Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Keane
Sean, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Sean Keane and I’m on an odyssey to create my own Mezcal brand- O’Kahan Agave Mezcal.
In 2021, after 31 years in the US Army Special Operations/Special Forces, I retired as a Command Sergeant Major in order to ensure my marriage and the raising of my son maintained a successful and healthy course.
In my former business, it is rare to be around your children as they grow, let alone be on your original marriage. After much soul searching and expectation management, I found something that was focused on quality and maintaining the standards- Mezcal. In my retirement I found Mezcal or should I say it found me.
What was the spark that ignited this passion for creating O’Kahan Agave Mezcal? When I retired, I gave myself (my wife gave me most of them) some left and right limits when it came to future projects.
1) Stay out of harm’s way
2) Drop off and pick up my son at school.
3) don’t sacrifice family. Involve family always
4) I set the conditions.
I had several good opportunities, but it was always under someone else’s thumb and at the end of the day my hard work was for their greater benefit. And more importantly, the opportunities didn’t line up with my left and right limits.
I was introduced to Mezcal by my friend Bobby. At first, I was skeptical and yet intrigued by the taste of this smokey agave spirit. I had the same hesitations when I first tried scotch, bourbon, whiskey and IPAs. As my palate matured, I grew to appreciate those spirits as I do Mezcal now.
I worked my way into Mezcal by drinking Mezcal cocktails. Shortly after, I graduated into drinking Mezcal neat. As my knowledge of Mezcal grew I began to learn the purity and healthier side of this spirit. It was almost perfect timing as I began to be more aware of my gut health.
And then there are the standards of the Mezcal distillation. In a world where convenience is priority, I found something that has maintained its standards for generations. Quality over quantity. Small batch distillation…Artesanal
And finally, I wanted something that I could be proud of. Something that took sacrifice, hard work and grit to make happen. Something that put the pressure on me to succeed. To go into the unknown and figure things out. That had been my life for 31 years. Go with what you know.
So, almost a year ago I set off my Mezcal odyssey to weave through the unknown and start a Mezcal label from scratch. O’Kahan Agave is the unity of Irish and Mexican spirits through Mezcal…es La Vida. The O’Kahan label is a unity of the Mexican Sacred Heart and the Irish Claddagh Ring. The heart of the Agave symbolizes love and growth. The crown of Agave leaves represents loyalty. The hands that support represent friendship.
The core values of an organization are a direct reflection of the individuals that build the foundation. O’Kahan Agave’s values and character traits are developed and nurtured from how my Irish immigrant parents raised me, the challenges I overcame in the military and the lessons learned throughout my life.
I have since traveled in and out of Oaxaca and Mitla, Mexico developing relationships and building rapport with the Jimador, Mezcalero and the people of Mitla. On a trip this past March to Mitla, I was confronted by the Maestro Mezcalero and he informed me if I truly wanted to be in the Mezcal world that I should come stay with him for a month and do the whole Mezcal distillation process. The Maestro Mezcalero continued to say that if I do this, then I would have hands-on the first bottling of O’Kahan Agave Mezcal. I was told later that the Maestro Mezcalero has never offered this to anyone…let alone a gringo.
In a world of convenience and cutting corners, seeing this six generational Mezcal artesanal process where the “standards-are-the-standards all the time” was comforting. Where people, not equipment, made the critical difference. Seeing all that was the final piece of the puzzle for me. Upon returning from that trip, I started pursuing all my US and Mexican legalities, working on the label, websites, social media, funding, etc…creating a brand.
“Success comes not to those who desire it most, but to those who care deeply about what they do and feel compelled to create”. Daniel Edmund Williams
I believe in giving 100% commitment to everything I do. I believe in being a part of the whole process. Be a lion amongst the sheep.
On 04 Oct 2024, I landed in Mexico to pursue my odyssey/apprenticeship woking with the Jimador harvesting agave plants and then with the Maestro Mezcalero for cooking, crushing, fermentation and distillation, all while living within the community of Mitla.
I am currently still in Mitla, Mexico working the traditional artesanal hands-on process of making the first bottling of O’Kahan Agave Mezcal. It has been a very educational and physically demanding trip so far. Since I am the apprentice, I do all the basic work such as cut wood, move horse manure, move the agave waste (bagasse), cleaning the distillation areas, etc., all while taking part of each piece of the distillation process. It has and continues to be a remarkable experience.
I will return back to Atlantic Beach at the end of Oct with some of my first bottles of O’Kahan Agave Mezcal.
I believe the hardest parts are coming up and that is creating brand awareness, getting the brand out to the public and continuing to gain funding. I expect to have the first batch of O’Kahan Agave Mezcal at our warehouse in Jacksonville, FL around Feb/Mar 2025.
O’Kahan Agave is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.
Unleash your adventurous side with our 100% Artesanal Small Batch Mezcal, meticulously crafted by the esteemed 6th generation Maestro Mezcalero Valeriano Monterroza in the heart of Mitla, Oaxaca.
Join us on this journey where every sip embodies the richness of culture and the spirit of those who seek to elevate their moments, celebrate their connections, and experience the profound depth that is O’Kahan Agave Mezcal.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
So far, it has been like an old bumpy country dirt road. No mayor hold ups, but plenty of potholes. Weaving through the US Legalities associated with building a liquor brand hasn’t been too difficult, but the road hasn’t allows been clear on the “how to”. Luckily, my friend has already had several years in the Spirits and Wine industry and has helped me immensely in the process.
Creating the company logo and the label have been tedious. You really want the label to have meaning and a lot went into the label of O’Kahan Agave. Finding the right bottle has also been difficult, because the bottle you want may not be easily accessible in Mexico. I am currently looking at new bottles, because while I am here in Mexico I was informed I cannot get the bottle my label was designed for in Mexico. So, I am pursuing two other bottles, but this may cause for a label adjustment. The label itself has been kicked back three times by the Mexican Government Consejo Regulador del Mezcal (CRM) for minor stuff.
Funding has been slightly difficult. My family has contributed a sizable amount of funding, but the rest has been from friends, family and crowdfunding. It can be a little soul sucking asking people to donate money to your brand.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Before I pursued this O’Kahan Agave Mezcal odyssey, I was retired. I spent 31 years in the US Army Special Forces conducting unconventional operations around the world. I am very proud of my military career and the accomplishments I achieved during that 31 years. To retire a Command Sergeant Major at the General Officer level in Special Operations is a very small community.
I believe that quality draws quality. I am very proud of developing a reputation based on my actions, where quality Special Operators and Special Operations Enablers wanted to serve under my leadership. Leadership gets more difficult as you progress and I was always known as a leader that took care of his troops. My greatest military accomplishment was watching those who served with me go and do great things. Mentorship, whether it is from actions or discussions, is a critical piece in evreyones development.
As mentioned, I am drawn to quality over quantity. With O’Kahan Agave I pretty much do everything with the assistance and advising from my wife and friends.
What separates O’Kahan Agave Mezcal from other Mezcal brands is the pursuit of continues quality. As a consumer, you know that O’Kahan Agave skipped no steps in the process and maintained the artesanal standard at all times. The combination of the knowledge, experience, reputation, and maintaining the standards of a 6th generation Maestro Mezcalero and a 31 years of service Special Forces Operator guarantees you are drinking the best quality Mezcal in the world. O’Kahan Agave is 100% Agave pure…there are no additives.
Any big plans?
The present and future are like playing pool/billiards. The present is the shot you are about to take and the future is thinking ahead at your 2nd and 3rd shots based on your present shot. But, if you don’t make that 1st shot, then the 2nd and 3rd are no longer an option and you have to reassess.
My aperture is very dialed in on my first shot, Mezcal. Be great at this first, before opening the aperture to other ventures. O’Kahan Agave has four different agave plant Mezcals being produced. They all have their own unique tasting notes.
1) Espadin
2) Tobala
3) Lyobaa & Espadin Ensamble
4) Jabali & Espadin Ensamble
Once the initial Mezcal as gotten traction, I will say that my 2nd shot involves casking (oak, bourbon, whiskey, wine barrels), which is a little known process in the Mezcal world. My 3rd shot, O’Kahan Agave Tequila?
One lion is greater than 100 sheep. Quality Artesanal Mezcal can not be mass produced. It is my objective to nurture a small company that has a large impact, while enjoying a great an healthy family life,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.okahanagave.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okahanagave/profilecard/?igsh=MW5xcnZpZ2JubHEydQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okahanagave?mibextid=LQQJ4d
