Forget gin, rum or whisky, one of the world's hottest spirits is set to get a brand new festival in Glasgow this spring.
The inaugural Copita Mezcal and Tequila Festival is coming to The Briggait in April and will play host to over 50 artisanal agave-based spirits from Mexico’s top producers.
A first-of-its-kind experience, the festival will cater to both devotees and newcomers to agave spirits, with the team behind Copita promising an event that's a far cry from tequila slammers in a dive bar of a Friday evening.
The distilled artisanal Mexican spirit made from the agave plant, Mezcal's name means ‘cooked agave’, with the smokiness the spirit exhibits (when compared to tequila) coming from the fact that the plants are roasted in production, rather than steamed, as they are when making tequila.
Speaking about the exciting event and the popularity of this fascinating spirit, co-founder Colin Campbell said: "Copita is here to celebrate the craft of these important artisanal drinks. Agave spirits are to Mexico what whisky is to Scotland - not just a national drink, but a collection of wildly different spirits produced by traditional processes, entwined irrevocably with the folk history and culture of its nation.
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"The interest in mezcal and tequila from the Scottish public is at an all-time high, with many curious to explore the drinks further than it is possible to at home, or at a bar, without a well-lined purse.
"We can’t wait to bring this great celebration of the spirits of Mexico to the people of Glasgow.”
With two 3.5-hour sessions on offer, ticket holders will be invited to explore the festival tasting stands, with the opportunity to sample (responsibly) over 50 different agave-based spirits from Mexico’s top producers, whilst chatting with brand ambassadors who will be on hand to convey their expert knowledge in the field.
The team added that there will be no token system or any extra charges to sample any of the spirits on offer.
Brands confirmed so far include Tapatio, Ilegal, Ocho, Quiquiriqui, Los Siete Misterios, Ojo de Dios, La Higuera Sotol, Ojo de Tigre, El Sueno, and Nixta, with many more to be teased to the public in the run-up to the event.
Street food stalls from well-loved local establishments will be serving up tasty treats to complement the drinks on offer, with in-depth masterclasses (sold separately) held in adjoining rooms for those who wish to take an even deeper dive into the world of mezcal and tequila.
Colina added: "A discounted bottle shop operating in the venue for the day by Drinkmonger will allow attendees to take home bottles of anything that particularly piqued their interest on the tasting floor.
"And if that all wasn’t enough, a team of top bartenders from Glasgow’s best cocktail bars will be mixing exclusive and exciting drinks from a pop-up mezcal and tequila cocktail bar on the day. Each ticket will include one free cocktail or craft beer."
Tickets cost £35 per person, can be purchased from www.copitafestival.com and include:
• Access to one of the 3.5-hour sessions (12 pm - 3.30 pm or 4.15 pm - 7.45 pm)
• Your own clay-tasting copita to use at the festival and take home with you afterwards
• Official festival programme with info on attendees and masterclasses.
• Unlimited (responsible) access to the tasting floor, and samples of over 50 tequilas, mezcals, sotols and other agave-based spirits on offer, served by their knowledgeable brand ambassadors
• One free cocktail or craft beer from the pop-up bar
• Two £5 discount vouchers for the on-site bottle shop, operated by Drinkmonger
• Opportunity to access in-depth masterclasses (additional charges may apply)
The team behind Copita are well-versed in the food and drink and events industries, with a founder of The National Whisky Festival of Scotland, owners of Five March and Sylvan restaurants and members of the spirits industry and the live music industry co-founding the festival.
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