This tasting event at Panxa will offer tacos and unlimited tastings of agave spirits (on the cheap)

We already know Panxa is home to the city’s largest collection of agave spirits. But the New Mexico-inspired concept—birthed by Chef Arthur Gonzalez and now headed by his wife, Vanessa Auclair, following his tragic death—is also home to some of the city’s best events. Their annual hatch chile roasting celebration has become a Long Beach tradition, while they have also invited customers into the space for sports games, election debates, and more.

“A Taste of Mexico” is one of those events. And it comes with unlimited spirits tastings, tacos, music, and good vibes on Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 6PM ot 9PM. (Or, for VIP ticket holders, an extra half-hour comes at 5:30PM to more comfortably peruse the producers of agave spirits present.)

Wait—what is “A Taste of Mexico” at Panxa?

Panxa and myself kicked off “A Taste of Mexico” earlier this year as part of my Last Call series of events celebrating the bar industry. It was such a success—some 160 people showed up—that we figured it was worthy of repeating.

For this iteration, little is different: Panxa will be hosting an array of some of the finest agave-centric distilleries—Tequila Ocho, Nosotros, Cazcanes, Producer, El Tequileño, Vago, Amarás, Don Julio…—that will allow ticket holders to taste over 20 variations of agave spirits for $35 come Tuesday, Dec. 3. And that includes food, music, swag bag giveaways, and a tasting event that is as intimate as it is unique.

Yes, you read that right: $35.

This year, we’ve added a VIP option that not only lets you have access 30 minutes earlier at 5:30PM with less people but gives you a complimentary cocktail for just $10 more. It really is something we try to create for the community, as cheesy as that sound. But in all reality, it’s the truth: accessibility, fun, unique.

Panxa has long been home to the city’s largest, most distinct agave spirit selection.

I think many patrons believe that, like their own collections, restaurants can simply pick and gather what they want. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Restaurants can’t simply serve up a bottle one of its workers discovered and bought while on vacay at Isla Mujeres. Each bottle has to be purchased through a designated distributor (and yes, not every tequila chooses to go through a useful or even accessible distributor, which requires every restaurant to hold an account with said distributor).

So the fact that Panxa has what is now a collection of some 130-plus bottles of various iterations and expressions of agave spirits is not just a testament to their love of Mexico. It is a showcase of relationship-building and taste thanks to bar manager Bryce Kaesman. And many of the brands featured at “A Taste of Mexico” highlight that.

Tequila Ocho—a single estate-focused distillery that takes one agave from a very specific place to create different annual releases, exploring the idea of treating agave plants as terroir, in the same vein wine does with grapes—is headed by Carlos Camarena of the famed tequilero family Camarena. His co-founder, Tom Estes, is a Cal State Long Beach graduate who is largely responsible for introducing tequila to Europe when he opened a Mexican restaurant in Amsterdam in 1976. (Tenuous Long Beach connections never cease to amaze me.)

They will be one of the distilleries on hand where people attending the tasting can speak with brand reps and some distillers themselves to learn about the depth of agave spirits.

Panxa is also home to one of the city’s best cocktail programs—and their fall menu expresses that.

Panxa is also home to one of the best (and definitively underrated) cocktail programs in the city. And here is where I get to proudly highlight what will be offered throughout the season leading up to “A Taste of Mexico.”

Butter Pecan Old Fashioned: Ron Zacapa Rum No. 23 | French brown butter | Toasted pecan | Crème de Cacao à la vanille | Angostura bitters | Turbinado sugar | Olives Grocer salted chocolate and pecan cookie

Zanahoria Picante: Nosotros tequila reposado | Habanero chile | Cold-pressed carrot juice | Turmeric | Cointreau Noir | Lime | Agave | Tajín

Too Pretty to Pear: Producer mezcal espadín | St. George spiced pear liqueur | Maple syrup | Lemon | Egg white

“A Taste of Mexico” will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 6PM to 9PM at Panxa Cocina, located at 3937 E. Broadway. Those with VIP tickets wil;l have access at 5:30PM. For tickets, click here.