From Thursday, April 28 – Sunday, May 1, the Agave Heritage Festival is making its way back to Tucson with a four-day event at multiple locations around town. Todd Hanley, who is the festival director and CEO of Hotel Congress and Maynards, is pumped — to say the least — about the festival’s comeback.

“We are thrilled to continue bringing attention and awareness to Tucson and Southern Arizona through the lens of this truly amazing and resilient agave plant in the form of a four-day festival,” said Hanley.

One of those big events, which can also be seen as a grand finale, is the Agave Heritage multi-course dinner happening at Maynards from 6 – 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 1.

This mammoth multi-course meal features mezcal cocktails and samples that set out to capture the true essence of how to pair the agave spirits with food. Executive chef Brian Smith is collaborating with Aaron DeFeo, who’s a mixologist, James Beard Nominee, owner of Little Rituals in Phoenix, and an Agave spirits expert.

Tickets are $167 per person and aside from the feast each attendee will also receive an authentic hand-crafted Jicara — a mezcal drinking vessel made from the gourd of the calabash fruit, and hand-crafted by artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico.

AGAVE HERITAGE DINNER MENU

Starters

• Chapulines (grasshoppers)
• Paired with the “Welcome Cocktail” Pleasure Island – Lime Leaf Vago Espadin, Rucolino Amaro, Martini and Rossi Rubino, Pomegranate, and Fresh lime

First Course

• Savory Churro – with herbs and queso
• Paired with a Mezcal Vago Mexicano pour

Second Course

• Grouper Ceviche – with avocado, cherry bomb chili, and passion fruit
• Paired with a Mezcal Vago Elote pour

Third Course

• Masa Gnocchi – with silki pak and carrots
• Paired with the Spirit Forward Cocktail – Vago Elote, Nixta, Maguey, Amaro Nonino, Celery, and Fennel

Fourth Course

• E&R Pork Belly – with mesquite-smoked 90-day corn, turnip, and mezcal barbecue
• Paired with a Mezcal Vago Special Release pour

Fifth Course

• Grapefruit Flan – with mesquite and mint
• Paired with the Agua Fresca Highball – Vago Espadin, Bonal Aperitif, Melon and Passionfruit soda, and citrus

Maynards is located at 400 N. Toole Ave. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hotelcongress.com. 

To read all about the 2022 Agave Heritage Festival taking place on Thursday, April 28 – Sunday, May 1, check out our article “2022 Agave Heritage Festival: Four days of mezcal tastings, dinners, music & more.”