A Taste of Tequila and Mezcal

Guests are diving into the exciting world of agave spirits with the newest tasting at Blackberry Mountain. Logan Griffin, director of food and beverage, shared a little insight into what guests are learning in this flavorful experience.

What made you all want to offer an agave spirits-based tasting?
Tequila, mezcal and sotol are booming within the spirits industry. Besides whiskey, tequila has become the second most called for spirit in our bars at Blackberry Mountain. We wanted to ride that wave and get our guests excited about the unique offerings we have.

What is the difference in tequila and mezcal that you’re exploring in this tasting?
All tequila is mezcal but not all mezcal is tequila. Tequila is specifically made from Blue Weber agave and must be made in the area of Tequila, Mexico. Mezcal, however, is less restricted and can be made from a vast variety of agave plants and has a distillation process that is based heavily on tradition.

Are the spirits you’re tasting coming from all over Mexico, or do they generally come from the same area?
They come from all over Mexico, but mezcal and tequila specifically are protected areas of designation which requires their production to be regulated.

What is unique and exciting about these spirits that you enjoy sharing with guests during a tasting?
Their history, sense of place and their very distinct aroma and flavor profiles. Agave is influenced heavily by where it is grown and how it is distilled – so there are so many nuances to discuss.

What is your favorite tequila right now?
I really love Fortaleza Tequila. The blanco tequila is perfect for cocktail applications while the reposado and añejo are perfect for enjoying on the rocks with a little bit of citrus.

What about your favorite mezcal?
Del Maguey Pechuga will always have a special place in my heart. It’s arguably the most classic and revered mezcal on the market, and it paved the way for the mezcal market. A mezcal that I was recently introduced to that really stands out to me is called Derrumbes Zacatecas. The bottle is eye catching, and the mezcal is very complex, marrying vegetal notes, high-tone citrus flavors and just a hint of smoke and earth.

Anything else you enjoy educating tasters on with this new offering?
I like to let them know that oour bartenders are geeks about this new class and have so much knowledge to share! Our Beverage Manager Matt Poli and Assistant Dining Room Manager Kristin Masingo put together all of the content and saw to it that this class be something we do at Blackberry Mountain. There is a lot of pride in this tasting.