Metro Detroit restaurant M Cantina earns Guinness World Record for agave spirits
Junior Merino is known not only for serving an array of contemporary Mexican cuisine as chef and owner of M Cantina in Dearborn but also for the restaurant's cocktail and beverage program. The restaurant on Michigan Avenue houses a vast selection of spirits, particularly 100% agave.
Now Merino, also a mixologist known as 'the Liquid Chef,' can add an official world record title holder for that impressive array of agave spirits that includes tequilas, mezcals, raicillas, bacanoras, sotols and others.
On Tuesday, June 10, Merino earned a Guinness World Record title for having the most commercially available agave spirits in a restaurant.
"Achieving this record is an honor,' Merino said in a news release, 'and it inspires us to continue exploring and celebrating Mexico's vibrant spirit culture while elevating Americans' understanding that Mexican food and beverage isn't cheap — and is just as rich as any other storied culture in the world."
On site at M Cantina was Chloe McCarthy, the Official Guinness World Records adjudicator who certified Merino's collection of 1,825 distinct bottles of 100% agave spirits.
Merino's collection is nearly 800 bottles more than the previous record of 1,033, set in 2024 by a New Jersey restaurant.
'Of the 1825 bottles, they're all the most high quality and authentic in nature,' McCarthy said in a news release. 'As part of Junior's effort to dispel the notions that tequila is hard to process or makes you feel sick, the most high quality spirits don't do that. I was touched by that.'
Merino opened M Cantina, at first without a liquor license, eight years ago this week. The restaurant's menu specializes in gourmet Latino street food. Recognized by the Mexican government as an Official Ambassador of Gastronomy & Tourism & Promoter of All Mexican Beverages, Merino spent years curating his extensive selection of spirits, sourcing from various artisanal producers.
Also at M Cantina on Tuesday for the Guinness certification was Giovanni Alcala, a representative from the government of the Mexican state of Jalisco.
'Jalisco is one of the biggest producers of tequila, so I'm just here out of pride for the work Junior has been doing the last few years for the Mexican community,' Alcala said in a news release. 'He's helping contribute to getting more promotion for agave spirit beverages.'
While M Cantina has a vast collection of world-renowned agave spirits, there's also an impressive collection of rare whiskey. While enjoying M Cantina's selection of gourmet Mexican cuisine, guests have an opportunity to enjoy and learn about the collection through educational experiences.
M Cantina, at 13214 Michigan Ave., in Dearborn, is open for lunch and dinner daily. For more information visit mcantina.com.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dearborn's M Cantina agave spirits recognized by Guinness World Record
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