Siembra Azul Foundation Introduces its First Tequila Interchange Project
The Siembra Azul Foundation invited a select group of highly regarded and incredibly talented bartenders to explore an incredible tequila region (and perhaps even a history altering find). THe first trip included the following nationwide industry professionals from San Francisco to Huston to New York: Marcos Dionysis, Steve Fowler, Bobby Heugel, Don Lee, Misty Kalfoken, Junior Merino, Joaquin Simo and Phil Ward.
The goal was to expose and challenge the level of tequila knowledge on an academic level and later on to share the knowledge from the bar tenders and mixologists with the local community. SAF, whom is still currently engaged with a group of influential professors from the University of Guadalajara, organized the professors to help guide the group through the newly discovered tequila region. They shared and helped understand, from an academic perspective, what this new and exciting discovery potentially means in the industry.
First, the team went on tour of the different terroirs within the appellation of origin; not as a single producer with the purpose of visiting a personal facility, but as guests to multiple regions. They explored the Highlands region and the Lowlands region. The idea being to compare the two very distinct terroirs in the appellation of origin. Secondly, SAF wanted to bridge the connection between USA and Mexico regarding mixology and bar tending. They took the opportunity to introduce each bartender, and their specific knowledge and experience in mixology and bar tending to the community of young and enthusiastic students of culinary arts and bartending. Each individual did a series of demonstrations using their favorite tequilas at a culinary institute in Guadalajara, where they engaged with students and shared their knowledge and creativity. The goal was to show to the young and enthusiastic community in Guadalajara what is happening here in USA with tequila and mixology.
What group members are saying:
"The Siembra Azul Foundation would like to invite a select group of highly regarded and incredibly talented bartenders (you) to explore an incredible tequila region (and perhaps even a history altering find)." - Joaquin Simo
"This program is created to raise awareness about the state of the Tequila industry, educate all about Tequila, and build important lines of communication between not just bartenders and business owners in the states but lines of communication with Tequila producers, the people of Mexico, scholars, researchers, and the minds of such folks as Ana Valenzuela who has spent a good portion of her life studying agaves.... Armed with said knowledge and experiance the plan is to be proactive here in our day to day lives raising awarness of the state of the Tequila industry and spreading the gospel of the true Maguey!" - Phil Ward
If you are interested in more information about TIP projects please email us at siembraazul@gmail.com. Or visit us online at www.tequilainterchangeproject.com
