Jalisco is a beautiful state spanning rugged mountains on the western side of Mexico’s central region. One of the Perks that puts it on the wonderful top places to own real estate is that tequila was born there. The enlightening experience introduces both tequila aficionados and the merely curious to Mexico’s most revered spirit’s complexities, history, and distillation process. Travelers and owners of a luxury home in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, will treasure a visit to Tequila. And also to the neighboring distilleries and fields of blue agave where tequila was born.
Around 90% of the blue agave currently harvested in Mexico comes from Jalisco. Guadalajara, Jalisco’s capital, lies nestled in a picturesque valley in the middle of the broader area where tequila originated. This valley includes all of Jalisco and parts of 5 other neighboring states. And it offers the perfect base to explore the region with dozens of well-established, high-quality tour options to choose from.
What is tequila?
Tequila is world-renowned as Mexico’s most famous alcohol, especially as the essential ingredient of a classic margarita. But the margarita was first poured in the 1930s, and tequila’s ancestry is much older than that. The Aztecs fermented agave sap into a drink called pulque. Also the Olmecs may have done the same as far back as 3,000 years ago. Distilleries in Jalisco and neighboring states began fermenting the tequila that we know today since the 1500s and commercially promoting blue agave as the perfect source for tequila in the late 1800s.
There are four main categories of this sophisticated beverage: extra añejo (“extra aged,” or aged for at least one year), añejo (year old), reposado (“rested” or aged for at least two months), and blanco (“silver” or unaged).
Contrary to what many global citizens experienced at their youth parties, true tequila fans most often sip it “neat” to fully experience and appreciate its nuanced flavors.
Visit the town of Tequila
Tequila is named after a town in Jalisco, about three hours and 20 minutes drive from your home in Puerto Vallarta by car. Buses will usually take about half an hour longer.
In the town of Tequila, we recommend that you visit the first independent, 100% blue agave tasting bar, La Cata. La Cata stocks 240 different kinds of tequila from about 50 local producers. The owner and staff give detailed and entertaining presentations on how to taste, enjoy, and identify different types of tequila. They also offer other foods. Enjoy exquisite dishes such as mushrooms, agave ice cream, and cheese to pair with tequilas of appropriate flavor profiles.
Tour and tasting on the Jose Cuervo Express
Mundo Cuervo offers tickets at varying price points to experience the trip to the village of Tequila by train, with antique train cars ranging from standard to the exquisite. The corresponding programs vary from a single tasting to access to the entire Cuervo line. These tours include food, music, shows, shopping, and a demonstration of agave cutting and harvesting.
The trains run on Saturdays, every other week.
Tour and tasting on the Tequila Herradura Express
Another high-class tour option is to take the Tequila Herradura Express, which visits the Herradura farm, founded in 1820, at the nearby village of Amatitan.
The journey begins at 11:00, with coffee, juice, and bread offered before the tasting starts; very nice for any guests who may have been rushed and skipped breakfast. The itinerary includes tequila tastings, mixed drinks, food, mariachi, and a folkloric ballet show.
The premium car is the standard accommodation, while the club and first-class cars are for more luxurious tastes and pricing. The train runs every Saturday, and reviewers mention that the best seats book up fast, so be sure to plan ahead and make your booking as soon as possible if you choose this route.
Other Activities
Whether you book a day tour with a full itinerary or choose your own mix of towns, tastings, and adventure, you will find many other local activities around your home in Puerto Vallarta to complement your trip to Tequila.
Take part in a tradition hundreds of years old and ride through the striking rich hues of the endless blue agave fields on horseback. As part of the ancient practice of blue agave cultivation, UNESCO has recognized the fields as a World Heritage site since 2006. Picture yourself as a lucky owner of a luxury home in Puerto Vallarta. In that case, you may want to schedule your own itinerary with a two-hour ride around the base of Tequila volcano at Mundo Cuervo, a producer founded in 1873.
Explore ancient history with a tour of Guachimontones archaeological sites. The drive takes about 4 hours west of your home in Puerto Vallarta and south of Tequila. The unique, round pyramids are a striking visual against the surrounding lush green countryside. The reshaping of the hills and parts of the construction began over 2000 years ago.
Jalisco is famous for some of the most treasured handicrafts of Mexico. In the markets of Puerto Vallarta and the historic center of Tequila, you’ll find a wide variety of hand-made treasures such as pottery, blankets, shoes, and glassware.
If you want to know more about an exquisite home in Puerto Vallarta or a beachfront luxury home in Puerto Vallarta, just contact one of our Top Mexico Real Estate representatives, and remember…We make it happen.