It’s another tequila sunset this weekend at Hotel Congress’s annual summer’s-nearly-here celebration, the Agave Fest.
This year’s lineup looks better than ever, with special dinners and academic lectures in addition to the tasting of agave-based spirits. Congress has partnered with Visit Tucson and the Mexican Consulate to bring world-renowned mescal expert Sergio Inurrigarro from Mexico City.
He’ll kick off Saturday night with a lecture on “Tequila Basics: What is Agave, Cooking Methods, and Aging,” along with local sommelier David Torkko. At 6 p.m., Congress will break out 50 different types of tequila, mescal, sotol, bacanora and more. (You get 10 tasting tickets, so spend them wisely.)
Various treats will be available to line your stomach: mescal-infused chocolate, a taco and salsa bar, and — wait for it! — grasshoppers. (Commonly known as chapulines in Mexico.)
Chef Janos Wilder will also host a four-course agave dinner Friday night at Maynards, with delights including a Mexican lime and celery ice cream with blanco tequila.
During the event, bartenders from the Cup Cafe, Hotel Congress and Maynards will face off in the Roger Clyne’s Mexican Moonshine Cocktail Competition. Live music is provided by Vox Urbana.
Congress’s marketing manager Michelle Armstrong says organizers have even bigger dreams for the party next year. They’re hoping to grow it into a five-to-seven day event, with performances, lectures and exhibits across downtown.
“I think (agave) is more geographically significant to our city than anything else, like vodka,” she said. “You can learn a little bit more about these plants, and the region of Mexico they come from and their cultural significance.”
