Spirited and Sweet: Our Agave/Chocolate Tasting Was Pure Fun

Naturally Chicago’s March 1 live event, “Chocolate, Mezcal, Tequila and You,” was held at Vosges Haut-Chocolat’s event space and factory on Chicago’s North Side. The tasting was led by Lou Bank, a leading expert on agave spirits and founder of S.A.C.R.E.D., a non-profit dedicated to preserving the traditions and livelihoods of mezcal and tequila producers in Mexico. Photo by Bob Benenson.

Sometimes we plan a Naturally Chicago live community event that we just know is going to be a slam dunk.

Our March 1 event, “Chocolate, Mezcal, Tequila and You,” was held at the event space and factory of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, producer of luxe truffles and other treats.

It featured a discourse by Lou Bank, Chicago’s own agave spirits guru, who provided a deep dive on the differences between mezcal and tequila, how they are made, and why he created the non-profit organization S.A.C.R.E.D. (Saving Agave for Culture, Recreation, Education and Development).

Vosges was represented by Brand Ambassador Kayla Scharboneau, who shared the company's innovative flavors and rich story with others, bringing her artistic expertise and industry knowledge to the forefront.

What could go wrong? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The event was great fun, a flavorful and engaging learning experience.

We won’t give away too much of the content, because we want to encourage you to attend one of Lou’s high-energy tasting events: His event, “Copitas del Sol 2025: A Spirited Mixer,” is scheduled for Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art on July 27, and sounds like a can’t-miss for mezcal and tequila fans.

Click the button below to go to the S.A.C.R.E.D. website and sign up for Lou’s mailing list.

And you should visit Vosges Haut-Chocolate at 2950 N. Oakley in the West Lakeview neighborhood and buy some of their delicious sweets.

The following photos may whet your appetite(s).

Vosges entry sign. Photo by Bob Benenson.

These are the agave spirits that Lou brought out of his private collection to serve at the Naturally Chicago event. Photo by Bob Benenson.

Lou Bank of S.A.C.R.E.D. and Kayla Scharboneau of Vosges kept things lively at the tasting event. Photo by Bob Benenson.

We filled the room for the tasting event. Photo by Bob Benenson.

Many attendees stopped at Vosges’ beautiful store to bring home some of their delicious treats. Photo by Bob Benenson.

You might just want to put Vosges’ advent calendar on your planning list of the end-of-year holidays. Photo by Bob Benenson.