DiscoverTequila Jalisco Mexico : The Heart of Agave Culture

Tequila Jalisco Mexico, jealously guards some of the oldest traditions of the Mexican territory, and it is a city that produces the most popular drink in Mexico, and here we will detail everything about it.

The city of Tequila Jalisco Mexico, is located 60km from the city of Guadalajara and its name comes from the Nahuatl word Tecuila, which means place of tributes. This city is the head of the municipality of Jalisco.

Tequila Jalisco Mexico, is considered a magical town and is known for its high production of tequila and in turn for giving its name to tequila, the most famous alcoholic beverage in Mexico.

Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the first settlers were the Nahuatlacas, Toltecs, Chichimecas and Otomíes. The population in the area was originally settled in a place called Teochichán (also Techinchán), which was known as the place of the Almighty God and a place where snares and traps abound.

It is important to mention that the Old Industrial Facilities of Tequila, in Tequila Jalisco Mexico, were declared World Heritage in 2006, within the category Cultural Landscape by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and this area represents the intangible culture of this Mexican region.

Currently in Tequila Jalisco Mexico, lives mainly from the production of tequila, so it represents an important economic development activity in the region.

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Table of Contents

Tequila Jalisco Mexico: The history of the most popular drink of the Mexican territory

This drink has ancestral origins and the first settlers of Tequila Jalisco Mexico, consumed this alcoholic beverage that little by little was gaining fame worldwide.

The drink has been produced since the XVI century, approximately in the year 1538, but the Spaniards who governed the country at that time decided to prohibit the beverage, since they intended to intensify the consumption of beverages such as wines and liquors of Spanish production in what for them was the New Spain. This brought about clandestine operations.

One of the best known legends about the origin of tequila tells that tequila was discovered during a thunderstorm, when lightning struck an agave plantation, the situation generated a fire, and the vapors heated the agave balls, resulting in a honey with a sweet flavor and pleasant aroma, which caught the attention of the natives of the area, who discovered that when fermented, it produced a relaxing and euphoric effect.

The natives thought that tequila was a gift from the gods of drunkenness, so to a certain extent they gave it a spiritual importance.

The drink had its heyday in the first decades after the Spanish conquest, born as a fermented agave plant, which later, thanks to the Arab and Hispanic influence, was distilled in stills.

At the beginning it was known as mezcal wine or mezcal tequila, and according to historical data, the first to name this drink tequila was one of the most important producers of the tequila industry, Don Cenobio Sauza, who stopped calling the drink mezcal wine to adopt the name tequila.

José Antonio de Cuervo y Valdez, is another important character in the world of tequila. He founded the Cuervo house in 1758, after obtaining agave cultivation lands. By 1795 he began to sell Jose Cuervo mezcal on a commercial basis and today the company is the largest tequila producer in the world.

It is also worth mentioning the impact of the railroad on tequila exports. When the railroad arrived in the region in 1888, the development of Mexico’s port system and the expansion of the international market favored the tequila companies, which were able to develop greater tequila production, opening the way to the international market.

Main attractions of Tequila Jalisco Mexico

Tequila Jalisco Mexico is the birthplace of the most distinctive drink of the Mexican culture at an international level, tequila. The area of Tequila Jalisco Mexico is surrounded by beautiful landscapes where the blue agave fields stand out, the main ingredient to make tequila.

This town has a pleasant atmosphere that envelops anyone who visits it, that is why we will tell you what are the main attractions of Tequila:

Tequila Train

The Tequila Train, also known as Jose Cuervo Express, offers an unforgettable tourist service. It operates from Guadalajara station to Tequila Jalisco Mexico station.

This train service stands out for offering tequila tastings, in addition, it transports its passengers through the blue agave fields to the distillery ”La Perseverancia” in Tequila Jalisco Mexico.

The Tequila Train service began operations in 1997, this service is operated by the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce and the excursion includes live mariachi music, buffet at the Quinta Sauza facilities and tours of the distillery.

Historic distilleries

Tequila Jalisco Mexico stands out for its history with Mexico’s most popular drink, tequila, that’s why we will tell you which are the two most popular historic distilleries in the area:

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José Cuervo La Rojeña Hacienda and Distillery

La Rojeña is the oldest distillery in America, so time stands still in this wonderful place and history comes alive. This place has 260 years in the world of tequila production.

In this distillery you are guided through a path full of art and the magical process of making tequila. You will also be able to taste why tequila is the drink that transmits the spirit of the Mexican territory on a larger scale.

The hours of this distillery are from Monday to Friday and Sundays from 11:00 to 17:00hr.

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La Cofradía

La Cofradia distillery offers a tour where you can learn about the tequila production process at La Cofradia distillery.

On this tour you will enjoy a welcome cocktail, a guided tour with all the legends related to the theme of tequila in Tequila Jalisco Mexico and a tasting of 100% agave tequila, white rested and aged.

The schedule for this tour is from Monday to Sunday from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm and reservations are recommended 24 hours in advance.

National Tequila Museum

In Tequila Jalisco Mexico you can also find the National Tequila Museum, known as MUNAT. This museum has five rooms where you can see the evolution of tequila, it also has a room of the distillate, and its facilities have also presented several works that are related to the famous Mexican alcoholic beverage.

The museum was inaugurated on January 29, 2000 in a 19th century house, right in the center of the city of Tequila Jalisco Mexico. It should be noted that the museum has an auditorium, a store and an exhibition hall.

Alicia Rodriguez, was in charge of designing this museum, who also collaborated with the creation of the Mariachi Museum in Cocula Jalisco and La Cofradia Museum in the city of Tequila.

If you want to visit this museum it is important to know that the hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00 hr and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00 hr. The cost is $20 per adult and $10 for children under 12 years old.

This museum is located at José Cuervo 33. Centro, 46400 Tequila Jalisco Mexico.

Old Taverns of Tequila Jalisco Mexico

If you are in Tequila Jalisco Mexico, you should visit the Old Taverns, we recommend that you do it with a professional tour guide and you can listen to the stories that have been lived in those thick adobe and stone walls, especially in the times when tequila was banned by the Spanish conquistadors.

Despite the prohibition of the Spanish crown, the Mexicans decided to continue producing their national drink in secret.
It is also worth mentioning that when the railroad arrived in the times of the Porfiriato, tequila began to be distributed in the United States, which made this wine have a great boom.

The taverns of the city of Tequila have been relegated to the shores of the city in what was the historic center. The first tequila taverns originated in Amatitán Jalisco and were very important for the development of this industry.

Washing places of Tequila

The first thing you should know is that the laundry rooms of Tequila, built at the beginning of the 20th century to solve the water shortage that the town was experiencing at that time, were a simple structure to wash clothes and little by little became a meeting point to share, especially housewives.

It is important to mention that in spite of the fact that the washhouses of Tequila were created for women, the charros did not take long to come to the area to meet them.

Nowadays, the Tequila washhouses are considered one of the main tourist attractions of the Magical Town of Tequila Jalisco Mexico.

Importance of the Tequila Town Square

This square is of great importance and is located in the geographic center of Pueblo Magico Tequila and in this square you will see people of high, middle and low class.

The plaza is the perfect place to relax and also serves as a place of celebration in the local festivals and patron saint fairs.

Cultural experiences in Pueblo Magico

Tequila Jalisco Mexico offers unforgettable cultural experiences that make you want to repeat them more than once, here we talk about them:

Festivities

Pueblo Magico is characterized for being a very friendly and festive place, these are some of its most important festivities:

The cultural week from April 1 to 15
The day of the Holy Cross, May 3, is highlighted by pilgrimages to the Sanctuary, dances and fireworks.
Los Cantaritos, which is celebrated from June 24 to 29 and clay figures in the form of pitchers are thrown in the countryside.
National Tequila Fair is one of the most outstanding festivities and coincides with the city’s patron saint festivities, from November to December.

Gastronomy

Tequila Jalisco Mexico is characterized for offering a delicious gastronomy in which stand out dishes such as meat in its juice, pozole, birria and torta ahogada, which stands out among all that emerged in Jalisco and Guadalajara almost 100 years ago, it is a birote bread with refried beans, carnitas, tomato sauce and spicy.

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These are the most popular markets and restaurants

The Cleofa Mota Municipal Market with Doña Mary, is wonderful and has a variety of restaurants that are located around a waterless fountain that offers a great collection of regional cuisine.

Here you can eat ancestral dishes and family recipes that have been modified over the years.

Among the options that you must eat are the birria de chivo (goat stew) and tortas ahogadas (drowned cakes). Also, as you would expect, they offer delicious tequila.

On the other hand, these are the most popular restaurants in Tequila

La Posta
Taberna del Cofrade
Fonda Cholula
El Mar II
Real Marinero Restaurant
Villa Tequila
La Antigua Casona

Travel Tips

If you want to travel to Tequila Jalisco Mexico you should follow these tips:

Plan everything with the idea that you will probably get drunk.
It is good to book tours in advance, as well as hotels.
If you want to buy tequilas keep in mind that the artisanal ones are very good.
Try to travel calmly
In Tequila you will be able to visit more than just the distilleries, so try to get to know everything the town has to offer.
It is a good idea to learn how tequila is made before your visit.
If you go by car we recommend visiting other towns in the region.
It is advisable to travel on a special date such as the Tequila Fair, which is also linked to the patron saint celebrations.

Hotel Highlights

Matice de Barricas Hotel
Casa Salles Boutique Hotel
Hotel Casa la Gran Señora

If you want to visit Tequila and do not want to travel by private car you can buy a bus ticket from Guadalajara to Tequila and vice versa, with Tequila Plus, the experience lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes and costs from $ 5 to $ 11, you can also buy a train ticket that costs from $ 140 to $ 240 and lasts 2 hours.