Jose Andres’ Oyamel Cocina Mexicana Debuts 2012 Tequila & Mezcal Festival!

PENN QUARTER -- Celebrating Mexico’s two most popular spirits, tequila and mezcal, Oyamel Cocina Mexicana launched a special two week-long culinary festival today featuring a variety of both complimentary and premium tastings, paired dishes, featured cocktails, and special guests and seminars.

Over the next couple of weeks, the Penn Quarter-based eatery from Chef Jose Andres will be offering a series of premium $90 (plus tax and tip) tequila and mezcal dinners at 7:00p.m. hosted by representatives from some of Mexico’s leading artisanal spirit distributors:

Tuesday, March 6th and Wednesday, March 7th: Host Stephen Meyers from Illegal Mezcal.
Tuesday, March 13th: Host David Suro Siembra from Azul Tequila.
Wednesday, March 14th: Host Mark Drew from Herradura Tequila.
Thursday, March 15th: Host Otto Hoernig from Casa Noble Tequila.

Additionally, from now until March 18th, Oyamel will be showcasing a handful of distinctive dishes and cocktails in keeping with the spirit of the festival (now in its fourth year). Diners will be able to enjoy plates of everything from chorizo-stuffed pork loin to chalupas to diver scallops to grilled lamb T-bones – all easily washed down by one of eight specialty cocktails, such as the ‘T&T’ (El Jimador blanco 30-spice “ginquila”, house-made sour orange and epazote tonic, and lime ice) or the ‘Oaxacan Swizzle’ (Del Maguey Mezcal “Vida”, fresh pressed apples, ruby port, ginger with a cinnamon swizzle and apple-chip).

But perhaps the best part of all about this year’s festival are the complimentary mezcal (Monday, 3/5-Thursday, 3/8) and tequila (Monday, 3/12-Thursday, 3/15) tastings on offer between 4:00p.m. and 6:00p.m.

Bring friends. Lots of them...