The Spirits of Mexico Las Vegas, held March 8-9, 2011 in conjunction with the 2011 Nightclub & Bar Show, was an awesome(!) celebration of the agave distillers' art. Informative and exciting seminars were given on sotol, mezcal, and the history of tequila - and the spirits flowed as well.
Juan Francisco Collado from 1921 Tequila and Tequila Professionals of America gave a presentation on obtaining the Distintivo 'T' certification for bars, restaurants, and liquor stores - essentially to provide customers assurance of the expertise of the establishment in tequila knowledge, proper service, and of a fine selection of quality tequilas. Jaclyn Jacquez gave a brief introduction to the spirit distilled by generations of her family, Don Cuco Sotol, made from its namesake agave relative, the sotol (Dasylirion wheeleri), which grows wild across much of the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico and the Big Bend region of Texas. And from Milagro Tequila, Company Mixologist Gaston Martinez created, for seminar attendees, an excellent roundup of palate-popping tequila cocktails going well beyond the margarita including the Blackberry Smash (with Milagro Anejo, sage, barrel-aged bitters, and of course, blackberries) and the TNT (for tangerine and tarragon with Milagro Reposado). Mmmm.
Speaking of Milagro and mixologists...also present at the Milagro booth was Gaston's colleague Charlotte Voisey, who will be giving a seminar here in Vancouver this Monday on the importance of the right kind, amount, and use of ice in cocktails for Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver.
Back to Las Vegas...the most interesting seminar for this author was on mezcal. Master Distiller Doug French from Scorpion Mezcal gave an excellent and at times whimsical seminar on both his product and the history and production process of mezcal in general, with tastings included from the espadin, tobala, and barril agaves. He also mentioned, fleetingly, yet oh so, tantalizingly, archaeological evidence of pre-Hispanic distillation in the area of Oaxaca in which he lives and produces his mezcal. More to explore for sure!
In another article, I will share my thoughts on some of the amazing and evocative tequilas and mezcals present and tasted at the show that either are or will soon be sold in Canada in the near future. For now, I will share a few of their names: T1 Tequila Uno, Kah Day of the Dead Tequila, Casa Noble, 1921, Mijes, and Scorpion - you'll have to check back to hear more!
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