Mezcal Bacanora and the Arizona Borderlands

Mezcal Bacanora is not just an agave spirit that has such a unique history and culture that it now has its own name and Designation of Origin in the Sierras of Sonora, MX. It is also a significant cross border spirit that lends to a critical understanding of the history and heritage of Arizona as a borderland state. In fact, you can consider Bacanora as Arizona’s sole unique heritage spirit. Agave has been used as food and fermented beverage in the Southwest borderlands for thousands of years as documented by archaeologists and in the writings of Jesuit and Franciscan padres. Mezcal as a distilled spirit was well established in what is now Southern Arizona/Sonora well before any Weberian borders were established. Mezcal Bacanora had a short commercial era from about 1880’s until prohibition in 1915. Prohibition in Sonora lasted 80 years in Sonora and was often quite brutal, but strong cultural persistence enabled its underground survival. However, today that intangible cultural heritage that persisted for so long may be threatened as it transitions into a modern economic commodity.

Michael Hurley has worked on all things water since the time of dinosaurs. He started his career in the Grand Canyon, worked at all 3 Arizona Universities, then throughout the Western US and eventually West Africa. There he worked on culture in transboundary governance and conflict management and in governance of artisanal fisheries. After a mini coup ended his primary project, he returned to Tucson to establish Borderland Spirits and continue this cultural focus through Bacanora and the borderlands.

 

In partnership with the Confluencenter for Creative Inquiry.

 

Date: Friday, Feb. 6

Time: 1pm-2pm

Location: Marshall 280 (845 N Park Ave)