BajaNomad - Expo Tequila 2008, Oct. 12 - 19

Expo Tequila 2008, Oct. 12 - 19

fdt - 10-6-2008 at 11:42 AM

A full week of tequila. Last year martyman and I had a blast, who wants to attend so I can get your names on the list. Great excuse for a Baja Nomad get together, you can U2U me.

fdt - 10-6-2008 at 06:05 PM

The price to get in is 6 dollars, it will be held on Revolucion between 7th and 8th (by the old Jai Alai). I have an allotment of free tickets, just U2U me.

http://expo-tequila.com/

[Edited on 10-9-2008 by fdt]

fdt - 10-12-2008 at 06:56 AM

Starts today at 2:30PM

elgatoloco - 10-12-2008 at 08:09 AM

fdt - We will heading down there. Plan to arrive about 2:30 PM. Hope to see you.

fdt - 10-12-2008 at 08:10 AM

Today? or what day?

elgatoloco - 10-12-2008 at 08:39 AM

Today! :yes:

fdt - 10-12-2008 at 08:43 AM

I'll be at the door.

fdt - 10-12-2008 at 08:16 PM

Had a lot of fun today at the tequila expo, elgatoloco and his wife Barb are always fun to be with, they brought some friends with them and everyone enjoyed a great event.
If anyone wants to come, just let me know and I'll be happy to give you free tickets. the Expo Tequila will be every day till next Sunday Oct 19, from noon to midnight.
Saludos
Fernando

Martyman - 10-13-2008 at 09:30 AM

Hey Fernando;
Won't be making it this year but I did buy a decent bottle of Anejo last week for $110 pesos in San Quintin (Artisania).
Have fun!
Marty

elgatoloco - 10-13-2008 at 03:55 PM

We had a great time trying new tequilas and hanging with fdt. Thank you again for the free tix! We tried a lot of good tequila and ended up buying 5 bottles. There were many great values to be had and lots of smiling happy people from both sides of the border. If work does not get in the way I will be heading down again on Thursday for more tequila and tacos. Since we were heading down with some non-sentri amigos we parked on the US side and paid $8.00 to park and $8.00 round trip on Mexicoach, the bus stops 100 yards from the expo on Revolucion, muy facil. If you have the slightest interest in tequila and are looking for a nice cross border cultural experience I highly recommend it.

fdt is there all week, tell your friends!

Viva Tequila!

tripledigitken - 10-13-2008 at 04:04 PM

elgatoloco,

Not being able to attend, not from lack of interest I might add. Would you share some of the names of the Tequilas you really liked and the ones you brought home?

(I have enjoyed your Tequila recommendations in the past by the way!)

Ken

capt. mike - 10-13-2008 at 04:56 PM

i have personally tasted from the crazy cat's diverse collection of primo bottles of cactus juice at his home bar.

he knows his goods. sure would have liked to have hooked up with you and Barb, Matt. maybe next year better times ahead.

elgatoloco - 10-13-2008 at 05:54 PM

We tasted and bought:

El Agave Artesanal Tequila Añejo - this is the brand that is owned and produced by the same family that owns El Agave restaurant in Old Town. 100% Blue Agave triple distilled and aged for 18 months in oak. Nice smooth sipping tequila. The great deal on this was that we purchased two bottles for $30.00 each at the festival and we pick it up at the restaurant. This tequila will set you back $66.00 at your local spirit shop if you can find it.

Tequila Clase Azul Plata - this is a blanco 100% Blue Agave double distilled ultra premium. This was my wife's favorite plata and it comes in a nice glass decanter that she plans on reusing after it's gone and it cost $30.00 less at the festival then here at home (if you can find it) so we had to get it.

Tequila Arette Artesanal Reposado Suave - 100% Blue Agave aged at least 8 months and made from estate grown agave and comes in a nice handcrafted bottle. We paid $25.00 for this which is about half of what you would pay in the states. This is a brand made by the Orendain family. I remember when I was younger we would get a bottle of Orendain for 5-6 dollars and it would come with it's own little clay shot glass and a samll bag of salt tied to the neck of the bottle.

Tequila Añejo Con Orgullo - this is a very good value for $25.00. It will go nicely in my Sunday morning Sangre de Marias.

All of the above are tequilas I had never tasted before. I had heard of the Clase Azul brand from a friend who went with us and it along with the El Agave were the two best tequilas I tasted. All of them were what I would consider great values.

Looking at my notes the others I tried and liked were Don Astacio Reposado, Volcan Reposado, Auredon, Agavia, Real Hacienda. Not all the booths were pouring their Añejos but it gave me a chance to try some of the finer platas, reposados and blancos something I tend to steer away from generally. It was a good day.

According to fdt there are over 300 diffferent tequilas being poured which is why I hope to get down one more time. There were at least a 10 booths I never even looked at. Thankfully they have some places making food, tacos,empanadas, tamales con mole and more. Gives you a chance to sit down and regroup.

Too much fun!

elgatoloco - 10-13-2008 at 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
i have personally tasted from the crazy cat's diverse collection of primo bottles of cactus juice at his home bar.

he knows his goods. sure would have liked to have hooked up with you and Barb, Matt. maybe next year better times ahead.

Capitan, always a shot glass with your name on it here at Casa de M & B. Let us know when you are coming over! The festival is planned for the same week next year!

Hook - 10-13-2008 at 06:52 PM

Any sign of Del Dueno at the tasting? Is there a comprehensive list of the vendors and their wares anywhere?

El Gato, was El Agave restaurant in Old Town called something else at one time? I am having trouble placing it. Did it used to be Rancho El Nopal?

elgatoloco - 10-13-2008 at 08:04 PM

I did not see Del Dueño. I am not aware of a list, maybe Ferna can weigh in.

El Agave is at the south end of Old Town. It is on the corner of Old Town Ave. and San Diego Ave. right off I-5. The tequila list is impressive and it is matched by some very fine cuisine. It is also infamous for being the starting location of my bachelor party. :saint:

http://www.elagave.signonsandiego.com/

I think Rancho El Nopal is no mas.

tjBill - 10-13-2008 at 09:34 PM

Does the price of admission include the tequila samples.

Is it all you can you drink?

bajaguy - 10-13-2008 at 09:59 PM

Elgato.......can any of the brands you mentioned be purchased in Ensenada?????

Bajaboy - 10-13-2008 at 10:43 PM

The Arette Reposado is one of my favorites!

Zac

elgatoloco - 10-13-2008 at 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tjBill
Does the price of admission include the tequila samples.

Is it all you can you drink?

Yes it does. :spingrin:

If you contact fdt the price is free! :cool:

Otherwise it is a whole $6.00. There were many folks who got way more then their money's worth. :barf:

They are pouring small amounts in little plastic cups but as we all know a little bit of good tequila goes a long way. :biggrin:

elgatoloco - 10-13-2008 at 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Elgato.......can any of the brands you mentioned be purchased in Ensenada?????

It is possible. :coolup:

All of them are hecho in Mexico after all. :saint:

I do most of my tequila shopping in TJ at La Playa on Elias Calles near Sanchez Taboada which has good prices and is set up like a mini warehouse, it is where a lot of bars and restauarants get there booze. :yes:

The first time I went there many years ago they actually had a 6 bottle minimum, I used to stock up and leave them at the casa by the sea and take them home one at a time.

All of the ones I bought at the festival I had never seen before but I was not looking for them as I had other favorites and was not yet edgeamacated to their value.

You need to ask the locals down there where a well stocked liqour store is in your area. I have seen a few stores on the main tourist blvd but the prices were tourista. :wow:

I will note that the Don Pisto in Puerto Nuevo has historically had some of the best prices on spirits in Baja Norte, I think due to the tremendous volume that they would sell.

I can recall them even beating the Calimax or Comercial price on an Herradura Añejo or my everyday drinker Gran Centeñario. Two weeks ago I purchased at Don Pisto a bottle of same for $27.00 - BevMo is $65.00! :bounce:

Ferna has told me about a store in TJ called Kentucky Derby that is owned by his friend and neighbor and he says they have many unique types of tequila at good prices. :cool:

I hope to head there soon and check it out. Maybe Thursday? :biggrin:

elgatoloco - 10-13-2008 at 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajaboy
The Arette Reposado is one of my favorites!

Zac

Arette has definitely jumped up on my list of favorites. They were pouring three different types and they were all good! They also had a few others that were for sale but not tasting including some super extra special ultra aged types.

Mucho sabor!

How's the baby? Has he started school yet? :biggrin:

elgatoloco

The Gull - 10-14-2008 at 06:15 AM

I can't recall leaving La Playa liquor store without lowering my cash assets by less than $100. You get a lot of great booze, but I do tend to overbuy. Then I have a perfect excuse to overdrink. Come to think of it, I need to visit La Playa real soon.

fdt - 10-14-2008 at 11:18 AM

La Playa has more comercial liquor and some of the ones you find in exhibit at the Expo Tequila are not. A liquor store that specializes in hard to find tequilas is Kentucky Derby on third and Madero in Tijuana.

Martyman - 10-14-2008 at 03:47 PM

Arette is the house tequila at Tres Agaves restaurant which is a couple blocks from the SF Giants Baseball stadium.

bajabound2005 - 10-14-2008 at 05:02 PM

there is a liquor store in Ensenada near Los Globos that is supposed to have an incredible selection of Tequilas.

bajaguy - 10-14-2008 at 09:07 PM

Let's go

Udo - 10-19-2008 at 11:38 AM

My wife Jana and left Big Bear lake at 9 a.m. this past Saturdayand headed to the west's new frontier, Tijuana, Mexico.
Fernando (fdt) Garcia suggested we take the Mexicoach across the border rather than driving. Superb adivce. 20 minute drive to Avenida Revolucion and the return trip was so uneventful that we plan on making more trips to TJ this way.
The bus dropped us off about 100 meters from the EXPO. I wasn't paying attention and my wife saw a large sign that designated ENTRADA with an arrow, so we followed the arrow...to an automobile parking lot! She failed to notice the automobile parking designation under the arrow. So after walking around the block once we finally made it to the EXPO entrance. We were initially to meet with (fdt), but his mother had passed away a couple of days earlier, and, understandably was unable to meet with us.
The entrance was quite colorful and were quite anxious to make it in.

Once inside we were greeted with about 40 exhibitors.

It appeared that the majority were Liquor store vendors from the mainland, but there were some destillers from Jalisco as well as a couple of local liquor store vendors.

The block-long EXPO tent was not as long as it appeared. The first 2/3 was the tequila Expo and the other third were food booths as well as a stage for live music. Very nicely laid out. My wife stated that just the carne asada tacos alone were worth the trip.

The roasting of the veggies dripping their juices really added SO MUCH FLAVOR to the meat!
We tasted about 30 different tequilas in four rounds all together so that we could really make an honest decision on what tequilas suited our tastes. Plus my wife liked the ALMENDRADO as well as the Almendra Rompope.
We ended spending about $140.00 US in tequila bottles, including one that we purchased just for the bottle alone that cost us $50.00 US, although their anejo was very good tasting. The expensive one was the GRAN SOL that came in an earthenware bottle that looked like it was covered in tiles.
We will most certainly make a return trip, regardless how the security concerns are.

A quiet Avenida Revolucion
[IMG]
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/udowinkler/BirdTequilaExpo079.jpg[/IMG]
I really expected a huge police force everywhere in TJ, but only saw three cops in vest that only were wearing hand guns. The walk up and down Avenida Revolucion was very quiet for several blocks and only encountered three other American couples. The shop vendors were really trying hard to get our attention. All we did was walk into several FARMACIAS to check prices on some prescriptions we normally get filled in the states just so we can get an idea if they were available in Mexico as well as their prices outside of our deductible.
We will be back, Fernando, and, you pick the day, and we will buy you lunch!

Here we got a souvenier hand-painted clay mug filled with a margarita that contained grapefruit, orange, lime juices, a jicama and a cucumber piece. Very unique flavor and the mug alone was worth the $4.00.
(edited for photo content)

[Edited on 10-19-2008 by udowinkler]

[Edited on 10-19-2008 by udowinkler]

[Edited on 10-19-2008 by udowinkler]

bajaguy - 10-19-2008 at 11:55 AM

Udo.......I'm thinking you really like the photo of that car.....or did you "sample" too much?????

Udo - 10-19-2008 at 12:27 PM

I am having some technical difficulties in posting about a dozen photos that go with the story. When I cut & paste a photo to my post from photobucket, all that gets posted were a dozen photos of the came car.
I am trying to enlist grover's help in a U2U for some troubleshooting. I've never encoutered this situation before.
By the way...
one would have to make about eight rounds of all the tastings to get much of a buzz. One only got about 1/2 oz per tasting, and all total I think I got maybe 4 shooter glasses total over a 3 hour period.
Once I get my tech difficulties solved I'll post al the pertinent photos.

bajaguy - 10-19-2008 at 12:31 PM

Just yanking your chain, Udo!!!!! :lol:

Udo - 10-19-2008 at 12:59 PM

I logged off again from photobucket, and re-logged on again, and this time the memory problems were solved.
I've been at this post since 9 this morning...phew!

movinguy - 10-19-2008 at 02:02 PM

I was there last night - lots of good reposados for about $15 U.S. And some Oaxaca-style tamales, of course . . .

Don't usually like anything sweet, but I picked up a bottle of La Pinta pomegranate infused tequila - yummy! Of course, I'll have to try it again this afternoon just to make sure . . . :bounce:

Udo - 10-19-2008 at 03:56 PM

You are right, movinguy, for five bucks (60 pesos) it is worth going by there several days. If I lived near there I would.

Thanks for the heads up Fernando (fdt).

Martyman - 10-20-2008 at 08:47 AM

Grea Pics Udo! Brought back memories of when I went last year.

Udo - 10-20-2008 at 05:01 PM

Thanks for the compliment, martyman!
I was hoping to get together with some Nomads, but I guess that the crime in TJ or my timing was off.
Also, it was pretty tough to get schnockered, unless you made more than 6 rounds of all the tastings. A lot of the little sips that I was presented, I swallowed only about half of it because it did not taste to my liking.
IMHO there were only four outstanding tequilas, and I bought two of those $50.00 US tequilas:GRAN SOL and Don Julio 1942.
Perhaps next year I'll get to meet some Nomads!

[Edited on 10-21-2008 by udowinkler]

[Edited on 10-21-2008 by udowinkler]

Udo - 10-20-2008 at 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabound2005
there is a liquor store in Ensenada near Los Globos that is supposed to have an incredible selection of Tequilas.

Quote:

Can you get me a somewhat better location than Los Globos (I don't know where Los Globos is), thanks!