Sit Down with Don Julio Tequila Global Brand Ambassador Deano Moncrieffe

When I think tequila, I think shots at the club when the party needs to be turned all the way up and a morning filled with regret. Tequila has not been on my list of premium drinks for this very reason, and so when I heard that the Don Julio Global Brand Ambassador, Deano Moncrieffe was in Nairobi to train and mentor bartenders, mixologists and connoisseurs on the authentic heritage of tequila, the ultra-premium variants and the ultimate Don Julio experience, I took the opportunity to find out more about tequila from him.

Don Julio, makers of the world’s first luxury premium tequila, was founded in Mexico by Don Julio Gonzalez in 1942, and Kenya becomes the 1st African country to have the Don Julio experience.

I got to hang out with Deano at the Africa Nouveau Festival where he was serving up delicious cocktails at the Don Julio mobile bar.

Photo by Kiarii Kimani

1. What does it take to be a brand ambassador?

It takes a lot of stamina – it’s a lot of long hours. It also takes a lot of commitment and dedication to your spirit. I worked as a bartender for a few years and I wanted to learn everything I could about the industry so I worked as a restaurant manager, as a chef, as a head waiter and as a general manager and worked with beers, wine and other spirits until I found my true passion which is tequila. There is a versatility in tequila that no other drink has. Tequila is also an amazing drink because it is well-known for bringing people together to celebrate.

2. What has been your mission in Kenya?

I’m here in Kenya because I have the amazing opportunity to launch this fantastic Don Julio cocktail bar that we have. The cocktail bar is like a mini draught bar similar to the one used for beer, but instead of beer we have cocktails on tap. This helps us make consistently high quality cocktails and it also means that people don’t have to wait a long time for cocktails.

At Don Julio we advocate for responsible drinking as well as for environmentally friendly practices, so we went out of our way to make sure that all the ingredients in the cocktails are locally sourced. I’m originally from Jamaica and when I arrived here it reminded me of home, with the coconuts and mangoes and easily available fresh ingredients. I could have arrived here and made cocktails that work in London and you could like it but the ingredients aren’t locally available so you wouldn’t be able to have it again. It’s important to us that our cocktails reflect the places they’re being made in.

3. What has been the reception since you’ve been in Kenya?

It’s been amazing. People love the cocktails. We have two that we’ve developed for Kenya: The Kenyan Kick which is Don Julio Blanco infused with chillies with pineapple juice and a little bit of mint and The Tequila Barista which is Don Julio Reposado, meaning that it’s been aged for 8 months in Bourbon barrels, infused with coffee beans, with a little bit of sugarcane juice, coconut water, lime and sugar syrup.

4. I understand you’ve been working with Kenyan bartenders and mixologists?

Yes, I did a masterclass for 50 people on what a luxury brand means and esepcially a luxury tequila. Tequila is a very misunderstood drink. There’s a misconception that you have to shoot it, when you can sip it, have it on the rocks or in a cocktail, which is what we’re here to educate people about. The thing that makes a difference is the quality and how the tequila is actually made. Don Julio is special because it is a sipping tequila, made from handpicked, 100% pure Blue Weber Agave plants, which are allowed to grow seven to ten years before harvesting, so the attention to quality is what sets the Don Julio Tequila Brand apart from other tequilas and makes it the world’s finest luxury tequila.

5. How long are you in Kenya for?

Unfortunately, I am here for a week and then I head out to train bartenders in Frankfurt, Germany but I hope to be back soon.

The bar was very popular and so was busy but Deano Moncrieffe took the time to make me both the cocktails after our interview, and this is what I thought of them.

The Kenyan Kick:

Ingredients – Don Julio Blanco infused with chillies with pineapple juice and mint.

I’m not a fan of spicy drinks so I was a little worried that because it is infused with chillies, it would overwhelm my palate. However, the chillies aren’t overwhelming at all and blend well with the pineapple and mint flavours, for a delcious summery drink. I give it a 3/5.

The Tequila Barista:

Ingredients – Don Julio Reposado infused with coffee beans, sugarcane juice, coconut water, lime and sugar syrup.

I’m a fan of coffee and I have to say that this was my favourite of the two. The coconut, sugarcane and coffee blend together for a balanced cocktail bursting with flavour. I give it a 4/5.