It has been quite a year of Mexico in a Bottle events
November 12th was our final Mexico in a Bottle event of the year and it was the perfect ending. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue (The Midway SF), better weather, better food, better spirits or a better crowd. It was in one word, magic.
This year we sold out each of our five events, amazing because in two of the cities we expanded our capacity, first in Chicago at a new venue, the Bridgeport Art Center, and then in San Diego by expanding our footprint at Bread & Salt Gallery. It speaks not only to the growing interest people have in agave spirits, but also to the desire to connect with other agave loving people. More than ever, people are searching for community and Mexico in a Bottle is that.
There also is an intimacy that Mexico in a Bottle creates and allows for, dialogues between consumers and brands that don’t really happen in that many places. And this dialogue helps lessen the distance between where the spirit comes from and what you are tasting from the bottle, and that matters, enormously.
2024 will be our 10th year of producing Mexico in a Bottle. It is hard to believe it has only been 10 years since our first event at Public Works in San Francisco. We had maybe 25 brands participate and about 150 attendees, majority of whom worked in the industry. This past Sunday we had 625 guests, majority being consumers. Our other events have followed a similar trajectory, though San Francisco remains the largest of the events. For the year, we had nearly 3500 people participate in our various Mexico in a Bottle events.
We’ve been trying new things including creating specific events to highlight Mexican gin, rum and wine as well as chef dinners. We’ve also resurrected programs like our What’s in Your Mouth blind tastings and live and in person Conversations in Agave, and continued our in event programs of talks where space allows. Next year we will build on this, there are so many incredible spirits and more to highlight, topics of conversation, urgent issues to be brought to light, and so much action needed by hospitality and consumers alike to ensure the long term viability of agave spirits.
Finally, a word about the business side of Mexico in a Bottle, which is the primary revenue source for Mezcalistas. Anyone in publishing can tell you that it is a money suck and everyone is looking for ways to keep independent news sources alive. Proceeds from the events are what pays for the Mezcalistas website, from contributing writers to contractors, to non profit donations, to all of the administrative costs behind running a website, social media and programs. We are committed to keeping the website free and accessible as well as ad and sponsored content free, and Mexico in a Bottle is what <mostly> makes that possible.
Thank you for all of your support and for making 2023 our best year yet.
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