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Bottoms Up! Mexico Wants Mezcal In Arizona For Cinco De Mayo

Mezcal is traditionally served in shot glasses with orange slices covered in chilli powder or "sal de gusano".
Rodrigo Cervantes/KJZZ
Mezcal is traditionally served in shot glasses with orange slices covered in chilli powder or "sal de gusano".

MEXICO CITY- For many, Cinco de Mayo means “party”. And for those who sell Mexican products, that’s a business opportunity. At celebrations this weekend in Tucson and Phoenix, the Mexican government will be promoting mezcal, an alcoholic drink experiencing a boom worldwide. 

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo celebrates the battle in the 1800's where the Mexican army defeated the French invaders.

But in the U.S., the celebration on May 5 has become a festivity filled with Mexican clichés and stereotypes. However, Mexico wants to seize the opportunity.

“It has been a traditional marketing event that we see positive,” said Eduardo González Díaz de León. He’s in charge of the Arizona and Nevada office of Promexico, a Mexican government agency that promotes trade.

Promexico is bringing to the state 10 producers of mezcal, the agave distilled drink. Some of them are three generations of mezcal producers from Oaxaca, Durango and Puebla.

Mezcal, a 100 percent Mexican beverage made from maguey or agave, is currently enjoyed in over 389 countries. Since 2008, Mexican spirits — including mezcal — have doubled its exports, and the main destination is the U.S..

 “And there is a growing demand,” said González.

Promexico and the mezcal producers will hold meetings this weekend with the service industry and distributors, while offering public tastings in both cities.

On May 4, Promexico we will be at a Total Wine in Phoenix.  On Saturday, May 5, they will be part of the Agave Heritage Festival in Tucson, at Tohono Chul Gardens.

Rodrigo Cervantes was KJZZ’s bureau chief in Mexico City from 2016 to 2021.