One of the highlights of this year’s SOBEWFF was sampling the spirits created by Casa Lumbre, a spirits brand which prides itself on producing premium, farm-to-bottle Mexican spirits with unique sensorial qualities that appeal to trade and consumers alike. Miami Socialholic had the opportunity to meet and interview the dynamic team behind the brand to find out what puts Casa Lumbre in a class of its own.

What is unique about Casa Lumbre?

Founded in Mexico, Casa Lumbre was born with a bold spirit and a clear purpose: to challenge the limits of conventional to create new generations of unique and culturally iconic brands. Driven by passion, innovation and talent, Casa Lumbre anticipates trends and identifies opportunities to bring extraordinary brands and experiences to life that ignite the senses and emotions, enriching people around the world.

​​Casa Lumbre stands out for its unwavering commitment to artisanal craftsmanship and the exploration of traditional techniques married with innovative approaches. Our spirits are not just beverages; they are expressions of centuries-old traditions infused with contemporary creativity. Each bottle encapsulates a story, a journey through time and culture, making Casa Lumbre an experience as much as a product.

In the space where so much competition exists, what do you do to stand out?

Despite the crowded market, Casa Lumbre distinguishes itself through a commitment to excellence in every aspect of production. From sourcing the finest ingredients to employing meticulous distillation methods, we prioritize quality above all. Additionally, our dedication to craft and community engagement sets us apart, fostering a deeper connection with our consumers beyond just the product itself.

What’s the inspiration behind Casa Lumbre? How did you decide to get into this competitive environment?

Casa Lumbre is born from a profound appreciation for the rich heritage of Mexican spirits and the desire to share these treasures with the world. Our founders were driven by a passion for craftsmanship and a vision to redefine the spirits landscape by reintroducing forgotten traditions and flavors. Despite the competitive nature of the industry, our commitment to authenticity and innovation emboldened us to enter this challenging yet rewarding arena.

What are your sustainability efforts?

During the inception of Casa Lumbre, we designed a 5-way approach to our philosophy when creating brands that covers the following areas: environmental impact, shared values, scalable solution-oriented, social awareness and always meeting best agricultural practices.

Through this 5-tier approach, we have focused our team on exploring alternative renewable heat sources, seeking the recovery of land that has lost its purpose due to climate change or lack of water, designing equipment to use less water for distillation, designing waste management projects for all brands, ensuring no deforestation on new land and creating job opportunities for farmers with legal and social benefits.

What’s the thought process behind expanding to other spirits?

Our decision to expand into other spirits is rooted in a desire to further explore and celebrate the diverse global drinking culture. Each new venture represents an opportunity to delve into unique flavor profiles, cultural traditions, and production methods, allowing us to broaden our horizons while staying true to our commitment to excellence and innovation.

You have some interesting brand ambassadors. How do you select your brand ambassadors? How do they align with your values?

Our brand ambassadors are selected based on their genuine passion for Casa Lumbre’s mission, their deep understanding of our products, and their ability to authentically represent our brand values. We seek individuals who embody the spirit of craftsmanship, authenticity, and community, and whose personal ethos aligns seamlessly with ours. Through meaningful collaborations and shared values, our ambassadors serve as authentic advocates, enriching the Casa Lumbre experience for our consumers.

Where can Casa Lumbre be purchased/tasted?

Many of our brands can be found at great bars and restaurants around the city such as: Sweet Liberty, DOYA. Medium Cool and Minibar and our brands can be purchased to take home at Vintage Wine and Liquors In Midtown.

Additionally, we regularly host tasting events and collaborate with bars and restaurants throughout Miami and NYC that share our commitment to quality and innovation, providing opportunities for consumers to experience the unique flavors and craftsmanship of Casa Lumbre spirits firsthand.

The one and only, Busta Rhymes will headline this year’s  The Little Lighthouse Foundation’s (LLF) 14th annual Hearts & Stars Gala. The event will take place on Saturday, March 16th, from 9PM to 2AM at the Miami Design District’s Jungle Plaza. All proceeds will support LLF’s mission to aid underserved children and families in South Florida facing educational, financial, and medical hardships.

This year’s gala, hosted by the acclaimed Jenise Fernandez, a six-time Emmy award-winning anchor and reporter from Local 10 ABC News, is to feature live performances throughout the night, and music by Ibiza DJ Jordi Ruz inviting guests to dance the night away. In keeping with the Tokyo theme, the gala will feature culinary delights from top South Florida restaurants and caterers, including Kissaki, Pubbelly Sushi, Suviche, and more, paired with an extravagant production for a memorable experience. Guests can enjoy a variety of premium beverages from an open bar sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Bacardi Rum, El Mayor Tequila, Penelope Bourbon, Kirin Ichiban, Stella Artois, Tita Italian Fine Wines, Soto Sake, Odyssey Energy Drink, LaCroix sparkling water, and Icelandic still water.

The evening will also include a special video game activation, a Samurai Lounge, drift cars, a silent auction item from “Whip Fundraising” and a live auction, including the Zero-G Experience and  a yacht package from Regal Yachts. The VIP lounge area will offer a two kilogram Calvisius Caviar station sponsored by Tita Italian.

During the event, LLF will present its Shining Light Award to Harley Lipman, CEO & Founder of Genesis10, and honor Aaron Lucus as its Volunteer of the Year.

Tickets and VIP tables are available for purchase at www.HeartsAndStarsGala.com. VIP tables offer nightclub-style seating for 10 with unlimited bottle service. General Admission tickets start with a donation of $250 per person, with VIP access available for $750 per person. The required donation to attend will increase. Black-tie formal attire is required.

Mezcal Union hosted an intimate party at Dante’s HiFi on February 21 featuring some of the brand’s unique mezcal creations. Our favorite was the Golden Hour Margarita.

Guests at the party were treated to customized sweatshirts, light bites, free flowing Mezcal Union margaritas, and wonderful tunes spun by the master DJs at Dantes.

Lucky residents of the 305 will be able to try these one-of-a-kind mezcal margaritas for themselves at some of the hottest spots in the city: 

• Calle Dragones *Only offering the El Melocotonero 
• Salvaje *Only offering the El Melocotonero 
• Broken Shaker
• Hoja Taqueria
• The Corner
• Tipsy Flamingo
• Serena Rooftop *cocktails available starting 2/23

See below for recipes.

Golden Hour Margarita Ingredients: 1.25 oz Mezcal Unión Uno0.25 oz Chile Liqueur0.75 oz  Clarified lime juice0.75 oz Golden Milk (turmeric milk) * Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until the cocktail is thoroughly chilled. Strain into rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a dehydrated orange half and a sprig of fresh rosemary. Garnish: Dehydrated orange half & rosemary Glassware: RocksIce: Cubes *Golden Milk Recipe  Ingredients:2 cups coconut milk1 teaspoon ground turmeric0.25 teaspoon ground cinnamonpinch black pepper1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey Instructions: Add ingredients into a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Give the mixture a good stir and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Make sure to stir it occasionally so that the turmeric powder and cinnamon don’t clump up.

El Melocotonero Margarita Ingredients: 1 oz Mezcal Unión Uno0.75 oz sherry0.5 oz peach liqueur0.5 oz agave nectar0.5 oz lemon juice2 dashes of Orange Bitters Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until the cocktail is thoroughly chilled. Strain into rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint speared through a peach ring candy. Garnish: Mint sprig & peach ring candy Glassware: Rocks Ice: Cubes

Ketel One Vodka will delight fans with the debut of The Ketel One Bar at DRV PNK Stadium, the home of Inter Miami CF. The innovative bar, nestled on the first floor of the NW Club Bar, will offer premium, ready-to-serve cocktail classics like the Ketel One Cosmopolitan and Ketel One Espresso Martini. The bar will also feature new serves with a distinctive Magic City twist, like the Miami Rosa, a fresh-tasting fusion of Ketel One Vodka and bright grapefruit, among others. In addition to The Ketel One Bar, fans can expect to find Ketel One signage displayed prominently throughout DRV PNK Stadium.
To complement its partnership, Ketel One will also take the fan experience beyond the bar, offering exclusive promotional opportunities and activations at select Inter Miami CF Fan Zones during home matches. Fans and followers of both Ketel One Vodka and Inter Miami CF are encouraged to stay tuned for exciting initiatives and activations that will roll out in the coming months.

A star-studded weekend awaits as the 23rd annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) makes its return to Miami Beach to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. from February 22-25, 2024. The four-day Festival, which has become a haven for culinary enthusiasts and celebrity admirers alike, will be bigger than ever, featuring never before seen events, robust musical programming, and a lineup of A-list celebrity talent alongside returning signature events, intimate sit-down experiences, interactive master classes and more. 

“I like to think of the Festival as a perpetual journey of excitement and reinvention. We’re not just curating events; we’re crafting experiences based on what our audience craves,” states Lee Schrager, SOBEWFF® Founder and Director. “The key is being receptive to feedback, seeking out rising talent, and using current events as a compass to help navigate the Festival year after year. It’s a culinary dialogue, a continuous effort. It’s also imperative we never forget why we embarked on this flavorful adventure – to passionately support and give back to FIU, ensuring a legacy that goes beyond taste, leaving an indelible mark on education and culinary excellence.” 

The Festival festivities will kick off on Thursday, February 22 with the 17th annual Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons® hosted by Rachael Ray. More than 30 of the country’s most beloved restaurants and chefs will go head-to-head in creating the juiciest and most flavorful burgers the Festival’s ever seen. The fan-favorite event will host a celebrity panel of judges including American rapper, producer, DJ, and television personality Rev Run, American model and actress Kate Upton, three-time Emmy award-winning journalist and NBC 6 news anchor Trina Robinson, national radio host and President and Chief Creative Officer of iHeart Latino Enrique Santos, and Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton from the American sitcom television series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” who will crown one very talented chef with the coveted Schweid & Sons® The Very Best Burger Award. Guests will also have the chance to crown their favorite burger and vote for the People’s Choice Award. The highly anticipated Celebrity Chef Pickleball Tournament presented by Whispering Angel hosted by Tara Bernstein and Hunter Fieri will return to the Miami Beach Golf Club with Food Network star Jeff Mauro as emcee. This year, Festival attendees will have the chance to go against their favorite celebrities and chefs on the court as the Festival will be selling tickets allowing two teams of two to participate in the tournament. 

Throughout the weekend, attendees can spot their favorite stars and musicians at Festival events all around the city. On Saturday, February 24, Grammy-nominated performer and producer DJ CASSIDY will put on a special performance presented by Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey at the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village. On the same night, Les Greene & The Swayzees will be performing on the mainland at Smorgasburg After Dark hosted by Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy and Robert Irvine. The David Grutman Experience will return on Sunday, February 25, turning the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village courtyard into a mini music festival. While talent will be announced closer to the event, guests can expect unforgettable performances curated by the nightlife and hospitality empresario himself, which in the past have featured the likes of French Montana, DJ Khaled, Cedric Gervais, Alesso, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris and more. Rev Run will close out the Festival with a special performance at the official closing event – BACARDĺ presents The Block Party hosted by Melba Wilson and Andrew Zimmern – which takes on a new block party theme this year. New and exciting events include Jazz Brunch at Delilah Miami, Miami’s hottest new supper club, hosted by Daniel Roy and Pablo Zitzmann, and Dinner hosted by Zak Stern, Michael Beltran and Jose Mendín at Regener8 Farm. 

For those who prefer smaller, more intimate experiences, the festival has curated a plethora of new dinners, brunches, and seated experiences including Brunch at Chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro Coral Gables and Kosher Dinner hosted by Zak Stern, Timon Balloo, Nando Chang, & Shimi Alon. The Festival’s most coveted star-studded sit down event, the Tribute Dinner honoring Massimo Bottura and Luca Garavoglia hosted by Master of Ceremonies “The Pasta Queen” Nadia Caterina Munno presented by HexClad, will take place on Saturday, February 24, and honor the outstanding accomplishments of the culinary community’s beloved and iconic Massimo Botturra, along with Luca Garavoglia of Campari Group. The sensational, Nadia Caterina Munno, widely known as “The Pasta Queen”, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, and a stellar cast of chefs including Bernardo Paladini, Albert Adrià Acosta, Alain Ducasse and Alberto Marcolongo, Antonio Bachour, Mauro Colagreco, and Jordi Roca i Fontané will serve up dishes to pair perfectly with some of the finest wines from the Campari Group portfolio. An extravagant Live Auction featuring once-in-a-lifetime travel and dining experiences will also be available for bidding. 

The not-to-be-missed FIU Embrace Dinner hosted by David Myers, Pablo Zitzmann and Ralph Scamardella will be held at ADRIFT Mare at Hotel AKA Brickell on Thursday, February 22. In partnership with the FIU Embrace Center for Advancing Inclusive Communities, this dinner aims to empower differently-abled individuals, giving them real-world experience as volunteers in the event, while raising funds for a scholarship program designed to support these students in pursuing hospitality careers through the university’s program. With over $37 million raised in support of its educational mission, the Festival continues to shape the future leaders of the hospitality industry at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU). This dinner will be an unforgettable celebration of culinary talent, diversity, and the Festival’s continued mission – to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. – in new and necessary ways.

Tickets for the Festival are On Sale NOW, with events that suit all different tastes and budgets at sobewff.org. To stay up to date on Festival happenings all year long, guests are encouraged to follow along with the #SOBEWFF hashtag on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

February 18^th is National Drink Wine Day and Graziano’s is the place to be on this extremely important holiday. With wines spanning from several different countries coming from Italy to Spain to France to Argentina, Graziano’s vast wine selection has something that will be to accommodate to everyone’s liking. At Graziano’s good wine is always accompanied by extraordinary food: authentic Argentinian dishes expertly crafted and served with care.

Graziano’s extends its presence with 11 locations across Miami, inviting customers to explore both restaurants and markets situated in Bird Road, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Aventura, Doral, and Weston. Visit: https://www.grazianosgroup.com/