2018 Mexico in a Bottle - agave rainbow (+Volunteers needed)

On Sunday, 10/14/2018, Chicago will be the site of the next Mexico in a Bottle event.

I really enjoyed attending the event last year: it was an exceptional opportunity to sample up to something like 100 different agave distillations, aka "expressions" (e.g., mezcal, raicilla, bacanora, comiteco, ....) In addition to these, there was sotol made from desert spoon--a non-agave desert plant, some craft beers, and even agave-infused coffee. There also were cocktail samples and food bites, including mezcalized goat meatballs from Chef Jonathon Zaragoza.

I personally didn't get past perhaps 15+ tastes, more than plenty for me! It was really about exploring some of the vast range of agave expressions' flavors & aromas unobscured by oak ageing and/or other additives, not about pounding down all my stomach could hold. (-; Because many types of agave may be employed in relatively low-volume ancestral craft processes, the resulting variety of flavors and aromas is remarkable: from a sweet floral nuance in one to a dusky leather aroma in another to a funky blue cheese sensory punch in yet another. That's a much wider spectrum of possibility than is available from tequila, which by law must only be distilled from a particular agave variety (Agave Tequilana Weber). Further, to meet heavy commercial demand, tequila is often produced in an industrial process that sacrifices artisanal craft variations in favor of modern mass-production volume and long-term consistency. But I digress.

At this Mex. in a Bottle, I'll be a volunteer. I understand there is a further need for additional folks to help out, as relayed to me by food journalist and mezcalista Ferron Salniker, who asked me to share details:

We are indeed looking for a crew of volunteers to help us out! Volunteers can enjoy the food and spirits at the event, and the jobs are fairly easy. Those who help early can stay for the event, and those who start later can enjoy the event for the first hour. Here's the help we will be looking for.

Shift #1: 12-4
Duties will be setting up tables, directing and helping vendors load in, putting up art, doing the first hour and a half of registration.

Shift #2: 4-8
Duties will be working registration, helping vendors restock and helping with programming, and breaking down.

If you're interested and available (and aged 21 or over), contact Ferron directly: [email protected].

For those who simply want to nab a ticket, the event page is here.
See you there.

--mhl

Para todo mal, mezcal;
y para todo bien, también.

(For everything bad, mezcal;
and for everything good, the same.)

Mexico in a Bottle
Sunday, October 14, 2018
3:30pm - 7:00pm CDT

Logan Square Auditorium
2539 North Kedzie Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60647

Thanks for posting this, Matt. MiaB was one of my two favorite food & beverage events of 2017 and I'm pumped for this year's edition. If you're into agave spirits, there's no better place outside of Mexico to experience them. I tried so many great ones last year -- and met so many of the amazing people who make them, too. It helped prime the pump for the life-changing trip I made to Oaxaca earlier this year. The event reminded me a bit of the early years of WhiskeyFest, before it became a totally jive affair.

One note: I love the new venue. It's larger than Chop Shop and, for me, walking distance from home, but the Logan Square Auditorium is not an accessible location, so if you have any mobility issues, I recommend getting in touch with the folks at the venue, or with the organizers of the event itself before purchasing a ticket.

See you there!

=R=

Why no mention of this year's MIB event? Last year's event was great. Another one coming up soon! Missed the early sale. Any recommendations for the Rum fest?

Sorry, I was too busy earning a living to stay up to date on this. Unfortunately, I likewise don't have any Rum Fest recommendations.

As for this upcoming Mexico in a Bottle--volunteering &/or general ticket acquisitions, as well as venue address--it'll be similar to the previous one, so please refer to my 2018 posting. ("Lather, Rinse, Repeat.")

--mhl