Espolòn Tequila and Campari America hosted an August information and brand education session for area bartenders and members from the United States Bartenders’ Guild Rhode Island (USBG RI) chapter at El Rancho Grande in Providence. Attendees also learned about participating in the annual Espolòn Tequila Cocktail Fights competition. Each October, teams from Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts gather in Boston to create cocktails using Campari America spirit brands and contend for the grand prize Espolòn Fight Belt. The winner heads to the Second Annual Cocktail Fight Nationals in November in New York City.
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- The lineup of tequilas featured at the Espolòn Tequila tasting held August 28 at El Rancho Grande, including Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and Añejo X.
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- El Rancho Grande staff gather behind the bar. Marco Meza and Joaquin Meza (center left and right) work with The Tequila Interchange Project (TIP), a non-profit organization and advocacy group for agave distilled spirits. Members advocate the preservation of sustainable, traditional and quality practices in the industries of agave distilled spirits. The El Rancho Grande team carefully selects each brand that meets TIP’s criteria, which includes Espolòn.
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- Attendees gather around Maria Meza, Owner and Head Chef, El Rancho Grande (center, seated), including USBG RI members.
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- Justin Noel, Brand Ambassador, Espolòn Tequila, described the unique flavor profiles of each tequila during the tasting.
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- Cocktails created by El Rancho Grande’s Joaquin Meza featured at the Espolòn tasting: Sunset in Arandas, a “tiki-esque” cocktail highlighting Espolòn Reposado, passion fruit, lime, elder flower and Cynar, served in two styles. The Jalisco Spritz, Meza’s twist on the classic Aperol Spritz, contained Espolon Blanco, Aperol, lime and Green Chartreuse.
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- Gran Senor created by Joaquin Meza, featuring Espolon Añejo, Ancho Reyes liqueur, Amontillado, Pamplemousse and lemon zest.
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- Yadi Allen, Server and Bartender, El Rancho Grande, pouring a round of Espolon Blanco during the tasting.
