Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico - There's a party going on in the state of Jalisco this week as Mexico celebrates the first-ever National Day of Tequila, in honor of the iconic drink that has become the country's 'ambassador par excellence.'

Last year, the Mexican Congress declared the third Saturday in March of each year as the day dedicated to this alcoholic beverage, so restaurants, hotels and distilleries located along Jalisco's Ruta del Tequila, which encompasses the city of Guadalajara and towns such as Tequila, Arenal and Amatitán decided to join together to celebrate for an entire week.

The celebrations started on Monday with all kinds of activities, such as tastings, contests, and several distilleries opening their doors to the public, and continues through Saturday, March 16, National Tequila Day.

Rodolfo González González, the president of the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT) said that participating restaurants are preparing special tequila-based cocktails with 40 different brands provided by producers, and that twenty-four amateur mixologists from around the country will get the chance to show off their prowess in a cocktail contest.

"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," Rodolfo González said.

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.

Sources: El Economista • Mexico News Daily • udgtv