Which tequilas you'll actually get to taste this Fall

Fall is the busiest stretch of the year for agave events in the United States.

Nineteen of them, by our count, between the first weekend of September and the second weekend of November. Big outdoor festivals. Hotel ballrooms. A historic St. Louis biergarten. A free tasting in a San Francisco restaurant. A tahona-focused tour that hits five Florida cities in a week.

But the reason to go is not the live music or the taco bar.

It is the table. It is standing three feet from someone who made the liquid, asking them a question, and tasting something you would not otherwise get to taste. Brands bring limited expressions to these rooms. They bring bottles that have not reached your state yet. They bring the extra añejo you were never going to spend $200 on blind.

So we built this guide around what is actually in the glass.

Here is what is pouring this fall, and where.

Work the fall circuit and you start seeing the same labels. Some of that is one festival's roster traveling city to city. Some of it is genuine ubiquity.

Based on published 2026 lineups, and on the most recent prior-year lineups where 2026 lists are not out yet, these are the names that recur across the most separate organizers and cities:

Cazcanes turns up across the widest range of unrelated events, including Arte Agave, Bowl of 'Zole Brooklyn, Mexico in a Bottle San Diego, the Monterey Tequila Festival, Tales of Agave in San Francisco, Copita in St. Louis, the Goodjuice Grand Tasting in Austin, and The Tequila Fest in Boca Raton.

G4 is on the 2026 Arte Agave roster in all four fall cities, and also pours at Mexico in a Bottle, Tales of Agave, and Goodjuice.

LALO is at all four Arte Agave stops, plus Copita, Goodjuice, and San Antonio.

Fortaleza anchors the Tahona Tour, was on both the 2024 and 2025 Bowl of 'Zole tables, and pours at Tales of Agave.

Tequila Ocho and Don Fulano each land on four or more separate fall lineups.

Tanteo, El Mexicano, and El Acabo travel with Arte Agave across its four fall stops.

Amatiteña and Caballito Cerrero appear at both Mexico in a Bottle San Diego and Goodjuice, the two most producer-focused rooms of the season.

One note of caution. Several of the biggest fall events have not published their 2026 brand lists yet. Where we are working from a prior-year list, we say so below.

September 6 through September 12 | Five Florida cities | $30

Agave Matchmaker's tahona-focused tasting and presentation, "Defining Craft Tequila," runs through Florida in a single week: St. Augustine (Sep 6), Orlando (Sep 8), Tampa (Sep 9), Miami (Sep 11), and Stuart (Sep 12).

What's pouring: Fortaleza, Tequila Trujillo, Volcan de mi Tierra, and Alto Canto, per the tour page. This is the smallest, most focused room on the fall calendar and the closest thing to a seminar.

September 11 | The Schuyler, 1001 14th St NW | 6:00 to 9:30 p.m.

First of four Arte Agave stops this fall. We went behind the scenes on how Arte Agave redefined the spirits festival. Jay Baer, co-founder of The Tequila Report, will be at this event. Come say hi!

What's pouring: the 2026 D.C. page calls out El Mexicano, Don Fulano, G4, LALO, Tanteo, El Acabo, and Tequila Rimari, along with a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits. Expect a much broader pour list on the night, plus live music, folklorico dancers, and an artisan marketplace.

September 13 | Das Bevo, 4749 Gravois Ave, St. Louis, MO | VIP noon to 3:30 p.m., GA 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Second year for St. Louis' festival of traditional Mexican spirits, inside a historic biergarten. More than 100 brands spanning mezcal, tequila, raicilla, bacanora, charanda, sotol, Mexican rum, and liqueurs, with founders, importers, and distillers on the floor. VIP gets an hour of early access, a handmade copita by Oaxacan artist Ana Martinez, and 5% off retail bottle purchases during the festival.

What's pouring: the 2026 list is not out. The 2025 edition named Tequila Ocho, Don Fulano, Cazcanes, and LALO on the tequila side, plus a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits. For a second-year event, that is a serious roster.

September 14 | Añejo Tribeca, 301 Church St, New York, NY | Doors 6:45 p.m.

A restaurant-hosted tasting with cocktails, live music, and experts walking through the history and production of agave spirits.

What's pouring: Añejo Restaurant Group has not published a brand list for the Tribeca event, but it’s one of the best agave-focused bars in NYC, so expect a solid lineup.

September 18 | Distribution Hall, 1500 E 4th St | 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. | GA $70, Early Entry $90

Early Entry gets you in an hour ahead of general admission, with rare and limited pours and an engraved Glencairn copita.

What's pouring: 31 brands are listed for Austin on Arte Agave's featured agaves page, including Cazcanes, G4, LALO, Casa Maestri, Campo Azul, Corrido, Ensueño, Hidden Gem, Nobleza 33, San Matías, Verdadero, and Weber Ranch, along with a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits.

September 19 | DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI | 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. | $35.83 to $77.48

A margarita-led sampling festival that also pours straight tequila and mezcal, with tacos and live music.

What's pouring: the event page promises more than 100 margaritas, tequilas, and mezcals but has not named brands yet. Early bird pricing ends August 30.

September 20 | Flores San Francisco, 2030 Union St | 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. | Free

Flores is marking a decade with a free tasting, bites from local restaurant partners, and live music.

What's pouring: Clase Azul, Casa Dragones, Don Julio, Fortaleza, Herradura, G4, Siete Leguas, and Cazcanes, plus a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits, per the listing. That is a serious pour list for a no-cover event.

September 26 | Kimpton Sylvan Hotel, 374 East Paces Ferry Rd NE | 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. | GA $79, Early Entry $109

There is also a $15 masterclass add-on, "Beyond the Margarita with Pedro Furtivo," running at 7 and 8 p.m.

What's pouring: 35 brands on the Atlanta roster, including Alma del Jaguar, Cazcanes, G4, LALO, Espolòn, Ghost, Patrón, Tequila Ocho, El Bandido Yankee, Señora Leona, and Mosto, along with a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits.

October 1 and 2 | The Bowery Hotel, 335 Bowery | 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. both nights

Two nights, and the organizers note it sells out. Separate tickets for each night.

What's pouring: more than 100 agave spirits, with Don Fulano, LALO, G4, Señora Leona, Tanteo, and El Mexicano among the named tequilas on the ticket page, plus a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits.

October 2 | Keep Memory Alive Event Center, 888 W Bonneville Ave, Las Vegas, NV | VIP 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., GA 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. | GA $200, VIP $250

Total Wine & More's whiskey and tequila tasting, with 150-plus bottles poured by the distillers themselves. Both tiers include hors d'oeuvres and a raffle entry for allocated bottles. VIP adds an hour of early entry, master distiller access, a craft cocktail, and double raffle entries. No door sales, so buy ahead.

What's pouring: the event FAQ says organizers are still confirming brands and producers. Whatever you taste, you can buy afterward at Las Vegas Total Wine locations or online, which is a rare and genuinely useful feature at an event this size.

October 4 | Bread & Salt Gallery, San Diego, CA

Mezcalistas brings its producer-forward format back to San Diego, with the stories behind the bottles as much as the bottles themselves, plus Mexican whiskey, rum, gin, and liqueurs.

What's pouring: the 2026 exhibitor list is not out yet. The 2025 San Diego lineup ran past 65 producers, including Cascahuín, Caballito Cerrero, Cazcanes, G4, Tequila ArteNOM, Tequila Ocho, Volans, Alto Canto, and Siembra Azul, along with a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits. If 2026 looks anything like it, this is among the deepest small-producer rooms of the fall.

October 17 | Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa | 3:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Doors at 3 for educational seminars, tasting and food from 4 to 8, then a live band until 11.

What's pouring: the 2026 brand partners page is not populated yet. Confirmed from 2025 coverage and the festival's own channels: Don Pilar, which took People's Choice, plus Don Elías, Gran Diamante, El Ajetreo, and Cazcanes.

October 17 | Tower of the Americas, San Antonio, TX | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | GA $90, VIP $125

Thirty mixology stations, a gourmet taco bar, and 20 sample drink tickets per admission. Note the date. This is the same Saturday as Monterey.

What's pouring: the 2026 page says the full brand list is coming soon. The 2025 lineup included Casa Dragones, Maestro Dobel, Komos, Herradura, Don Julio, Patrón, Flecha Azul, Milagro, Casa del Sol, Tromba, Calirosa, Avión, Casamigos, Ghost, and 818, plus a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits. VIP pours in 2025 went to Don Julio 1942, Clase Azul Plata, Herradura Legend, Avión 44 Reserva, Patrón Gran Platinum, and Casa Dragones Joven.

October 22 | Brooklyn, NY | All-inclusive tickets from $55

More than 20 chefs and restaurants serve signature pozoles and traditional Mexican dishes, paired against 300-plus agave spirits from artisan producers and specialty distributors. Tequila, mezcal, raicilla, lechuguilla, and more.

What's pouring: 2026 is not published. The 2025 tables included Fortaleza, Tequila Ocho, Don Fulano, Arette, Cazcanes, Volans, Ensueño, Alma del Jaguar, and Amatiteña, along with a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits.

October 31 | Casa Chapala, 9041 Research Blvd #100, Austin, TX | 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. | $45 to $80

The 17th annual edition, run by the Austin Tequila Society. VIP lounge inside from 4:00 to 5:45 p.m., then the outdoor tasting trail. Tequila, mezcal, and sotol, with street-style tacos included in general admission.

What's pouring: the organizer does not publish a brand list. Humano is named as the VIP lounge cocktail tequila on the ticket page.

October 31 | Baja Cantina, 311 Washington Blvd, Marina del Rey, CA | 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

A smaller Halloween-afternoon tasting from the Los Angeles Tequila Club.

What's pouring: the event page describes a wide range of tequila and mezcal brands without naming them yet.

November 7 | Branch Park Pavilion, 2006 Philomena St, Austin, TX | GA+ 5:00 to 9:30 p.m., GA 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. | GA $125, GA+ $200

Two hundred bottles and sixty brands across agave, whiskey, rum, and brandy, hand-selected by Goodjuice's buyers. A walk-around floor rather than a seated program, and nothing is roped off. Every ticket includes unlimited pours, food all night, a tasting glass, and gifts from the brands pouring. GA+ gets 90 minutes of early access and, in their words, first shot at the bottles that do not last the whole night. We went inside their operation in Like a Kid in a Candy Store.

Maddie Jager and Jay Baer, co-founders of The Tequila Report, will be at this event. Come say hi and get free swag!

What's pouring: 21 agave brands are shown on the ticket page before it says "and more," so roughly two thirds of the sixty are still unnamed. Confirmed tequilas so far: Cascahuín, G4, LALO, Wild Common, Cazcanes, Alma del Jaguar, Montagave, Viva México, Atanasio, Amatiteña, Caballito Cerrero, Suerte, Don Vicente, and Tierra de Ensueño, along with a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits.

November 7 | Mizner Park Amphitheater, Boca Raton, FL | 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. | All-inclusive $85.61, VIP $142.47

Fifth year, and the first fully all-inclusive one. The ticket now covers unlimited tastings from 30-plus agave brands plus unlimited food from more than 20 South Florida restaurants. Same Saturday as Austin.

What's pouring: 2026 brands are still to be announced. The 2025 lineup included Teremana, Cazcanes, Tanteo, Flecha Azul, Calirosa, Casa Azul, Campo Azul, Asombroso, Ghost, Milagro, El Bandido Yankee, Casa Lotos, Curado, Los Sundays, and Solento, plus a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits.

November 8 | The Midway, San Francisco, CA

The season closer, and the West Coast companion to the San Diego date. Same producer-story format, with Mexican whiskey, rum, gin, and liqueurs alongside the agave spirits, plus restaurant bites and art.

What's pouring: the 2026 list is not out just yet. The 2025 San Francisco edition ran past 70 producers, with Tequila Ocho among the tequilas, alongside a number of quality mezcals and other agave spirits. Tickets are handled through Tixr.

Nineteen events, and the same handful of mistakes at every one.

Go early. Early entry tiers exist for a reason. The rare and limited bottles at Arte Agave and Goodjuice run out, and the person behind the table has time to talk to you at 6:15 that they will not have at 8:30.

Start with regular ABV and work up to higher proofs. Once a 110-proof blanco has scorched your palate, the next 80-proof pour tastes like nothing. Work up, not around.

Water between every pour, and eat. The events that bundle food into the ticket are doing you a favor. Use it.

Ask better questions. Not "is this good." Try: where is the distillery, what NOM, how do you cook the agave, do you use a tahona or a roller mill, is this a single estate. You will learn more in ninety seconds than in an hour of label reading.

Take notes you'll understand tomorrow. One line per pour in your phone. Brand, expression, and one honest word. "Cooked agave, hot finish" beats five stars you cannot reconstruct on Monday.

Write down what you want to buy, then buy it later. A few of these have retail on site. Copita gives VIPs 5% off bottles during the festival, and Total Wine will sell you anything you tasted in Vegas. Most events will not. The list matters more than the impulse.

Most of our readers will not be within driving distance of any of these rooms. That is fine. The brands are the point, and you can find most of them without a ticket.

Start with our Top 150 Tequila Brands Ranked and our complete craft tequila list. Between them you will find most of the names above, with scores, tasting notes, and prices attached.