Margarita R&D Lab Tour

Coming to your city: Cutting-edge trends and techniques to land your next Margarita on the menu

ABOUT THIS TOUR:

It’s just about Margarita season and we are getting ready. Join Mexican Spirits Brand Ambassador Mary Palac and Tony Flores for a master class on Margarita trends, inspirations, and provocations. In this class we will look at cutting edge margaritas from around the world including new ingredients, tech, and service styles. It might be a classic, but it’s just getting started.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

The Margarita Reimagined: Explore the classic and cutting-edge variations

Industry R&D Techniques: Learn methods to experiment and elevate cocktail creation

Making The Menu: Explore best practices for getting your drink on the cocktail list

---

CLASS DETAILS

Where and When:
San Diego, CA – 3/10
Tampa, FL – 3/16
New York, NY – 3/31
Dallas, TX – 4/7
Chicago, IL – 4/14

*Each city has two session times. Session times vary. Please only RSVP to one session time.

How does this work?

This class is only open to US bartenders 21+.

First, you’ll need a site account. Once you’re logged in, you’ll be able to RSVP.

Creating your profile is fast, easy, and free. It gives you access to all our classes and other great educational resources.

These are LIVE sessions. Space is limited, RSVP required.

---

ABOUT YOUR TEACHERS:

Mary Palec

With over 20+ years of experience working in hospitality, Mary Palac is Campari Group’s
Mexican Spirits Portfolio Ambassador and offers industry knowledge that expands across
the globe.

Mary has received national recognition from the Spirited Awards as a Top 4 Finalist for the
“American Bartender of the Year” honor, as well as being named a Top 10 nominee for “Best
US Brand Ambassador” in 2023 & 2024. She was also the first bartender to be commended
by the city of San Jose for her contributions to the food and beverage community.

Born in the Philippines and raised in California, Mary grew up surrounded by both Filipino and
Mexican culture, which helped build her connection to agave and Mexican spirits. Mary is also
passionate about spirits education and building communities. She strives to seek out
opportunities for others within the industry, especially women of color who are frequently
overlooked or undervalued.

Due to her unwavering love for spirits and the industry as a whole, Mary has visited distilleries
and bars all over the world to continue expanding her expertise and knowledge. She is thrilled
to be a Brand Ambassador of the Mexican Spirits Portfolio at Campari and is looking forward
to what lies ahead.

Follow Mary @mixtressmary

Tony Flores

Tony is a hospitality professional with over ten years of experience working in some of Los Angeles’ most respected bars. With Mexican and Salvadoran heritage, his approach to spirits is rooted in culture, tradition, and storytelling. Inspired early on by Anthony Bourdain, Tony saw how food and drink can bridge cultures and create meaningful human connections.

Throughout his career, Tony has focused on sharing not just what’s in the glass, but the history, craftsmanship, and people behind it. He is passionate about highlighting the cultural significance of Mexican spirits like tequila and mezcal in an engaging and accessible way.

For Tony, hospitality is about making people feel welcomed like family. Representing Espolòn Tequila, Montelobos Mezcal, and Ancho Reyes allows him to share his heritage through education, authenticity, and passion for Campari brands.

Follow Tony @LosAngelesSoul

LOOKING TO JOIN THE DIGITAL SESSION OF THIS TOUR? RSVP HERE.