On this week’s episode of The Sauce podcast, we’re joined by Michael Fricker, owner of Monstera Mezcaleria & Natural Wine Bar on South Grand. He shares how a neighborhood bottle shop rebranded into a true mezcaleria focused on traditional, producer-owned agave spirits, plus the recent renovation that transformed Monstera into a full cocktail bar with retail.
We dive into standout drinks like the Monstera cocktail with mango-coriander raicilla, the mole-inspired Monstera Negroni, and a new mezcal-and-soda pairing program. Mike also talks about New Society, his speakeasy-style bar with Meredith Barry of Platypus and Netflix’s Drink Masters, and previews Copita, a Mexican spirits festival coming September 21 with 40 brands and 200+ bottles to taste.
He also shares details on his upcoming Oaxaca project, Malcriado, and why St. Louis is quickly becoming a world-class bar city.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube, or listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
This article appears in August 2025.