A Shot of Tequila
What once was the drink of the poor Mexican farmer is now produced en masse and enjoyed internationally, with countless varieties crowding shelves across the world. Unfortunately, lower-quality brands make up the bulk of exports, so if the thought of sipping this heady liquor turns your stomach, take some time to seek out some of a higher quality while you're in Los Cabos.
Tequila must contain at least 51% blue agave, a plant related to the lily. The best tequilas are 100% blue agave. Liquid is distilled from the sap of seven- to 10-year-old plants and fermented. If you buy tequila with a worm, it was probably bottled in the United States, and is likely not a good-quality tequila.
Most of the good stuff is made in the town of Tequila, near Guadalajara. Labels bearing reposado indicate up to a year of aging; añejo, from one to three years. The longer tequila ages, the smoother it tastes.
Getting your fill of taste-testing is an easy thing to do in Los Cabos, because every bar will have at least a couple of bottles on the shelves, but you should visit at least one establishment that specializes in the good stuff. There are a number of locations in Los Cabos to do so: Pancho's Restaurant & Tequila Bar comes to mind, as does the Tequila & Ceviche Bar at the posh Las Ventanas al Paraíso Resort. Habanero’s located in San José del Cabo has a tequila pairing course, instructed by certified Tequilier (Tequila Sommelier) Tadd Chapman.
Pancho's might as well be a tequila museum. Hundreds of tequilas are available for tasting, and many of the colorfully named brands up on the shelves are no longer manufactured. Schedule a private tasting, at $50 per person, with Bernard Corriveau, the official "Tequila Ambassador" of Mexico, who will teach you a bit about the history, production process, and art of this complex liquor. Corriveau, appointed a "Maestro Tequilero" by the Consejo Regalador de Tequila (loosely, the industry's Tequila Board), just might be the most knowledgeable person on tequila in Los Cabos. Pancho's holds group tequila tastings in English each Tuesday night at 7 pm.
Only guests at Las Ventanas al Paraíso Resort can enjoy the small, intimate Sushi, Tequila & Ceviche Bar set off from its lobby. The resort's "Tequileros" conduct the lessons for a maximum of 10 guests where you'll learn the history, classifications, distillation process, and different types of tequila along with the appropriate way to drink it. Of the 95 different varieties available for sampling, some are affordable, while others—the Clase Azul Ultra, aged five years, produced in numbered batches of 100 bottles and $254 per shot—are literally liquid gold. Other favorites include the Don Julio Real, $74 per shot; the Chinaco Negro, extra añejo, $79 per shot; the Casa Dragones Joven, $65 per shot; the Gran Centanario Reserva, $44 per shot; and the Reserva de la Familia, $32 per shot. Classes are held on Tuesday and Friday at 5 pm, at a cost of $86 per person. Tequilas are served with ceviche sampler, guacamole, and homemade tortillas chips.
At the Antigua Los Cabos Museum and Store, located on the zócalo (town square). You can sample various tequilas and other interesting liquors free of charge.
