021 by husband-and-wife team Dan Grocki and Cathy Owen and their partner, Gabriel González Pérez, a Mexico City native,” Brand Manuel Gomez shared. “Dan and Cathy were seeking small-batch agave spirits to serve guests. Through Gabriel’s guidance, they met Maestro Mezcalero Israel Pérez Santiago, a fourth-generation mezcalero. After hours of shared mezcal and conversation, Maestro Israel made the rare offer to collaborate on creating a brand together.”
The Moon Shift name honors two things:
- The bats that pollinate agave plants under moonlight and sustain the ecosystem.
- The mezcaleros and bartenders around the world who work under the same moonlight crafting and serving agave spirits.
The Moon Shift currently produces six agave expressions. Several bottlings have already received international recognition, including Gold and Silver medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the Asia World Spirits Competition.
Intrigued? Drop by Gomez’s Jade Jaguar cocktail bar in The Crossroads for a taste. As a partner and beverage director, Gomez says Jade Jaguar features The Moon Shift, both neat and in cocktails! For more about this fascinating story, visit moonshiftspirits.com.
Not far from Jade Jaguar, you will find Mean Mule Distilling. Mean Mule makes Agave-based spirits that are local, delicious, and backed by a great origin story once told to me by co-founder Jeff Evans.
“During prohibition, my wife’s great-grandfather was making what would now be called Moonshine in the woods north of Hermann, Mo. Apparently, a customer who was unhappy with said product turned him into the feds. Two agents found the distillery and broke down the door. Inside, they came face to face with the meanest 700-pound Missouri mule imaginable. My grandmother told us that two minutes later, one revenuer was dragging the other down the road. They never came back,” Evans shared.
Sadly, Evans was killed in a motorcycle accident last summer. His vision for producing world-class Agave-based spirits remains the driving force under the direction of his wife, Meg Evans, and her brother, Tyler Gloe. All things Mean Mule can be found at meanmuledistilling.co.
Photo courtesy of Oh Hey, Agave!
From Agave producers to Agave promoters. Behold Oh Hey, Agave, a three-day immersion into all things Agave created by Erica Schulte, the owner of Rose Productions.
Schulte says she wanted to provide an event that was fun and educational. “There are a lot of misinformed drinkers out there because alcohol is heavily marketed to the masses, but not always with authenticity. I created Oh Hey, Agave! with hopes of allowing more brands to provide a space for their storytelling to the people of Kansas City. There is so much culture, heritage, and passion behind the agricultural makers of these spirits that most people have no idea about. Oh Hey, Agave! is an avenue, in which they can learn more while sipping on a glass of tequila,” Schulte shared.
Oh Hey Agave 2025 was held in early December. There are no dates yet for this year’s version, but to learn more about the event and leap into action when dates are announced, visit roseproductionskc.com/ohheyagave.
Photo courtesy of Sea Capitán
Finally, a peek into a place where you can enjoy a myriad of Agave-based spirits – Sea Capitán. “Most people know tequila and mezcal, and we’ve got plenty of both, but we also carry a nice selection of raicilla, sotol, and bacanora,” Sea Capitán’s General Manager Tony Glamcevski told me. “At Sea Capitán, our goal is to showcase our full selection of agave spirits at the heart of our beverage program. From the moment you take a seat at our beautiful copper-topped bar, you’re greeted by an impressive display of tequilas and mezcals that reflect our deep appreciation for these remarkable spirits.”
Combine all of that with Sea Capitán’s excellent coastal Mexican-inspired menu, and you have a must-visit restaurant and a world-class agave experience waiting for you! Learn more about Sea Capitán at seacapitankc.com.
