Spend The Night In A Mexican Hacienda
Courtesy of Hotel Solar de las Ánimas
As one of the largest towns in the region, Tequila offers plenty of options for places to stay overnight, both in and out of the town. For a longer stay, a good option is the boutique Hotel Solar de las Animas, which is located adjacent to the church of Santiago Apostol in the heart of Tequila and features luxurious rooms, a gorgeous outdoor pool, and stunning views of the town and volcano. Other great haciendas worth checking out in and around Tequila include Hotel Villa Tequila, Matices Hotel de Barricas, and Hotel Boutique Quinta Tequillan.
Those looking for an event space need look no further than the Hacienda El Centenario, a nice spot for a wedding or any other large event. The hacienda has meeting spaces as well as lovely grounds that can accommodate a few hundred guests. Stroll through the gardens, relax by one of many fountains, or tour the estate itself.
Enjoy Mariachis Voladores And Charros
The Mexican state of Jalisco is considered the cradle of charrería rodeos and mariachi music, and visitors to Tequila can witness some of these cultural events and performances at a number of venues across the region, especially in Guadalajara.
Charrería is Mexico’s national sport, which consists of charros/charras that dress in clothing seen on mariachi bands and do a variety of different tricks and maneuvers on horseback or foot. During this Mexican-style rodeo, the charros lead their horses through fancy step work and perform rope work called Floreo de Soga featuring intricate moves with a lasso. Head to the Lienzo Charro del Tequila near the middle of town to catch one of these shows while you’re in Tequila.
On the other hand, voladores mostly originate from the state of Puebla, where the ritual was born. However, they are also a regular fixture in Tequila and often perform their dance in the Plaza Principal. During voladores’ shows, the performers spin around a tall wooden pole from which they are attached by their ankles. The ceremony has even been recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Take A Train Ride Through Tequila Country
If you want to make your visit to tequila country a memorable day-long excursion, take the tequila train. The Jose Cuervo Express departs from Guadalajara on Saturdays and takes just over an hour to reach Tequila after winding through the beautiful blue agave-covered region. After the ride, you can take a complimentary tour of La Rojeña Distillery as part of your ticket price for the train. Alternatively, the Tequila Express departs Guadalajara and visits the Herradura Distillery but doesn’t actually visit the town of Tequila.
Besides visiting distilleries, you can also visit the National Museum of Tequila, located in the town of Tequila proper. Opened in 2000, the museum traces the origins of agave cultivation in the region from pre-Hispanic times to the present and contains over 300 artifacts on display in five permanent exhibit halls. The National Museum of Tequila is housed in a building from the late Porfirian period, which features stunning archways and a central courtyard where you’ll find a pre-Hispanic oven and a mill.
You’ll learn all about the cultivation of agave dating back to ancient times when the fermented drink from agave was known as pulque. Although there is some question about whether the people of Mesoamerica were familiar with the distillation process before the arrival of the Spaniards, it is likely that the distilled spirit of tequila we know today was not produced until after the 15th century.
Read Also: What Is The Most Expensive Patron Tequila
See Agave Harvested In The Traditional Way
In Tequila Country, you can see how the drink is produced, from the agave field to the finished bottled product, starting with la jima, the term used to refer to harvesting the agave plant. Agave is harvested in the traditional way in a very labor-intensive manner wherein the worker, called a jimador, uses a special tool like a sharp, pointed shovel to remove the spikes from the agave and extract the heart of the plant, the piña, which resembles a pineapple when the spines are removed.
The best way to fully experience the tequila-making process is to join a tour that takes you out into the agave fields and the local distilleries. There are several tour operators that leave from Tequila and Guadalajara, such as Tequila Tour by Mickey Marentes or through the Destilería La Fortaleza.
How To Drink A Tequila Shot
wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 62 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 1,668,988 times.Learn more…
In Mexico, tequila’s homeland, people often drink it straight, sometimes with a side of sangrita.XResearch source Outside Mexico, however, it’s common for tequila to be served as a shot, along with salt and a slice of lime or lemon. These additions help to compensate for the harshness of lower-quality tequila, and are consumed in a specific order, as outlined below.
You May Like: What To Mix With Tequila Gold
Tequila A Mexican History Of Production
Tequila is one of the most strictly regulated spirits around. Its production is very complex and can almost only take place in Mexico. This is because it is the home of the agave plant from which tequila is made. The long fleshy leaves are its trademark.
But what makes the production so complicated? For one thing, the growth of the agaves plays a major role here. The tall flower stems have to be cut off in time to give the plant its perfect sugar content. This can take up to several decades and the harvest is done by hand.
When the time has come, a very traditional production process takes place: the agave hearts are crushed and boiled and then roasted for several days in large stone ovens. Then the juice has to be pressed out. A traditional stone wheel pulled by a donkey is often used for this purpose. Finally, the juice is mashed and distilled.
The elaborate production history shows that tequila is a venerable drink that should be enjoyed as such. But what is the best way to drink it? We have collected the various drinking rituals for you:
How To Make A Tequila Pitcher Cocktail
A tequila sunrise is the perfect drink for unwinding in front of your favorite TV program or make a few for a casual evening in your backyard with a couple friends.
But for that long holiday weekend fiesta youre throwing, you can triple or quadruple this tequila cocktail recipe to have it ready to go in a pitcher. Preparing by the pitcher is so much easier than making drinks one-by-one when youre making drinks for a crowd. People can serve themselves from the pitcher and you can relax. Pure bliss!
My one piece of advice for turning this tequila sunrise into a pitcher cocktail is to leave the ice out of the pitcher, otherwise your cocktails will get watery. Instead, store the pitcher in a cooler and have ice on the side so the drinks still stay cold.
Don’t Miss: What Proof Is Bacardi Rum
How Do You Give A Shot In Your Stomach
How to Drink a Belly Shot
Indulge Your Taste Buds At A Traditional Restaurant
Courtesy of Hotel Villa Tequila
Food is a big part of the cultural landscape of Tequila Country, and there are plenty of restaurants in the town of Tequila where you can indulge your taste buds with some of the finest Mexican cuisines in the region.
For lunch, consider stopping by Amor de Mis Amores in downtown Tequila for a family-style dining experience complete with authentic enchiladas and birria, a spicy stew originating in the state of Jalisco made with goat meat and a variety of legumes. For dinner, stop by La Antigua Casona, which features great cocktails in a cozy, casual setting, or check out the Hotel Villa Tequila, which features a tequila-themed bar right beside the outdoor pool.
You May Like: Does Vodka Have Carbs
My Best Advice For Choosing A Tequila
As a former bartender, when buying an alcohol strictly to mix with something my best advice is this: when in doubt, buy from the middle shelf in a liquor store and in a bar. Not the bottom shelf . Not the top shelf . As a rule of thumb, you typically you cant go wrong if you select a tequila from the middle shelf .
So go grab your tequila and lets get to mixing so we can get to sipping!
Interesting Uses For Tequila According To Experts
While tequila may get a bad rep for being a liquor best known for the worst hangovers of your life, it has some very surprising usages that youve probably never even considered. From making marinades to lowering cholesterol we spoke to tequila experts from around the world on how they use tequila in their daily lives and what out-of-the-box usages there are for it. Heres what they had to say.
Tequila can be used as a disinfectant and cleaning agent.
Similar to your typical rubbing alcohol, tequila kills germs. In general, alcohol is best used as a disinfectant when its concentration is between 50% and 80%. The higher the proof, the better it will disinfect.
Founder and CEO, Terray Glasman of Amorada Tequila uses the agave-based spirit for nearly everything she needs to sanitize.
I use it for my hair brushes, make-up brushes and to sanitize my hands, said Glasman. I also use it to clean things like copper, jewlelry and mold in the house.
Even cleaning services advocate using tequila as a cleaning solution.
In my house, if I have a leftover tequila from a party I often use it for cleaning the mess in the bathroom, said Alberto Navarrete, the General Manager of Emily’s Maids. If you have built up dirt or gooey things in your bathroom, tequila degrades it all leaving your place clean. Just soak it in some tequila in a cloth or a microfiber cloth and rub it on the dirty area.
Tequila can be found in your kitchen sponges.
Some tequila bottles are too ornate to toss.
Recommended Reading: What Proof Is Bacardi Rum
Tips For The Best Tequila Sunrise
Because this tequila cocktail is so straightforward, you want to use the best possible ingredients. Im not saying you have to squeeze the orange juice yourself , but see if you can get your hands on juice thats not from concentrate.
In that same vein, buy a quality tequila as well. Remember: this drink has just three ingredients, so you want them all to taste good!
Lastly, its crucial that you do NOT stir the tequila sunrise after youve added the grenadine to it. The grenadine is supposed to sink to the bottom, thus making it look like a sunrise.
Cuisine:Category:
How Do You Drink Tequila
How do you drink tequila? When asked this question, many people probably think of all-night parties where you washed down the tequila with salt and lemon to make it drinkable. A real Mexican, however, would only shake his head at this sight.
There are far more stylish ways of enjoying the Mexican agave spirit and thus giving tequila a little more appreciation. After all, a drink whose production involves so much effort also deserves a certain amount of recognition.
Read here what tequila actually is and how it can best be enjoyed.
Read Also: What Proof Is Tanqueray Gin
Bonus: Crme De Violette
Admittedly not a particularly common or versatile ingredient, anyone whos ever bought an entire bottle of crème de violette to make the classic Aviation cocktail can understand the desire to find something anything! to mix with this fragrant purple liqueur. Luckily, a tequila like Milagro Silver offers the right level of floral character to pair remarkably well with crème de violette, while an older tequilas typical vanilla and baking spice notes can ease the liqueurs otherwise cloying sweetness. Just remember: A little bit goes a long way, unless you want your drink to taste like the perfume counter at Bloomingdales.
Eat This: Tequila & Food Pairingsgold Silver Reposado & Anejo
If youre like most people, then you probably have a love-hate relationship with Tequila. Countless mornings waking up with a pounding headache probably assured that. Fear not though, Tequila is so much more than the headache-inducing gold liquid you took shots of in college. Tequila is one of the most versatile and complex spirits out there. As tequilas go, there are five main types, each with their own unique flavor profiles and qualities. Lets take a look so you can decide which ones going to work best with your meal.
Also Check: Can You Mix Ginger Ale And Whiskey
Mexican Style With Sangrita
Cocktails Of The Movies
Tequila and tacos goes hand in hand, adds Josh Rooms, the bar manager of Cartel in Battersea, which stocks 70 types of tequila. Anejo go incredibly well with slow cooked beef marinated with chipotle chillies, tomatoes, white onion and cooked with chorizo.
Still, even these top bartenders have had some fun with a few shots of cheap mixto.
I remember my first experience with a cheap ‘tequila-flavoured spirit’, says Talapenscu. We had back-to-back shots and an attempt to play pool which turned into a sword fight using the pool cues. Im pretty sure I lost the fight and ended up sleeping on the beach that we were on.
You May Like: Jim Beam Peach Lemonade
How To Make A Tequila Sunrise
Of all the tequila mixed drinks, a tequila sunrise is arguably the easiest to make. Simply add orange juice, tequila, and ice cubes to a glass, then pour in the grenadine.
The grenadine will sink to the bottom of the glass, but thats what you want! The trick to making the best tequila sunrise is to not stir the drink once all the cocktail ingredients have been added to the glass.
Garnish your drink as desired and serve immediately.
More Fruity Alcoholic Drinks:
Malibu Sunset A fun, fruity, easy Malibu drink recipe!! Because theres really no wrong way to do pineapple, orange juice, coconut rum, grenadine, and cherries!
The Best Homemade Margaritas If youre not sure what to mix with tequila, look no further! Nothing fake, neon green, and no sugary chemicals. This is the best homemade margarita recipe Ive tried and its the easiest!!
Tropical Strawberry Lemonade Party Punch This tropical alcoholic punch is one of my all-time favorite party drinks! Feel free to leave the alcohol out if desired. This punch tastes delicious even without it!
Lightened-Up Raspberry Coconut Punch Sweet, tangy, refreshing and isnt a caloric lead balloon! But dont worry, it still packs a punch!
Watermelon Raspberry Slushies Summertime in a glass! Cool, refreshing, and youll want a refill before you know it!
Mango Coconut Water Tropical Martini At just 100 calories a drink, you can sip worry-free!
Watermelon Lemon Drop Slushies Wondering what to do with all the watermelon you have? Make these slushies!
Tropical Peach Pineapple Slushies Plenty of booze and no added sugar, a win-win!
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
originally published May 3, 2019 January 17, 2020//20
You May Like: How Many Carbs Does Flavored Vodka Have
Experience The Magical Town Of Tequila
Ana Alarcon / TripSavvy
The town of Tequila was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006 for the unique features of its natural landscape and cultural traditions. It is also one of the few places that the Mexican government has dubbed Pueblos Mágicos due to its cultural and historical significance. Your visit to Tequila Country would not be complete without a stroll along the cobblestone streets of this charming town, which contains a living, working landscape of agave fields, distilleries, factories, and haciendas.
Stop by Plaza Principal de Tequila, the town’s main square, to visit its parish church, La Parroquia Santiago Apóstol, which dates back to the 18th century. The church has a stone facade, a bell tower, and inverted, truncated pyramid pilasters that flank the main portal. Inside, there is a statue of Our Lady of the Conception that has stood watch over the church since it was sculpted in 1865. Also, stop by the Municipio de Tequila , which is located across the main plaza and features artwork by Manuel Hernández that highlights the significance of the agave plant in pre-colonial Mexico as well as the Aztec goddess Mayahuel, who is associated with fertility and nourishment.