Mezcal Por Siempre

Save the date! On Saturday, September 14, Mezcal Por Siempre – the first festival in the U.S. dedicated to showcasing the incredible diversity of traditional mezcal and its rich cultural heritage – will bring together over 50 visiting mezcal producers from Mexico at L.A. River Studios from 3-11PM. The inaugural event is the brainchild of restaurateur Ivan Vazquez, owner of local Oaxacan restaurant and mezcalería Madre! and one of the country’s leading authorities on the Mexican spirit. (With three locations in Los Angeles, Madre houses the largest collection of mezcal in the country, offering over 400 varieties.) Vazquez is committed to sourcing mezcal exclusively from small-scale producers throughout Mexico, and as a business owner, has eschewed offers from popular brands like Casamigos, El Silencio and Patron. “Indigenous communities in Mexico have fought for centuries to keep this spirit alive,” remarks Vazquez, a Oaxaca native who has unprecedented connections to Mexican mezcaleros that rarely source outside their regions. “This one-time only experience will offer an insider’s look into mezcal’s significant place in Mexico’s rich cultural history, and raise awareness around the small producers who are the true beating heart of this tradition.” Attendees of Mezcal Por Siempre can expect: *Unlimited mezcal samples poured by visiting producers from Oaxaca, Puebla, Guerrero, Michoacan, Jalisco, San Luis Potosi, Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Nuevo Leon, and Estado de Mexico y Tamaulipas. The majority of these producers have never been to the United States, and do not import their mezcals outside of Mexico. *Panels by mezcaleros and mezcal project founders. *An after party (8-11PM) with live entertainment. *Food (available for purchase) throughout the event, including Rocio's Mole De Los Dioses and other TBA vendors. Visit Eventbrite for more information and to purchase tickets ($75) and follow @mezcalporsiempre to stay tuned for updates.