Host Your Own Tequila and Taco Festival
Who doesn’t love tacos, music, and tequila? Much like Guns N Roses, Led Zepplin, and AC/DC, tequila, tacos, and music are the perfect grouping. Throughout the warmer months, people across the country enjoy tequila and taco festivals. But, if you’re unable to make one of the events, don’t stress. Simply recreate your tequila and taco festival at home.
Sure, you’ll miss live music performances by prominent artists, but there’s no reason your homemade version won’t be as fun.
Here’s what you need to host your tequila and taco festival.
First Up, Tequila
You can’t host your festival without it.
Tequila has been drunk for centuries. It started life as a prized fermented drink created by the Aztecs and probably the Olmecs before them in Mexico in approximately 1000 B.C.E. Fast forward several hundreds of years, and the drink captured the interest of the Spanish in Mexico, who adopted a variation of the drink as a replacement when their brandy stores ran dry. By the 1700s, the Cuervo family began commercially distilling tequila, starting the spirit’s real rise in popularity.
Today, tequila is globally popular, and while Mexico continues to consume the most tequila, more distant countries like the United Kingdom, Spain, Canada, and Australia are also making their mark in the tequila market. And, considering the popularity of the spirit, it’s no surprise that the United States was the leading tequila importer in 2023, importing over 320 million liters.
Considering that plenty of tequila is also distilled in the United States itself (such as at the Old Tennessee Distilling Company), there are a lot of tequila cocktails to go around.
Make Your Tequila Cocktail List
To achieve real festival vibes, you’ll need to stock your bar and be ready with a list of quick and easy-to-make tequila cocktails. Check out our best tequila drinks for inspiration, and let the good times roll.
Remember to prepare a variety of garnishes for your cocktails, including citrus slices, cucumber, jalapenos, and mint.
Tacos For Everyone
One trick for festival food is to ensure you’ve got something for everyone. Start with the basics, your vehicle, and protein. We suggest preparing a range of the following:
- Hard shell tacos
- Soft shell tacos
- Grilled chicken pieces
- Pulled pork
- Pulled beef or beef mince
- Grilled or fried fish or seafood such as shrimp
- Beans (particularly black beans)
Once you’ve established your taco’s foundation, the rest will follow. Cook your proteins with plenty of flavor, using spices and seasonings such as paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, garlic, and cilantro.
Next up are the salads, salsa, and garnishes. Here is where you can truly play around with your flavor palette. Think grilled pineapple, pico de gallo, pickled red onion, freshly chopped cilantro, avocado, and squeezes of lime juice. Allow your guests to choose their favorite combination, saving you time and work.
Choose Your Music
You’ve got the drinks and food sorted. Now, all you have to do is choose your music. Here’s the advantage to hosting your festival: the performances might not be live, but at least you can play whatever music you like.
Create your tequila and taco music playlist beforehand, and hit the play button as your guests arrive. Your festival is good to go!
Stock Up for Your Tequila and Taco Festival
Visit Old Tennessee Distilling Company in East Tennessee to fill your bar with spirits for your festival. Our Tail of the Dragon tequila is a wild, free spirit and the ideal party starter. You’ll also find our traditionally distilled whiskey, bourbon, rum, and more in our shop.
