Agavefest: DIY with tequila tastings

Cinco de Mayo is becoming known as Agavefest on both the east and west coasts of the United States. Agavefest 2010 festivities are taking place this year in New York City and Tucson, Arizona. Here are some tips on how to create your own Agavefest with tequila tastings.

If the tequila world is new to you and you are not familiar with the various types, they include blanco (silver), platinum, gold, reposado (rested) and anejo (aged). Here are some simple tips: blanco is clear and young (aged at most two months); reposado is aged not longer than a year; and anejo is aged at minimum one year.

Tequila can be purchased for under $20 (€15.41) but the better bottles of 100% blue agave tequila can range between $50-400 (€38.53-308.28) with a few bottles selling at over $1000 (€770.74). The world's most expensive liquor in 2007 was a bottle of Ultra Premium Tequila Ley .925 "Pasion Azteca" that was auctioned off for $225,000 (€173,413).

According to LasMargaitas.com, a Canadian margarita restaurant's site, there are "Six Commandments of a Tequila Tasting" and none include a worm in the bottle. Basically you want to have plenty of food on hand, don't have more than six tequilas to taste, all should be varied 100% agave to anejos, no shot glasses - only tulip-shaped wine glasses, encourage sipping and tasting comments, and always have water and tortillas around for cleansing the palate in between tastes.

Tequila may be known for lime and salt shots but tequila enthusiasts savor the spirit and discuss its qualities similar to wine lovers.

In selecting your tequilas, you may want to consult tequila loving blogs LicquorSnob.com and WineandAlcohol.com as they have recommended bottles listed in price categories from under $20 (€15.41), under $50 (€38.53), under $100 (€77.06) to over $250 (€192.68) and over $1000 (€770.74). To see the lists go to: http://www.wineandalcohol.com/blog/worlds-most-expensive-tequilas and http://www.liquorsnob.com/archives/2005/10/tequila_tasting_101.php

Here are recipes for fresh guacamole and homemade tortillas with how-to videos:

Northern Mexican flour tortillas by Chef Keith Snow of Harvest Eating http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Y9cC7CfxM&feature=fvw

Wholly Guacamole by vlog FoodWishes.com http://foodwishes.blogspot.com/search?q=guacamole

Authentic Mexican homemade corn tortillas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDegTyqL55o

If you would like to attend Agavefest 2010 in Tucson or New York, here is some detailed information:

Tucson is celebrating its second annual tequila tasting event with hands-on seminars, hard-to-find tequilas and an Iron Chef-inspired competition with Herradura brand tequila. Tasting cards are sold for $20 (€15) for ten top-shelf tastes and a 3-course tasting menu is $30 (€22.62). The event takes place May 5 at the Hotel Congress, in Tucson, Arizona.  http://www.hotelcongress.com/2010/03/26/2nd-annual-tequila-tasting-agavefest

A smaller event can be found in New York at Astor Center's Lounge, their first Agavefest, where the creators promise to deliver an event akin to their 2010 Bacon & Bourbon Expo. Tickets are $25 (€18.84) for the evening of tequila and guacamole that begins at 6:30pm at the Astor Center in New York City. http://www.astorcenternyc.com/class-agavefest-2010.ac

Feliz Agavefest y Cinco de Mayo!