Charles Koh
Tickets go on sale starting May 5 (Cinco de Mayo)
Each summer, Northwest Tequila Fest brings a little slice of Mexico to the Pacific Northwest for a day of sunshine, cocktails, traditional music, and of course, agave spirits. The third annual event takes place at Phinney Neighborhood Center in Seattle on Aug. 9, 3 to 8 p.m. with VIP access beginning at 2 p.m. Ticket sales for this uniquely Mexican event kick off, and largest tequila and mezcal tasting in the Northwest—fittingly is on May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) at www.nwtequilafest.com. For those who buy tickets on May 5, use code CINCO10 for the first 24 hours and get $10 off!
Tequila, the first distilled spirit of the Americas, is made exclusively from the Weber Blue agave under the supervision of the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) under the Mexican government. Like Champagne or Bourbon, Tequila is a product of specific origin (mainly Jalisco and several others). Aging and finishing techniques add further nuances, which festival exhibitors help navigate. Mezcal, conversely, is made almost always from the Espadin agave (a small portion from indigenous Oaxacan agave varieties). Most distillers of Mezcal are smaller and relatively unknown, bringing the spirit a current underground cult following amongst Seattle-area bartenders. Mezcal, being distilled only once, is known for a more rugged taste than tequila. The festival sheds light on this emerging spirit.
Participants include such producers as El Tesoro, Don Julio, Los Altos, Cazadores, and returning best Mezcal winner Wahaka Mezcal (as voted by 2013 NWTF attendees).
Bartenders: have a worthy NWTF cocktail recipe? Enter the festival’s cocktail competition by June 1 and you could win a trip to Mexico! The top three cocktails will be made live and judged at the festival. Submission: www.nwtequilafest.com/?page_id=810.
Tickets for the festival are sold in three package levels:
Blanco – General Admission, $45 ($55 at the door): includes a souvenir tasting cup, 8 tasting tokens to sample tequila, mezcal, beer and cocktails.
Reposado – VIP level, $65: includes a Glencairn tasting glass, 10 tasting tokens, and early entry (2 p.m.) the day of the festival.
Anejo – VIP level with education, $125 (Only 35 tickets available!): A must for the serious agave lover, get a Glencairn tasting glass,12 tasting tokens, early VIP entry (2 p.m.) the day of the festival, plus an exclusive pass to a Thursday, Aug. 7 VIP tasting with certified tequila expert Clayton Szczech of Experience Tequila (time and location to be announced).* Szczech, who travels to production areas and works with the Tequila Regulatory Council in pursuit of constant education, embodies the philosophy that tequila should be sipped and savored, the history and culture observed and appreciated, and the region visited and absorbed.
A portion of all ticket sales benefit the Seattle Benevolent Guild, a non-profit group committed to assisting children’s charities and support groups in the Puget Sound area. Additionally, proceeds from sales of the festival’s tax-free retail area, in which all festival products will be sold, will also benefit Seattle Benevolent Guild. Learn more about the festivities at www.nwtequilafest.com.
