Hispanic Heritage Month and Agave Spirits — Tequila, Mezcal & Bacanora | The Liquor Connoisseur®

Hispanic Heritage Month runs September 15 to October 15 — and the agave spirits category is one of the most profound expressions of Mexican cultural heritage in the global spirits market. Crystal and Roger have dedicated more content to tequila, mezcal, and Bacanora than almost any other independent spirits podcast. This is the full guide.

Why Agave Spirits Are a Cultural Heritage Story, Not Just a Spirits Category

The agave plant has been at the center of Indigenous Mexican culture for over 10,000 years — long before fermentation and distillation. The Nahua and Zapotec peoples used agave for food, fiber, medicine, and ceremony. Pulque (fermented agave sap) was considered sacred. Mezcal and tequila descend from this tradition.

Tequila — The World's Most Recognized Mexican Spirit

Made exclusively from Blue Weber agave in designated Mexican states. The Highlands of Jalisco (where LALO, Yéyo, and Volans are produced) yield more floral, fruity expressions. The Lowlands near the city of Tequila produce earthier, more herbal character. The additive question — glycerin, caramel, sugar syrup — is the most important transparency issue in the category right now.

→ Tequila 101 — The Complete Guide

→ Best Tequilas Reviewed — Ranked

Mezcal — Smoke, Terroir, and the Agave Biodiversity Story

Made from 40+ agave varieties, primarily in Oaxaca. Each agave variety and each village produces genuinely different spirits — mezcal is the most terroir-driven category in distilled spirits. Del Maguey Vida was the first mezcal Crystal and Roger reviewed. Corte Vetusto is the most complex agave spirit they've covered.

→ Mezcal 101 — The Complete Guide

→ Mezcal FAQ — Most-Asked Questions Answered

Bacanora — The Spirit That Survived a 77-Year Ban

Made only in Sonora, Mexico from the Pacifica agave. Banned by the Mexican government in 1915 and kept alive in secret by Sonoran families for 77 years until 1992. Kilinga Bacanora — the brand Crystal and Roger covered in a three-part series — represents one of the most remarkable cultural survival stories in spirits history.

→ Bacanora 101 — Mexico's Rarest Agave Spirit

→ Full Kilinga Bacanora Interview Series — Part 1

How to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Through Spirits

Buy a bottle of additive-free tequila. Try a mezcal from a small Oaxacan producer. Ask about Bacanora at your local spirits shop. Support the Mexican-owned brands building these categories with integrity. And book a tasting with Crystal and Roger to go deeper — they've reviewed the full spectrum.

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🌿 Book an Agave Spirits Tasting for Hispanic Heritage Month

Crystal and Roger lead private spirits tasting experiences. Corporate tastings from $1,500. In-home tastings from $500. Virtual tastings nationwide.

📅 Book a Tasting → theliquorconnoisseur.com/book-a-tasting