As the former owner and operator of Metro Bar Services, a freelance bartending service, Ryan Kelley designed cocktail menus and slung drinks at mid-sized private events to large street festivals. Tequila was sometimes a hard sell, and Ryan educated himself on agave spirits to take on the challenges of mixing and serving this complex spirit without seeing a patron's face cringe. Ryan also writes as the National Tequila Examiner for Examiner.com and has judged cocktails at the Spirits of Mexico and A Taste of Tequila & Tamales by the Bay. In July he will be one of the tequila judges at the New Mexico International Intimate Tequila Tasting. Ryan writes tasting notes, cocktail recipes, interviews and features, blog entries, and reviews of tequila bars, restaurants and events across the country.
Ryan
May 9, 2011
A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure to serve on the judging panel for the Tequila Rocks competition at A Taste of Tequila and Tamales by the Bay, an “a-maize-ing” event benefitting the Benchmark Institute. Read more about this event and my experience as a judge.
November 23, 2010
Unique and impressive gifts for the tequila aficionado on your gift list including an at-home tequila tasting kit, the world's freshest margarita, and the ultimate tequila adventure.
August 16, 2010
It seems that every day brings not only a new dawn, but a new brand of super-duper-ultra-premium 100% blue agave tequila – a new “Don Whatever Tequila” steps onto the stage and attempts to steal a little bit of the spotlight (and market share) occupied by the big boys: Jose Cuervo and Sauza, or the trendy, exclusive Patron. For tequila aficionados who like to sip and explore, this is a good thing, and, while an unofficial moratorium on the use of “Don” in yet another brand name is now being spread; a new “Don” tequila is inevitable.
July 28, 2010
901 Tequila made a splash this week, revealing a national marketing campaign led by three ads marking the directorial debut of singer, dancer, actor, and 901 Founder Justin Timberlake. Kevin Ruder, President of 901, answers questions about the tequila, from inception to marketing, and about Timberlake's involvement with the brand.
June 2, 2010
The first part of Ryan Kelley's adventures in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico includes trips to La Fortaleza distillery, where Guillermo Sauza makes tequila in the ways of his ancestors, and to Tres Mujeres distillery, where Jesus Partida Melendrez strives to make a 100% blue agave tequila that tastes great and won't make a hole in your wallet.
April 19, 2010
Partida Tequila rates at the top of the list. Gary Shansby, founder and chairman of Partida Tequila, sees it as his job to keep it that way. In our telephone interview (see part 1, part 2), he told me, “if you have a loyal following, you shouldn’t make changes…the consumer is smart, and the mixology community is very smart.”
April 14, 2010
After a thorough study of the tequila market, Gary Shansby, the founder and chairman of Partida Tequila, had the knowledge he needed to succeed, but didn’t yet have any tequila to market.
April 10, 2010
Tequila is one of the fastest growing spirits in the U.S., and Partida Tequila, one of the newest entries into the premium tequila market, is one of the most celebrated. Partida has won multiple accolades, and was the only line of tequilas to be awarded with 96-100 points for all three types of tequila in Wine Enthusiast’s 2008 Tequila Report.
