The native New Yorker experienced something new in Mexico and said, "Somebody needs to bring this to America."
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, more? The Real Housewives of New York City’s Erin Lichy and her husband, Abe Lichy, are steadily building an empire.
In a preview for Season 15, Episode 6, Erin said she and her husband are “muy emocionado” (that’s "very excited" in Spanish) to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in spirited fashion, having launched their very own brand of mezcal. However, in the couple’s Upper West Side apartment, Erin admitted she was “too stressed” over their upcoming celebrations to express her joy about the new biz aptly.
While preparing gift bags for her guests, Erin told her husband she still had to cut the guest list from 260 to the venue’s maximum capacity of 180 — though still more than Jessel Taank’s Clueless-themed birthday bash from Season 15, Episode 5.
“We just want to celebrate,” Erin excitedly said of her new brand.
What is Erin and Abe Lichy’s new business?
Last year, the married couple launched Mezcalum, their very own brand of mezcal featuring all-natural ingredients. The spirited business is not only up and running, but alive and thriving, having already found its way into 800 accounts, according to the New York-based mother of three in the recent teaser.
Erin said they were even approached by MetLife Stadium to be its exclusive on-site mezcal brand.
“I can’t even believe how well it’s done,” she gleamed.
How did Erin and Abe discover their love of mezcal?
“Abe and I went to Tulum, Mexico, about 12 years ago, and our house manager came over with these nondescript bottles of mezcal,” Erin explained. “He started telling us all about the history of mezcal, and basically saying, ‘Tequila’s like the poor man’s drink. Mezcal is what we Mexicans drink.'"
Erin’s idea?
“Somebody needs to bring this to America,” the Housewife told producers.
What we know about Mezcalum
According to the Mezcalum website, Erin and Abe sought to “bottle that sense of magic and discovery” they found in Mexico and bring it back to the States. They teamed up with fourth-generation mezcalero Carlos Mendez Blas to honor the “heritage and history of Oaxacan palenques.”
Blas is an award-winning mezcalero who co-owns a distillery first established by his family in 1930, according to the website. The site details the agricultural side of creating the drink by using Espadín agave from the hillsides of Santiago de Matalán and cuishe types of the plant from the Oaxacan mountains.
Mezcalum uses 95 percent Espadín and five percent wild cuishe, for anyone who enjoys knowing the particulars of their liquors.
“We’re committed to authentic production techniques and sustainably harvested, all-natural ingredients,” the website continues. “Mezcalum is always free of all additives, sugars, and GMOs, and is naturally vegan and gluten-free. Sometimes, simple really is better.”
The site goes into the process of harvesting, cooking, fermenting, and distilling. A separate page features a colorful array of cocktails to include Mezcalum, such as spicy frozen watermelon margaritas, mezcal mules, and the coconut jalapeño mezcalita, to name just a few.
Erin is excited to bring the drink to her fellow Housewives, including Jenna Lyons, Brynn Whitfield, Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, plus newcomer Racquel Chevremont. Her and Abe's Mezcalum celebrations are expected to be featured later in the season.
“This is the first time since we launched that we’re gonna have everybody …” Abe said in the Season 15, Episode 6 clip. “It’s wild.”
Bottoms up, folks!
Watch more about the Lichys' mezcal ventures in all-new episodes of The Real Housewives of New York City, airing Tuesdays at 9/8c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock.
