Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Cinco de Mayo is a date near and dear to anyone who has fallen in love with Mexican food, culture, and spirits. On this day, different parts of the world commemorate with Mexico for the country’s victory at the Battle of Puebla over the occupying French forces of Napoleon III on May 5, 1862. Over the years, this holiday has evolved into a celebration of the Mexican heritage, and people have made it an excuse to indulge in quesadillas, tacos, and various cocktail mixes with tequila and mezcal. The Embassy of Mexico in the Philippines has teamed up with the Tasting Club, A’Toda Madre Mezcal Bar & Restaurant, Apotheke Craft Sprits Co., and DrinkManila to mount Cinco de Mayo ¡Viva La Fiesta! It’s a one-of-a-kind, virtual Cinco de Mayo tasting event that offers a fun experience to get to know more about Mexican culture and craft tequila and mezcal better while munching on authentic Mexican food. The event will showcase four speakers who will take guests on an exciting journey through Mexico by exploring the cultural dimensions of the Cinco de Mayo celebration with traditional specialties, craft spirits, delicious margaritas, and the full concert “Mexico Inmortal” by renowned artist Rosy Arango. Juan Gabriel Espejo Ceballos, head of Bilateral Cooperation at the Embassy of Mexico, will share about the Cinco de Mayo history and celebration in Mexico; Jesse Estes, International Agave Spirits Expert and brand ambassador of Ocho Tequila, will present the specificities of tequila and mezcal; Windi Tapawan, owner of A’Toda Madre restaurant, will talk about the delicious traditional Mexican specialties that were given to guests; and Kevin Charuel, founder of The Tasting Club, will be joined by Estes and Tapawan as he show to make perfect margaritas at home. Cocktail enthusiasts will get to make three margarita variations: Tequila Ocho Margarita (demonstration to be conducted Estes), Mezcal Siete Misterios Margarita (demonstration by Tapawan), and Cointreau Margarita (demonstrated by Charuel). Each tasting set will contain everything that will ensure that participants enjoy this Mexican feast at home: 3 traditional tacos (Chicken Chipotle, Barbacoa, Al Pastor), 1 Fiesta Nachos set (Nachos, Salsa, Guacamole, Cheese, Sour Cream, Jalapenos and Corn), 100 ml of each Ocho Blanco Tequila and Siete Misterios Doba-Yev Mezcal, 50ml of Cointreau Orange Liqueur, 1 complimentary mini shaker, 3 fresh green lemons, and 100ml of agave syrup. Tequila Ocho, the featured tequila for this event, has consistently landed on the top 10 tequila brands on the prestigious Drink International Brands Annual Report since 2014. This has become a favorite of the cocktail community and can be found in over 20 countries since its launch in 2008. This tequila is a collaboration between the Camarena family, who produces Tequila Tapatio, and Tomas Estes, who was named an official ambassador for the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT) in 2003 for his work on promoting Tequila across the world. Estes, who sadly passed away on April 25 of this year, was an esteemed member of the spirits community. He penned a book, The Tequila Ambassador, which was nominated for Best New Book at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards in 2013. Guests will also be tasting Siete Misterios Doba-Yev Mezcal, a brand that is well known for preserving inherited traditions from ancient mezcal culture by partnering up with local producers. Purchase your tasting set for Cinco de Mayo ¡Viva LaFiesta! here. You can get your own bottle of Ocho Tequila and Siete Misterios Doba-Yev Mezcal from Wine Depot locations (Makati, Greenhills, Alabang, SM Aura BGC, and Quezon City), WineDepot.com, and other online booze shops. The event will start at 6:30 pm and streamed on The Tasting Club and Mexican Embassy’s Facebook pages. Follow The Tasting Club on Facebook and Instagram for updates on future events. Follow Apotheke Craft Spirits on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and deals on craft spirits.