Clayton Szczech is equal parts scholar, evangelist, and nerd. Clayton is a full-time agave spirits culture specialist who believes that agave spirits should be sipped and savored, their history and culture absorbed and appreciated, and their regions of origin explored. This ideology led him to create a new category of agave spirits tourism in Mexico. Fluent both linguistically and culturally, his dedication to Mexico has flourished over the past 25 years. It began as an affinity for the Spanish language and developed into an active exploration of culture where he discovered that agave spirits are not just a beverage—but a place, history and tradition. Clayton is proud to be a global interpreter of and voice for agave spirits. He is certified as an Experto en Tequila and the only non-Mexican national to earn the Tequila Regulatory Council’s prestigious “Double-T” certification. Pre-Covid he spent his time traveling the world speaking about agave spirits, consulting, or serving as a tasting judge for spirits festivals. Enjoy this far-reaching conversation about Mexico, the people, the place, and the culture.