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<\/a>But she is quick to point out that there is much more to the industry than tequila. Mescals, sotols, bacanoras: Bryant talks about all types of agave spirits, and just how much they have grown in popularity since starting 10 years ago. In fact, she said mescal was the category to watch.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou change and embellish as the industry progresses. Back then, there were really only a handful of 100 portos on the market, and now it\u2019s the biggest and fastest-growing segment of agave spirits,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Once again, Bryant proves to be the eternal teacher. One hundred refers to 100 percent agave \u2013 the alternative is \u201cmixtos,\u201d with a minimum of 51 percent agave \u2013 and porto references the oak, port-wine barrels used to store the liquor as it ages.<\/p>\n
For tequila, there are five different types, mostly based on aging: blanco or white; gold; resposado, which is aged between two months and one year; and a\u00f1ejo, aged less than three years, followed by extra a\u00f1ejo. Extra a\u00f1ejo, which is aged for a minimum of three years, was established as an official category in 2005, and Bryant can talk a lot on that, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bottom line with us is education, but in a festive environment. You don\u2019t know you’re getting educated,\u201d she said. \u201cWe purposefully have experts, aficionados, master distillers [and] authors come to host seminars because education is the bottom line of our platform. It\u2019s been that way since we started.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bryant is currently the event director at the International Wine & Spirits Competition Group, which oversees the Spirits of Mexico festival among many other wine- and spirits-related events. Her company The Polished Palate was the first to be sanctioned in the United States by the Academia Mexicana del Tequila, and she holds the title of \u201cTequilier Ambassadeur\u201d from the organization as well. She has organized and overseen several other drink-related professional festivals, including the International Rum Festival in Tampa Bay, Fla., where she currently lives.<\/p>\n
But by all accounts, it is tequila that she really loves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I launched the concept, I launched it because I have a such a passion for these spirits,\u201d Bryant said, calling the Spirits of Mexico Festival\u2019s 10th anniversary special. \u201cIt\u2019s funny, I can recall every single year since we started.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bryant and organizers moved the festival to Old Town in 2010, and events take place at numerous restaurants and businesses in the neighborhood, as well as Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The Tequila Trail \u2013 held Thursday, Sept. 19 from 6 \u2013 9 p.m. at 11 eateries \u2013 benefits the Old Town Chamber of Commerce directly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI call it \u2018sympatico.\u2019 I don\u2019t know how else to best talk about Old Town,\u201d Bryant said. \u201cWhen I get to Old Town, all of a sudden I have this smile on my face. It just feels good.\u201d<\/p>\n