Steve Olson

Global Mezcal Advocate for Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal

Steve Olson has been helping to guide and shape the beverage industry for over 40 years. He has worked in restaurants his entire life, beginning at the age of 12, and along the way he has earned the respect of the trade as a writer, consultant, educator, and lecturer. Olson is perhaps most well-known for his pioneering work with sherry, Spanish wines, Greek wines, sake, gin, craft cocktails, and agave spirits, especially mezcal. He’s opened nearly 50 restaurants and bars to date, including Gramercy Tavern in New York City, and was honored as Best Bar Mentor 2012 by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation's Spirited Awards. In addition to serving as Founding Partner in Beverage Alcohol Resource, an independent organization that educates, guides, and propagates the healthy, enlightened, and responsible use of beverage alcohol products, he serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for Culinary Culture—Home of The Cocktail Collection & EatsDrinksTV, and his role as Global Mezcal Advocate, aka Maguey Geek, and Cooperating Partner in Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal is the ultimate culmination of a very storied career.