If California has Napa and Kentucky has Bourbon Country, Tequila is Mexico’s well-known home of it’s most famous spirit. And like Champagne in France, the often misunderstood spirit must be made of blue agave from this part of the country to be truly considered tequila.
It’s safe to say that tequila is having a “moment” with more and more labels popping up, even one from George Clooney. Cocktail bars incorporate the liquor into drinks with the enthusiasm previously reserved for vodka and gin. I love tequila, definitely more than I should, so this excursion was exciting. The town of Tequila is a popular day trip from Guadalajara, but I spent the night there to explore further.
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Our group first stopped at one of the many agave fields that cover the horizon, but this one belonged to none other than Jose Cuervo, the most recognized tequila brand in the world. While this particular field is mostly reserved for showing tourists how the drink is made, we were able to see the plants up close.
We met a jimador, or agave farmer, named Ismael who has been working there for decades. The weathered cowboy cut down the spiny plant with ease and told us about the harvesting process as the sun beat down on us, protected by borrowed hats. He then told us about all the things made from agave beyond tequila and even sells hand balms and syrup.
Then it was into Tequila proper, where we saw signs for competing distilleries and small family-run operations. We pulled into Mundo Cuervo, the complex that encompasses the Jose Cuervo tourism experience with a visitor’s center, tours, a store, hotel, and restaurant.
We were immediately handed a cazuela, a tequila cocktail served in a clay mug that is, in my opinion, far superior to the margarita (more about it here and here).
Our guide took us on an intensive tour of the agave roasting and distilling operations, which included a glimpse at the turn of the century cars used to transport workers and a visit to the private cellar for a nip of the family’s reserve label. I couldn’t believe that all the world’s Cuervo, like Jack Daniels in Tennessee, is made in one small town.
Already buzzing from fumes and samples, we sat down for the official tequila tasting. We got to compare the blanco with the aged varieties. I had long ago learned how to properly taste strong alcohols after an ill-fated dinner with firewater in Portugal. Instead of shooting it as I had in college, I took the time to sip and notice the complexities. Inhale, sip, exhale.
Later in the afternoon, we had lunch at the restaurant connected to our hotel and checked in. I immediately put on my bathrobe and indulged in a much-needed nap. An hour or so later, I made myself a Nespresso (my favorite thing at hotels) and put on my swimsuit to go enjoy the sunshine at the hotel’s rooftop pool. It overlooks the church cathedrals and the mountains beyond. I couldn’t ask for a better end to the day.
Hotel Solar de las Ánimas is by far the best hotel, owned by the Cuervo company. It has luxe amenities and is worth the splurge. But there are other options in town if you’re on a budget or Solar de las Animas is booked.
Matices Hotel de Barricas is another cool option with rooms in cabins made out of former barrels. Luna Azul is a budget-friendly guesthouse in town.
Cuervo is just one of the distilleries in town, but shouldn’t be missed. If you have time, Casa Herradura has its own tour and train package. Casa Sauza also has tours, while there are smaller tasting rooms in town by lesser-known brands.
If You Go
Tequila is around an hour’s drive from Guadalajara, but there are many ways to get there. The Jose Cuervo Express is the most scenic, a train that has samples of tequila the entire ride into town, but it only runs on the weekends.
It costs 2,000 pesos, or around $100 USD, and includes lunch and a tour of the facility. Tequila Plus operates buses to the city, but Uber is another option. You can also get a rental car at the Guadalajara Airport or go by tour.
Further Reading
- You Can Take a Tequila Train to Mexico’s Most Magical Town, Travel + Leisure
- How Tequila Went from Mexican Farms to American Frats, The Atlantic
- Tequila Nation: Mexico Reckons With Its Complicated Spirit, NPR
- The Wild, Vibrant History of Mexican Tequila, National Geographic
My trip to Tequila was sponsored by Aeromexico and Visit Guadalajara. Aeromexico flies to Guadalajara, Tequila’s closest airport, daily from Atlanta.
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