Tucson, AZ--- The countdown begins to the 17th annual Agave Heritage Festival on April 10-13. With an emphasis on environment and economics, the festival presents a weekend of unmatched culinary dinners, educational guided tastings featuring NETA, Cambio Tequila, Alma Del Jaguar and Del Maguey, Esfuerzo, and other outstanding agave spirits. World class agave authorities including Paul and Suze Phish, and award-winning authors Ted Jenoways and Gary Nabhan are among the special guests appearing this year
As noted in a recent article in Forbes Magazine, journalist Rona Berg had this to say about her experience at the 2024 festival:
“From prickly pear margaritas to mezcal palomas, there is no shortage of agave-inspired drinks in town, a reflection of Tucson’s Mexican community. Mexico, of course, is the heart and soul of the agave world, centered in Oaxaca. And the Agave Heritage Festival in Tucson, from April 10-13, is the place to be for anyone who cares about agave. Rona Berg, Forbes Magazine, March 2025
Festival Founder Todd Hanley sees the great value that the four-day event brings to the region. “Now more than ever the binational relationship between Arizona and Mexico is so very important and I can only hope that the Agave Heritage Festival plays a role in creating a strong connection and prosperity for all”.
For tickets, additional information on all events visit agaveheritagefestival.com. Photos available upon request.
2025 AGAVE HERITAGE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, April 10
8am-11am - Agave Planting at Mission Garden
3pm – 4pm - Howard Scott Gentry Lecture, at the Carriage House
5pm – 11pm – Noche De Mezcal
Noche de Mezcal (formerly Mezcrawl) returns this year. Guests begin with a mezcal toast and then select their own tasting adventure from eleven participating local bars and restaurants. Some of the participating mezcal brands include - Cambio Tequila, Lost Explorer, Alma del Jaguar, and NETA Mezcal.
6pm – 8pm – Guided Tasting at Tap & Bottle North: Featuring La Gritona & Bara-Cara
7pm – 9pm – Educational Tasting at Bar Crisol: Featuring Los Cantiles 1905
9pm – 11pm – Bar Takeover at Bar Crisol X Madre
Friday, April 11
9am-6pm – Agave Renaissance Summit at Hotel Congress
The 2025 Summit will be a day of action focused on bringing the vision of the City of Century plants to reality, uniting communities across borders to foster agave sustainability, cultural heritage, and economic resilience for future generations. The day-long Summit builds on the conversations and Agave Summits in Tucson in 2023 and Sonora in 2024 and focuses on several critical topic areas of action.
12pm – 2pm – Book Signing Event at Petroglyphs
Acclaimed author Ted Genoways will appear at a book signing event for his award-winning book Tequila Wars: Jose Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit of Mexico.
6pm-8pm – Guided Mezcal Tasting at Sonora Moonshine
6pm – 8pm – Del Maguey Mezcal Tasting at Tough Luck Club
6pm – 9pm – Agave Heritage Dinner at Maynards Kitchen & Bottle Shop
An unforgettable evening where food, tequila, and tradition come together in an immersive celebration of agave and regional gastronomy. In keeping with the culinary heritage of excellence of the Agave Heritage Festival, Maynards Executive Chef Roderick LeDesma presents a five-course dining experience that showcases the flavors of the Sonoran Desert, paired with both neat pours and artful cocktails featuring La Gritona Reposado Tequila. La Gritona brand expert and Chef LeDesma will guide guests through each course throughout the evening. $196pp includes tax and tip.
6pm – 8pm – Educational Tasting at Bar Crisol: Featuring NETA and PM Spirit
6pm – 7pm – Guided Tasting at Tap & Bottle Downtown: Sip & Switch with Tequila Ocho
9pm – 11:30pm – Bar Takeover: Little Rituals at Hotel Congress Lobby Bar X
Saturday, April 12
9am-11:30am – Agave Lifetime Career Award Lecture at Mission Garden
Agave Industry scientists Paul and Susy Phish, will receive the Agave Lifetime Career Award for their lifetime of research on ancient agave cultivation and its role in the Sonoran Desert’s rich history. They will also give a talk at Mission Gardens on how early farmers used to grow agave in the Tucson basin.
11:30am – 5:30pm – Agave Talks & Tastings at Hotel Congress
12pm -1pm & 2pm – 3pm – Guided Mezcal & Chocolate Pairing at Westbound
5pm – 6:30pm – Mezcal Vago Guided Tasting at Batch
5pm – 7pm – Educational Tasting at Bar Crisol: Featuring Northern Mexico Spirits
7pm – 10pm – Agave Fiesta Grande Tasting at Borderland Brewing Company
10pm -12am – Bar Takeover: BarCoa at Sonoran Moonshine
Sunday, April 13
10am-2pm - Borderlands Conservation Tour and Plant Sale
Explore the innovative conservation efforts of Borderlands Restoration Network and Bat Conservation International against the stunning backdrop of Patagonia, Arizona. This event features a guided tour of restoration sites, nectar-feeding bat conservation projects and a native plant sale to support regional agave conservation efforts, showcasing species that enhance regional sustainability, support wildlife, and foster biodiversity. Patagonia – 10am-3pm
5pm – close – Tequila Ocho & Mezcal Vago at BATA
Chef Tyler Fenton will offer a five-course meal served family style as a dining option available to all patrons who dine at BATA on this evening. Tequila cocktails and pairings from Mescal Vago and Tequila Ocho are included in the dinner. Brand expert Chris Simmons and Chef Fenton will offer their expertise to guests throughout the evening. The first 72 guests will receive a commemorative Tequila Ocho tasting flute. $125 per person excluding tax and tip.
Agave Heritage Sponsors
The 2025 Agave Heritage Festival would not be possible without the support from Rio Nuevo, Visit Tucson, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Franke Honors College, Tequila Ocho, Mezcsl Vago, La Gritona Tequila, Beach Fleischmann, Southern Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hensley, NETA, Lost Explorer, Del Maguey, Cambio Tequila, Los Cantiles 1905, Southwest FolkLife Alliance, Alma Del Jaguar, UA Southwest Center, WK Kellog Foundation, Toast, Integrated Axis Group, Bahnez, Mezcal Union, Don Julio, Tucson Foodie, The Sustainable Agave Company, EcoClima, Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Bourn Companies, Don Fulano, Zinacantan, Siembra Spirits, Mezonte, Don Mateo, Cascahuin, Origen Raiz, Esfuerzo Izo, Mezcal De Leyenda, Pelotón, Mission Garden, Hotel Congress, Maynards Market & Kitchen, Bat Conservation International, Borderlands Restoration Network, Tucson Ramada Inn by Wyndam, Mezcalistas, Local First, Mijenta, Center for Regional Food Studies and Cocktail Kingdom. Media partners are Downtown Tucson Partnership, Tucson Weekly, KXCI, AZPM, SAACA, Local First AZ.
About the Agave Heritage Festival
The mission of the Agave Heritage Festival, now in its 17th year, is to bring people together to explore and celebrate the cultural, ecological, and economic significance of the agave across borders. Founded in 2008 the Tucson-based Agave Heritage Foundation has grown to include the ever-expanding exploration and uses of the Agave plant in its many forms. The festival has since become a city-wide destination event that spotlights the southwest region through the lens of the agave plant. The Agave Heritage Festival celebrates the unique importance and sustainability of the agave plant and borderlands culture with seminars, tasting events and world-class culinary events. For the complete schedule of events and to purchase tickets, visit agaveheritagefestival.com. @agaveheritagefestival #agaveheritagefestival.
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