Overview
Once little more than party fuel, for years tequila in the U.S. market was dominated by a crude hybrid, aptly called “mixto,” but of late, it has graduated to the status of fine sipping spirit. Now growth in sales of real tequila, made from 100 percent agave, is outpacing that of the cheap stuff by some threefold. But there’s more to the story of tequila than its popularity, and How the Gringos Stole Tequila traces the spirit’s evolution in America from frat-house firewater to luxury good. Author Chantal Martineau immersed herself in the world of tequila over the last five years—traveling to visit distillers in Mexico, attending tastings and seminars around the United States, and meeting with tequila experts and even academics who have studied the spirit—and the result is a book that offers readers a glimpse into the social history and ongoing impact of this one-of-a-kind spirit. In addition to discussing the history and politics of Mexico’s popular export, this book also takes readers on a colorful tour of the country’s tequila trail as well as bringing in expert opinions and cocktail suggestions from some of New York’s top mixologists.
Reviews
"Martineau makes her nonfiction debut with this thoroughly researched study of what appears to be a growing trend in the spirit world: the rise of tequila from a low-end frat-party tipple to a high-end connoisseur's sipping drink." —Kirkus Reviews
“The perfect read to accompany your tequila, mezcal, or pulque—all drinks made from the mature agave, the spiky Mexican succulent with a heart that can become distilled gold. Chantal Martineau has written a compelling travelogue, tasting guide, business analysis, and ecological primer that firmly places tequila and its cousins as worthy spirits beyond cheap college margarita drunks.”—Mark Pendergrast, author of Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World
“Chantal Martineau ties our fate as Americans with the ecosystem of the agave, which is threatened, like our foodways, by shortsighted industrialization and corporate greed. The struggle is complicated as it relates to the tequila-loving gringo, and as one, I am deeply grateful for the way Martineau has portrayed it.” —Jim Meehan, author of The PDT Cocktail Book
“This wonderfully written book illuminates a part of the spirits industry that even the most diehard aficionado might not know about.”—Tom Acitelli, author of The Audacity of Hops: The History of America’s Craft Beer Revolution
“Martineau is an adept guide, charming and deeply knowledgeable, to the intricate and fascinating world of agave-based spirits. With passion and authority, How the Gringos Stole Tequila argues that tequila and mezcal are not cheap firewater, but rather richly cultural and potentially threatened products worthy of connoisseurship.”—Bryce T. Bauer, author of Gentlemen Bootleggers: The True Story of Templeton Rye, Prohibition, and a Small Town in Cahoots
“For anyone curious but largely uneducated about agave spirits, Ms. Martineau makes a fine instructor.” —Wall Street Journal
“Martineau’s book is an excellent introduction to tequila’s long history and complicated evolution over the last 15 years…” —Distiller
Author Biography
Chantal Martineau has written articles about food, drink, culture, and travel for numerous publications, including Afar, Allure, the Atlantic, Decanter, Edible, the Guardian, Islands, Redbook, Saveur, Time Out, the Village Voice, and Wine Enthusiast. She lives in New York City.
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