Restaurants and tequila producers in Guadalajara, Jalisco, are preparing to say “Salud!” and celebrate the first-ever Tequila Cocktail Week.

Following the approval last year by the federal Congress to celebrate National Tequila Day on the third Saturday of March, 25 “iconic” restaurants and 15 tequila producers have joined together to celebrate for an entire week, starting today and concluding on Saturday.

The president of the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT) said that special tequila-based cocktails will be prepared in the restaurants with 40 different brands provided by producers.

Twenty-four amateur mixologists from around the country will also get the chance to show their prowess in a cocktail contest.

Visitors to the capital of Jalisco will have the opportunity to visit the Tequila Route and the Altos de Jalisco, the two main tequila-producing regions in the state.

“The celebration of this date makes the industry and the whole country proud; our beverage is found in over 120 countries, and at least 70,000 people are involved in its production, a sign of its importance in the cultural and economic development of our country,” said Rodolfo González González.

National tequila production last year was 300 million liters, 222 million of which were exported. It has been predicted that tequila will be the second fastest growing alcoholic beverage in terms of sales growth internationally by 2021, behind whisky.

Source: El Economista (sp)