By Stefanie Collins, editor bars&clubs
Agave producers and professionals from around the world will converge on Sydney for the inaugural Agave Love conference on March 22 and 23.
The event will comprise a series of masterclasses, tasting sessions, mixology sessions, and talks presented by some of the world’s leading experts on tequila, mescal and lesser-known agave-based spirits. T
The events are being held across seven bars – most in a 250 metre radius – including The Cliff Dive, Shady Pines, and Hello Sailor. They are expected to attract over 2000 consumers, bar professionals and liquor industry members.
The brainchild of Australian tequila pioneer Phillip Bayly, owner of Sydney’s iconic (now closed) tequila bar Café Pacifico. He says the idea of the conference is to educate consumers and trade on the rich cultural history of agave spirits including tequila, mezcal and other spirits like Raicilla and Sotol.
“Agave Love is an opportunity to spread my love and passion for all things agave, a plant that dates back some 12 million years and has a history as an alcoholic beverage that dates back to pre-Columbian times,” he says. “This is about category not brand, with a focus on educating lovers of Agave spirits and introducing it to people who have either never tried it or have had bad experiences.”
Speakers at the event include Phil Ward from the legendary Mayahuel bar in NYC and official tequila ambassadors Julio Bermejo (inventor of the Tommy’s Margarita) and Tomas Estes. Other sessions will delve into the history of agave, different tequila styles, and in depth discussion on the subject of mezcal.
The appropriately named Agave Central will be set in the Old Cell Block building at the National Art School of Sydney on Sunday 22nd March. The consumer exhibition and information hub for the conference, it will be an opportunity for both consumers and trade to sample over 60 tequilas and mezcals and talk with brand distributors and agencies.
For more information on sessions and tickets click here.