CA Agave Council At American Distilling Institute Craft Spirits Conference and Expo in San Antonio

Attending the American Distilling Institute Craft Spirits Conference and Expo in San Antonio this past August was both inspiring and insightful. The event, led by Bill and Erik Owen—a dedicated father-and-son team who have championed the craft spirits movement for more than two decades—showcased the strength and diversity of the industry. Their mission to elevate awareness of small-batch craft spirits was evident throughout the expo, where we connected with distillers, bottle makers, builders of distilling equipment, transportation specialists, scientists, and agave spirit makers such as Brett Breckett of Ameragave and Mike Cameron of Devils River, who is innovating in Texas by producing agave bourbon made with Tequilana Blue Weber agave, highlighting the creative possibilities within the craft spirits sector.

We were also delighted by a visit from Grover Sanschagrin of Tequila Matchmaker, who continues to be a great advocate of all things “agave” making a big difference in the understanding of the potential of this ever giving crop.

A particularly notable presence was Erick Sandona, director of the American Distilling Institute’s International Spirits Competition and founder of EZ Drinking. His leadership gave the competition a sense of global prestige and underscored ADI’s role in celebrating diverse traditions.

One of my proudest moments was watching Venezuelan cocuy agave spirit, an expression from  agave variety endemic to Venezuela rather than Mexico, win recognition on the international stage.  Aureliano Ugueto of Verdor Cocuy, earned Best of Class International Agave Spirit, showing that unique varieties of agave—grown in different regions of the world—are gaining the respect they deserve.

The San Antonio conference not only celebrated craftsmanship and innovation across the spirits industry but also reaffirmed ADI as a hub where tradition, experimentation, and global recognition converge to shape the future of craft distilling.

We look forward to seeing many of these devoted craftsmen and women at the 2026 California Agave Council Symposium, which will be held in Santa Barbara in March!

Cheers!

Ane Díaz , Board Member

Rancho del Sol