To celebrate Mexican Independence Day I bring you Tequila.

"This spirit should be sipped and savored." Guillermo Sauza

Check out my video from the 9th Spirits of Mexico. A festival featuring 79 brands of the finest agave spirits Mexico has to offer.

According to festival organizers: The Spirits of Mexico also took place in NYC (May 2012) and Chicago (July 2012). www.thespiritsofmexico.com

Here is another popular Tequila Festival
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-697985

Winners according to the Spirits of Mexico press release:

The celebration attracted more than 2,000 attendees and featured a record-breaking number of agave-based spirits, totaling 79 brands with 213 expressions.

Cava de Oro Extra Anejo Tequila won the highest award, “Best of Show.”The Best Western Hacienda Hotel in Old Town San Diego was the venue for the IWSC Group’s annual Spirits of Mexico Festival Tasting Competition. Entries included 100 percent de agave tequilas, mezcals, bacanoras and liqueurs as well as new Mexican spirits at this year’s event, raicilla and Mexican rum.

Entries for the tasting competition were judged on five key elements including appearance, aromatics, flavor, mouthfeel and finish, with a rating system totaling a maximum possible score of 100 points. The intensive blind-tasting schedule included judging of 113 entries.

A new packaging category was added to the 2012 competition, as Mexican spirits are known for creativity in package design. According to Spirits of Mexico Founder Dori Bryant, no other category of distilled spirit compares with the innovative and often whimsical productions found with agave spirits.

“Pina-shaped closures, tear-drop shaped bottles, elegant and intricate agave structures in the bottle,” says Bryant, “beckon us to taste the juice housed within.”

The first-ever Best of Show Packaging Award was given to Apocalypto Tequila. Scoring elements include bottle and label design, utility, innovation, overall package and general appeal.

Winners of the Tasting Competition’s ‘Best of Class’ awards are:

Tequila Blanco (29 entries): Tie - Jose Cuervo Platino and Pura Vida Silver
Tequila Reposado (26 entries): Muerto Tequila
Tequila Anejo (20 entries): El Jimador Anejo
Tequila Extra Anejo (10 entries): Cava De Oro Tequila
Mezcal Anejo: Scorpion Anejo, Tobala Varietal, 3 ½ Years

A total of 35 entries received Gold medals; 46 received Silver medals, 24 received Bronze and 9 did not place. Gold award winners are listed in alphabetical sequence below:

Tequila Blanco:Gran Dovejo, Gran Orendain, Jose Cuervo Platino, Luna Nueva, Montalvo, Muerto and Pura Vida

Tequila Reposado:Apocalypto, Crotalo, EC (El Capote) Charro, Flashbang, Gran Orendain, Luna Nueva, Muerto and Pura Vida

Tequila Anejo:Alderete, Arta, El Destilador, El Jimador, Gran Dovejo, Herradura and Luna Nueva

Tequila Extra Anejo:Cava de Oro, Don Julio 1942, Don Pilar, Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia and Pura Vida

Mezcal Joven:Enmascarado 54 Espadin Varietal, Los Siete Misterios Espadin Varietal and Scorpion Tobala Varietal

Mezcal Anejo:Joya Azul and Scorpion Tobala Varietal

Bacanora:Pascola Reposado

Raicilla:La Venenosa Blanco