Not only do you get to try lots of agave based loveliness but there are talks and Mexican food, music. We even have a discount code for you.
Now in its third year Tequila & Mezcal Fest is fast becoming one of the must visit shows on the UK bartenders calendar. At its heart Tequila Fest is all about celebrating Mexico’s liquid export. Aim at both consumers and trade it is a fantastic way of enjoying and learning more about what Mexico has to offer.
This year it is taking place on the weekend of 17th & 18th September in the Boiler House at, everyones favourite event space, the Truman Brewery in Brick Lack, East London. Which is also handily located for a game of JunkYard Golf afterwards.
There is, as always, a huge amount of liquid to sample and learn about on stands throughout the show, with the likes of Patron, Olmeca, Casco Viejo, Herradura, Ocho, Fortaleza, El Jolgorio Mezcal, Nuestra Soledad Mezcal, Mezcales de Leyenda, Herencia de Plata and Amores Mezcal all having a presence (check out the full list of exhibitors here).
However it is the educational element of shows such as Tequila & Mezcal Fest that peak our interest and this time is no different.
There are a series of talks throughout the two days with plenty for everyone, we have picked out a few of our favourites to share with you (a full list of the seminars can be found on the Tequila Fest website):
Herradura’s Nicci Stringfellow is always an entertaining speaker and this time she is bringing together the world of tequila and chilli in her talk ‘Agave to Amarillo’. She will be exploring the world of chilli and tequila through history, science and, of course, flavour.
Gabriela ‘Gaby’ Moncada from Speciality Brands will be looking at the immense variety of agave spirits in her talk….. ‘The Immense Variety of Agave Spirits’. She will be discussing and tasting 3 different agave spirits made in different regions with totally unrelated styles of distillation processes.
‘Sustainable Cocktails’ is a very trendy subject right now and, as with most trendy things, BarLifeUK is a bit behind the ball. As a result we will be front and centre for Olmeca Altos’ Megs Miller’s talk on the subject, also because it’s Megs and she is always good fun.
Now a tequila event wouldn’t be a tequila event if at least one of the Estes family wasn’t involved. In this case it is Jesse who will be on hand alongside Gaby taking you on a journey through the Jaliscan Highlands, mountains and coast, the Tequila Valley, Oaxaca & San Luis Potosi, exploring the effects of terroir on various types of agave spirits.
We haven’t even covered half the talks taking place so you can tell there are plenty of good educational reasons to go.
All education and no drinking make us all dull people, but fear not Tequila Fest has you covered. Besides all the stands you have Patrón, who are bringing the ‘Margarita of the Year’ (no idea who voted it that but still….) to the UK for the first time. Fentimans have also got creative featuring two new cocktails for the show, one with mezcal and one tequila.
It all sounds like hungry work to us but don’t panic Barrio Bars, Lupita, Camion, Cafe Pacifico, Condesa and DF/Mexico will be around to serve up food and something to wash it down with.
Sounds like a pretty good couple of days to us. Just to sweeten the deal the generous folks behind the show are offering you, our dear readers, a £5 discount on the price of a ticket. Simply enter barlifeuk into the discount code box when you get booking.
For more information on the other talks, exhibitors, directions how to get there etc visit the Tequila & Mezcal Fest website