In this class, students will have the opportunity to "dig in" to what makes Mezcal such a special spirit with Mezcal Unión Co-Founder Alejandro Champion and Jorge Mayer Romero of Liga Productura. We will explore agave varietals used for mezcal production, sustainability, agriculture, innovations in soil remediation, process, and other essential components to responsible and sustainable mezcal production at scale through the lens of Mezcal Unión. Students will be able to see soil techniques employed firsthand on an urban farm, all while enjoying Mezcal Unión cocktails and wood-fired Tlayudas. They will also have the chance to get their hands a little dirty! Unión para todos!

Featuring:
Alejandro Champion, Co-Founder, Mezcal Union
Jorge Mayer Romero, Director, Liga Productura
Jessica Braasch, Brand Ambassador, Mezcal Union

Alejandro Champion, Co-Founder, Mezcal Union
Alejandro Champion, or "Champ" as
he is affectionately called, has
always cultivated his passion for
cultural synergies, even from an
early age. Having been raised in
Guadalajara, Mexico, Champ has
always experienced the world
through artistic expression and
through the traveling lens of his work.
After studying architecture at
Iteso Universidad in Guadalajara,
Mexico, he decided to explore his
artistic passion by launching
Encubadora de Arte
Contemporaneo (now called Salon
Acmel, an art platform that offers
exhibition opportunities and
exposure for emerging artists; it
was through this experience that
Champ's entrepreneurial spirit was
born, which sowed the seeds for his
eventual role in co-founding
mezcal unión. After flexing his
marketing and sales prowess
working as a field marketing
manager for a large, globally
recognized food & beverage brand,
Champ felt compelled to do
something more meaningful for his
home country.
Thus, Mezcal Unión was created, and
was named after the special "unión"
the founders shared with each
other and their collaborative
vision to uplift their homeland.
The brand's goal was and remains
to support Mexican Indigenous
communities by empowering
Maestros Mezcaleros and agave
farmers to become entrepreneurs
and suppliers while generating
opportunities and prosperity; this
comes to life through Mezcal
Unión's collaborations with several
communities across different
villages in Oaxaca, Mexico which
helps to preserve the tradition of
artesnal Mezcal process and
promote sustainability and social
responsibility.
Champ remains highly involved in
the brand as a Global Brand
Ambassador and, of course,
Co-Founder, and is responsible for
sharing stories of Oaxacan culture
and introducing the
multi-award-winning Mezcal Unión
to the world.
Today, Champ and Mezcal Unión
both exist to inspire others
that we are all "uno."

3-Hour Educational Workshop for pre-assigned Student Pass holders.
Location: l'Orto Urban Farm, 1401 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR 97214
Sponsored by: Mezcal Union