If Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s work-night show in Sunrise two Thursdays ago (the only Florida date on their current Land of Hope And Dreams tour) wasn’t an option for you, E Street’s Little Steven Van Zandt headed into Tampa by himself last Friday to host a no-cover mezcal launch party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa. And this wasn’t just another artist slapping their name onto a spirit, either.
At a VIP pre-party, the Boss’ 75-year-old right-hand man told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that his partnership with St. Johnsbury Distillery gave him a major hand in establishing Malvado Maple Mezcal’s formula, mentioning how he only wants the highest quality possible in the few products with his name tied in.
During some quick opening remarks at the party, Van Zandt, rocking his standard eclectic, pirate-ish regalia and bandana, revealed that the spirit’s maple infusions were courtesy of some maple trees owned by his friend in Vermont…