Sep 17, 2026 | Read Online​

Know a fellow agave lover? Forward this to them.​

TASTING EVENTS

🔎 Find 100+ agave-themed dinners, tastings, happy hours, festivals, bar crawls, and other exciting events @ mezcalculture​
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FRIDAY - SEP 18

CA: Los Angeles
​Tequila Dinner Pairing - Tequila Dinner​
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​IL: Chicago
​Introduction to Maestros Del Mezcal - Mezcal Tasting​
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​MN: Minneapolis
​Live Mas Agave Spirits Tasting​
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​TX: Austin
​Austin Arte Agave Tequila & Mezcal Festival​
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​TX: Highland Village
​An Agave Experience​
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​TX: Houston
​Volans Tequila Tasting​
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​TX: Waco
​Tequila Tasting! Opal's Oysters Friday Spirit Series​
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​SATURDAY - SEP 19

CA: Los Angeles
​Mezcal Amaras Tasting and Cocktail Class at Hatch DTLA​
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CA: Los Angeles
​Mezcal Por Siempre 2026​
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CA: Los Angeles
​Sabor de Mezcal​
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CA: Long Beach
​Long Beach Oldies, Lowriders & Tequila Tasting​
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CA: Watsonville
​Tequilaville​
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CO: Durango
​The Tequila Chapter - Tequila Tasting​
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DC: Washington
​Ace Beverage - In-Store Tasting - Cierto Tequila & Virginia Distillery​
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NY: New York
​The Agave Experience: A Guided Mezcal & Tequila Tasting​
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TX: Kemah
​Tequila & Tacos Festival at Kemah Boardwalk 2026​
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​SUNDAY - SEP 20

CA: San Francisco
​Tales of Agave​
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DC: Washington
​Latin America Spirits Walkaround Tasting + Showcase at the Roost​
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​MONDAY - SEP 21

GA: Warner Robins
​Tequila and Tacos: A Guided Premium Tequila Experience​
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​TUESDAY - SEP 22

CA: San Jose
​Volcan Lunch and Learn: A Story of 3 Blancos Tequilas​
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CO: Denver
​Mole and Mezcal w/ Yuku Savi and Agua del Sol - Mezcal Tasting​
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MA: Worcester
​Cazcanes Tequila Dinner​
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OH: Grandview Heights
​Tequila & Pizza Pairing Night at JT’s Pizza & Pub Grandview​
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​WEDNESDAY - SEP 23

CA: Los Angeles
​Lotería & Tequila​
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TX: Austin
​Parejo Sotol Spirit Society at Seven Grand Austin​
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​THURSDAY - SEP 24

AZ: Phoenix
​Mezcal Tasting Hosted By Passport Destilados & Moxy Phoenix​
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CA: Oakland
​Gozona and Pasion Ancestral Mezcal​
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GA: Newnan
​Fortaleza Dinner with Curious Kitchen​
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LA: Baton Rouge
​Agave Spirits Class - Agave Tasting​
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MA: Somerville
​Mezcal Hangout: Meet the Founder - Mezcal Tasting​
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MN: Moorhead
​Spirits Class: Tequila - Tradition and Innovation​
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NY: Williamsburg
​El Buho Mezcal Tasting at El Nico​
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OH: Columbus
​Sneak Peek: Art in Spirits - Cocktail Class​
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SC: Greenville
​Tequila Tasting Dinner​
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TX: El Paso
​Agave Terroir Tasting - Agave Tasting​
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TX: El Paso
​Cazcanes Tequila Dinner​
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UT: Park City
​Tequila Komos Dinner​

TASTING NOTES

The price of a 25 year old Macallan Scotch will run you about $2,300.

The main ingredient (barley grains) takes about 3 months to grow and you can do it just about anywhere.

So when people I know balk at the chance to pick up a bottle of a Tepextate mezcal at $125 because it's "too expensive", I just want to smack them. You see...a Tepextate mezcal can also take up to 25 years to make, it tastes just as good, and it's arguably harder to make.

I don't want to pay $2,300 for a bottle but, seriously people, what's the reason for disparity?

Brand: Quiereme Mucho​
​Category: Artesanal​
​Agave: Tepextate (Agave marmorata)​
​ABV: 45%​
​Region: San Pedro Taviche, Oaxaca
​Lot: AA-61​
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​THE SNIFF:
​ - Fresh-cut grass, green bell pepper, and a hint of wet stones.​
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​THE KISS:
- Bright green herbs with a little sweetness. ​
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​THE COAT:
- Earthy and floral. Roasted jalapeño, herbs, flowers, and minerals.
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​THE SWALLOW:
​ - Intensity: Medium​
- Complexity: Balanced​
- Body: Medium​
- Length: Long​
- Smoke: Light

Did I Like It? Yes

OVERALL REVIEW: Quiereme Mucho’s Tepextate, crafted by Maestra Mezcalera Violeta Arenas Mesora, is a good example what a tepextate should be.

On the nose, it immediately hits you with classic green bell pepper and fresh-cut grass, giving way to a bright, herbaceous first sip.

As it coats your tongue, the flavors deepen into spicy roasted peppers and a grounding earthy wet stone flavor.

The finish is long and smooth -- not too smokey.

I found this bottle to be a nice balanced pour. I would drink it again. I also love keeping the hand-painted, hand-written bottle on my home bar as a nice conversation starter.

BARTENDER'S NOTE: Tepextate is typically a wild agave that can take up to 25 years to reach maturity. It grows on rocky cliffs, which contributes to its signature intense green and mineral-driven flavor.

´👉🏽 DOWNLOAD THE TASTING GUIDE:

Below is the format I use to capture my tasting notes. ​I designed it to follow the way you "should" drink mezcal -- Sniff, Kiss, Coat, Swallow. Mezcal Tasting Guide | MezcalCulture.Com - 2026.pdf​​​

WHAT'S SHAKIN'?

:: PLAYA DIA LAUNCHES A “NO BURN” TEQUILA​
Tequila shelves are starting to look like the hand-soap aisle at your local grocery store. New brands are going to new lengths to stand out with inventive positioning and unusual packaging. Enter “Playa Dia”…a new self-proclaimed “world’s most premium tequila” out of Newport Beach, CA. They launched under the banner "An Icon Is Born" stressing that PLAYA DIA is a “world”, not a single product. It’s lifestyle collection is inspired by resort culture and will include hats, apparel, tote bags and pet accessories. They’ve also invented a new “no burn” category of tequila which isn’t a bad idea…if you don’t like tequila. I guess there’s something for everyone. This one’s just not for me.
​Read More...​
​Source: BevNET

:: A WOMEN-LED DISTILLERY TAKES AGAVE TO ASIA​
Flor de Luna, founded in 2015 by Hillhamn Salome at the age of eighteen (in her parents' kitchen) is expanding into Asia with partner Nimbility. The lead product is Xila, an espadín-based aperitif built with hibiscus, lavender, pineapple, ancho chile, cinnamon, clove and black pepper. It took a double gold at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. I’ll be looking for a taste of this soon (if I can find it).
​Read More... ​
​Source: The Drinks Business

:: BANDERO PUTS THE RAIDERS ON A TEQUILA BOTTLE
​Bandero Premium Tequila announced a Las Vegas Raiders "Silver and Black" commemorative bottle timed to the team's 2026 home opener. It also honors the 50th anniversary of the team's 1977 championship. The bottle features black leather wrapping, a silver Raiders shield, and battle spike details. If you like the Raiders, this is probably something you should have on your shelf.
​Read More...​
​Source: BevNET (press release)

ROCK SOME MERCH

MEZCAL CULTURE RESOURCES

1. ​The Best Mezcal & Tequila Bars​
2. ​Mezcal Brands Available in the USA​
3. ​Mezcal Tasting Guide​
4. ​Mezcal Tours in Mexico​
5. ​The Best Mezcal Cocktails​
6. ​Mezcal Merch​
7. ​Mezcal Culture Spotify Playlist​