04/25/2026
Five years ago today, the world lost Tomas Estes, one of a handful of friends honored in Henry’s Corner, at both The Dead Rabbit NY and San Patricios.
Tom’s professional achievements are many. Over the course of 40 years, he opened 18 restaurants in 6 countries - including Cafe Pacifico, London, which turns 40 next month. He launched Ocho Tequila in 2008, spoke 4 languages, and served as the Mexican Ambassador of Tequila to Europe. Queen, Hunter S Thompson, the Jackson Five and Tina Turner all dined at his restaurants, and Debby Harry waited three hours for a table. His debut book, The Tequila Ambassador, sold out in its first year, with a follow-up, Version Originale, released posthumously in 2024.
But Tom was loved for more than just his career. As a youngster, he drove a Triumph with no shoes or shirt and would sneak cars from his native California over the border to Mexico. He knew a chain-smoking monkey called Devil, and he was both a wrestler and a teacher before he turned his hand to Tequila.
He was an incredibly proud father, a devoted friend, and a mentor to many. As anyone who met Tom can attest, he was love personified, and we are all the richer for having known him, met him, read his work, enjoyed his venues, or drank his Tequila - and what a Tequila it is.
We remember Tom every day, and should you find yourself sitting beneath his photo, or simply passing through, we encourage you to raise a toast - salud, amor, dinero y tiempo para disfrutarlos.
