Liam Gallagher's Mexican Standoff

Liam Gallagher with The FA Cup

I had one of the greatest experiences of my life last fall, bumping into Liam Gallagher on his birthday. Never mind that "Definitely Maybe" was one of my most revered records during my formative years. Never mind that he was perhaps the last of the line of great and destructive rock icons that once defined the genre. Nope, what I was really stoked about was chirping one of Manchester City's most famed and ardent supporters. At the time United was once again top of the table in the Premiership, buoyed by a strong start from a new generation of United youngsters such as Tom Cleverly, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, and Phil Jones. A team that won the title with one of its oldest teams the year before was once again turning heads with a starting 11 that boasted an average age of 23. I asked Liam how it felt looking up at United once again, in spite of the billion dollars in oil money that had been spent to try and buy their way to the top. I half expected my next question would be for the bit of floor my face was sure to be pressed upon. Instead I was treated to the afternoon of a lifetime.

Perhaps having his wife and child sitting at the nearest table came to be my fortune, or perhaps curiousity about having a sports conversation with a Canadian that didn't centre around hockey. I'd like to think it was the tequila however, and a love of the beautiful game that lead to two rivals sitting down for an hours peaceful discourse.

Imagine my surprise as he heaped praise on Sir Alex Ferguson. His methodology for empire building was something he truly respected. Despite the fact that his City boys had secured the most star studded lineup on the planet, he remained unconvinced they had the intangibles upon which United had built 3 decades of world domination. When it came up he was celebrating his birthday, I insisted upon buying him a drink.

"Anything Patron" he said.

Now, I could have simply obliged, but thats really just not my style. I instead ordered up two Tromba Blanco's, and gave a brief lesson on why. While Patron is undoubtedly top class tequila, I have a personal resistance to overpaying on products that incorporate too large a branding cost into their product. It has nothing to do with the hipster aesthetic of avoiding products I see on billboards, rather simple Ukranian numbers crunching. In Odessa, they throw around nickles like they're man-hole covers, and this here Ukie has no interest in paying for billboard adverts when getting off my ass drunk.. Tromba however, is the kind of underdog story I find truly inspiring. Unlike the Avion's of the world, making their name from product placement in a past its prime HBO series, here was a great product, from the former master distiller at Don Julio, in a slick package, that simply sold itself. One drink in, and Liam was onboard for an hour of tequila shots and football talk.

We talked everything football. From the plight of the national team, to the failures of the modern footballer, to our vastly different experiences in having seen an Old Trafford Matchday live. Completely absent was the snarly ego that defined his musical persona, instead he was engaging, thoughtful and fully passionate about the game. You really have to give credit to City fans. 4 decades removed from their last trophy at any level, their's is a support of the most noble and loyal pedigree. Living in Manchester, the home of the world's biggest football club, whose legend has been built upon on an unparralelled degree of excellence, it would be easy to slide into a comfy red kit and join that most fantastic chorous. But instead City fans remain true to their childhood walks to Eastlands. Their blue colar, boyhood club. As a Hamilton Tiger Cat season seat holder, I can respect that loyalty. It comes from a place most sports fans cannot even fathom.

Sixty minutes and half a bottle of Tromba later, I felt I should probably allow his family some Liam time. It was the man's birthday afterall, and I was simply amazed at the courtesy he showed by indulging me so much. I wished him nothing but success in securing second place, and made my way home.

I was reminded of Liam's newfound tequila this morning, when Tromba's Canadian face came into One today to talk shop. Eric Brass is literally the driving force behind this brand's success. It was only a year ago that he was literally going around with bottles of Tromba in his backpack to venues throughout the city and in the process secured such prolific accounts as One Restaurant, the Thompson Hotel and Reposado. Over the next months it would be enjoyed by the likes of Lennox Lewis and Liam Gallagher and found an ever growing cult following. From those humble beginnings, I am happy to let you all know that Tromba has achieved that most unattainable goal in the world of spirits and has been listed by the worlds largest buyer, the LCBO. Thats correct. You can now enjoy this fantastic tequila in your own home simply by going to your nearest LCBO location. Its no small feat. And its very well deserved. But dont take my word for it. Or Liam Gallagher's. Just go get some.