This weekend, November 22nd & 23rd, the UK’s first Tequila & Mezcal Festival takes place, here is a look at some of the talks and exhibitors you can enjoy there.
A couple of rooms filling to burst with tequila and mezcal over two days sounds pretty damn good to BarLifeUK. Combine that with talks from some of the UK’s leading experts and traditional Mexican street food and the only worry is when we’ll have time to do anything else this weekend.
The talks are split so both consumers and trade can get something out of the show, we have picked out some of our favourites that we think you lovely lot will be most interested in.
Saturday 22nd November
15:00 President and Director of the National Chamber of Tequila Eduardo Orendain & Francisco Sotero Educate you on Tequila thought its present, past and future. (session also taking place at 12:30 on Sunday)
16:15 Don Julio’s Brand Ambassador Deano Moncrieffe explores Tequila & Chocolate Pairing if you fancy something a bit sweeter (Herradura’s Nicci Stringfellow takes over the talk at 15:00 on Sunday)
18:45 ‘The Agave Brothers: The Unique Personalities of Tequila & Mezcal’ – Find out what truly lies at the core of these incredible spirits. Leading experts and personalities from both sides of the agave tell their story. Olmeca Altos’s Matthias Lataille & Gaby Moncada of Jose Cuervo alongside QuiQuiRiQui’s Brand Owner Melanie Symonds & The Mezcal Man Jon Anders of Del Maguey.
Sunday 23rd November
13:45 ‘A Journey Through The Terroir Of The Agave’ – Terroir plays an integeral part in the production of agave spirits. Join agave experts Jon Anders and Jesse Estes as they guide us through the villages of Oaxaca and the valleys and highlands of Jalisco and reveal how terroir influences the flavour profiles of tequila and mezcal.
16:15 ‘The Agave Brothers: The Unique Personalities of Tequila & Mezcal’ – Saturdays talk gets a twist with a new panel exploring these incredible spirits. Arette’s Brand Ambassador Steve Enderby & Stefano Francovilla Calle 23 Brand Owner with Papadiablo, Enmascarado Brand Ambassador Thom Bullock & Derrumbes & Ilegal Brand Ambassador Tom Bartran.
17:00 Unleash your inner-barback as Olmeca Altos’s Brand Ambassador Mathais Lataille will host the Festivals lime squeezing competition.
Exhibitors
As we mentioned, there are plenty of brands to enjoy as well over the two days with the following products all on hand to sample with and chat to.
Tequila – 1800, Alacran, Altos, Ambar, Arette, Cabrito, Calle 23, Centinela, Dobel, Don Fulano, Don Julio, Excellia, Herencia Mexicana, Herradura, Jose Cuervo, Ocho, Sierra Milenario and Tapatio
Mezcal – Alacran, Alipus, Aprendiz, Buen Suceso, Bruxo, Del Maguey, Derrumbes, Enmascarado, Ilegal, Jaral de Berrio, Lagrimas de Dolores, Los Danzantes, Marca Negra, Papadiablo, Pescador de Suenos, Pierde Almas, QuiQuiRiQui, San Cosme, Siete Misterios and Vago.
To top it all off the lovely folks at Tequila & Mezcal Fest are giving all BarLifeUK readers a £5 discount on the ticket price. Simply enter BarLifeUK into the promotional code box on the registration page here and you are good to go.
See you all there.