Movers and Shakers: Philadelphia’s Cocktail Scene
ABOUT LIZ EINHORN
Mixologists and beverage artisans are raising the bar for Philadelphia’s cocktail scene. Meet a few of the people rocking Philly’s drinks world.
Dan Suro, Co-Owner and Bar Manager, Tequilas
The Passionate Producer
TEQUILAS is a Rittenhouse institution that has been in business since 1986. Dan’s family owns the restaurant, and he made his foray into hospitality coming up in the kitchen, working the floor, and ultimately finding himself behind the bar and wanting to learn more about all things beverage. He left to work the bar at Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. and credits his mentors there for inspiring his cocktail program at Tequilas today. He returned to Tequilas during the pandemic and is passionate about their bar program, which includes prep juicing ingredients every day, changing menus seasonally, and making riffs on classics with some really amazing spirits, many of which are influenced by tiki drinks, like the Mai Tai.
“The heart and soul of this place is the back bar. Fully stocked with agave spirits, tequilas, and mezcal, supporting the right producers, especially in the tequila industry,” he says. Dan puts the cocktail menus together, but really encourages the staff to come up with their own drinks, citing the Diabólico as an example. The cocktail is a play on a diablito, a chamoyada from Tequilas’ bartender Tommy Ramirez’s childhood that uses Pajarote Tamarindo ponche (a Mexican tamarind ponche they import), cucumber, chamoy, pasilla pepper, ime, and Agave de Cortez Espadín Mezcal.
In addition to the bar, Tequilas has a brand of different mezcals and tequilas called Siembra Spirits. They also import a nonprofit brand Mezonte, producer-owned brand Don Mateo, and producer-owned tequila Cascahuin, along with some Mexican rums and liquors. When not at the bar, Dan can be found throughout the city conducting tastings and events.
TEQUILAS
1602 Locust St., Philadelphia
215.546.0181
tequilasphilly.com
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