Spirits of Mexico Festival to Present More Than Two Hundred Varietals of Tequila at Tasting Event Sept. 15th

September 4, 2012

Tequila aficionados and budding enthusiasts will have the opportunity to discover just how complex and fascinating tequilas, mezcals, sotols and other Mexican spirits can be at the Spirits of Mexico Festival happening Sept. 9th through 15th in Old Town San Diego. The festival’s main tasting event on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m., will feature more than 70 brands of more than 200 varietals from well-known to smaller, independent producers, who will provide generous samplings of their best spirits.

Upon entering the scene of this year’s main event, guests will be treated to a specially designed welcome cocktail courtesy of Herradura Tequila and Cointreau Liqueur. Casa de Reyes restaurant will prepare tasty hors d’oeuvres for guests to pair with the tequilas presented and a silent auction featuring rare and collectible bottlings will run throughout the night.  Celebrated authors, critics, mixologists, master distillers and other industry experts, including a third generation jimador will also make special appearances and educational seminars will run in intervals to educate attendees about the history, distillation process and appropriate tasting techniques.

 “Much like fine wines, cognacs and whiskies, agave spirits have complex flavor notes and aromas that entice and warm the palate,” said Dori Bryant, executive director and festival founder. “The main tasting event not only brings together the largest collection of agave spirits the average person will ever encounter, it also provides expert guidance and educational seminars to guide a novice on how to develop their palate and enjoy these spirits the way they are intended.”

With the most participants in the event’s nine-year history, tequila brands that have signed on so far include: Alderete, Alquimia, Antiguo, Apocalypto, Arta, Azunia, Casa 1921, Cazadores, Chinaco, Comisario, Corzo, Crotalo, Don Fulano, Don Julio, Don Modesto, Don Pilar, Dos Armadillos, el Jimador, EC Charro, el Perdido, Flashbang, Fortaleza, Gran Centenario, Gran Orendain, Herradura, Jose Cuervo, Karma, Milagro, Montalvo, Muerto, Puerto Vallarta, Pura Vida, Regional, Reserva de la Familia and T1 Tequila Uno. Other Mexican spirits will include mezcals Los Amantes, Maria, Mijes, Oro de Oaxaca and Scorpion and Don Cuco sotol. In addition, Flashbang Single Shot Spirits will make its festival debut and the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry will introduce ten new brands.

To be held at the McCoy Garden Courtyard at 4016 Wallace Street in Old Town, general admission tickets for the Spirits of Mexico main tasting event are $50 and $10 per seminar.  VIP tickets, which include early entrance at 6 p.m., gift bags for the first 200 reservations and admittance to all seminars, are $75. To purchase tickets, visit thespiritsofmexico.com/main-tasting-event.

Other events part of the week-long Spirits of Mexico Festival include a Tequila Trail sponsored by Cointreau Liqueur on Sept. 9, where guests will sample select tequilas and mezcals, vote for the winner of the 2012 Spirits of Mexico Cocktail Challenge and savor culinary specialties from 12 of Old Town’s celebrated eateries. The 6th Annual Tasting Competition, the festival’s only private event, takes place at the Hacienda Hotel Sept. 10 through 11. Winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner and Ceremony Sept. 14. Featuring a one-of-a-kind, agave-infused cuisine prepared by Barra Barra Saloon Executive Chef Jose Pulido and a live auction hosted by Windy City’s Live’s Emmy-award winning Mark DeCarlo, tickets to the Awards Dinner are $95. The festival will culminate with a Poco Tequila-sponsored Lobster Bus Tour to Puerto Nuevo, Baja California on Sept. 16. Proceeds from all auctions will benefit the Sky Ranch Foundation.

For more information about the Spirits of Mexico event or to purchase tickets to the Tequila Trail or Awards Dinner and Ceremony, visit www.thespiritsofmexico.com.