Holy Spirits: The Spiritual Lives of Clairin & Agave ($5,300)

To sponsor this seminar, choose one of our Annual Education Underwriting levels and add it to your cart. For more information about the different Annual Education Underwriting levels, click the link or continue to the bottom of the page.

We’ve all heard the saying that you shouldn’t discuss religion in a bar—but around the world, distilled spirits carry deep spiritual meaning. This seminar explores the relationship between spirits and religious ritual in Haiti and Mexico, where clairin and agave serve as vessels of ancestry, devotion, healing, and communal identity. These traditions preserve centuries of meaning through ritual, song, and agricultural practice. We bring together two voices rooted in this intersection of distillation and spirituality: Dr. Gueillant Dorcinvil, clairin distiller and community pastor in Saint Michel, Haiti, and Misty Kalkofen, agave scholar, educator, and theologian. Together, they will trace the spiritual lineages embedded in traditional production—the connections between land and prayer, farming and ceremony, fermentation and faith. From clairin’s role in Vodou and rural Haitian life to the sacred symbolism of agave in Mexican ritual traditions, this session reveals how these spirits embody cultural memory and spiritual practice. Participants will learn how distillers act not only as producers but as spiritual stewards whose spirits anchor celebration, harvest, grief, and resilience. Attendees will leave with a deeper appreciation for the sacred dimensions of clairin and agave and a respectful, informed framework for engaging with these spirits beyond flavor or technique.

Speakers:
Kiowa Bryan
GUEILLANT DORCINVIL
Misty Kalkofen

Logistics & Details

Seminars will be hosted at the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans and will range from 60-90 minutes. Brands will receive logo placement on the TOTC2025 agenda and signage and have the opportunity to have their product served during their sponsored seminar.

Seminar sponsorships are responsible for the underwriting of the spirits served and will be ordered through the Foundation.

Following May 18th, 2026, all confirmed partnerships will incur a 5% late fee (included in total at checkout) and payment is required in full by credit card.

Seminar Sponsorships - Annual Education Underwriting

The new Annual Education Underwriting model invites brands to support the TOTCF Education program year-round through a holistic lens, opening up opportunities beyond sponsoring seminars during the week of Tales of the Cocktail.

To sponsor this seminar, choose one of our Annual Education Underwriting levels and add it to your cart. To sponsor just 1 seminar, we recommend the Builder Level. To sponsor 2+ seminars and receive even more benefits, you can take advantage of our Mentor Level, Innovator Level, or Leader Level opportunities.