The city of Tequila is about 200 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean coast, but that does not prevent a unique blue sea surrounding this town in western Mexico. Although it is true that here the waves are arid hills that have arisen from the slopes of a volcano. An extinct volcano almost 3,000 meters high that dominates the horizon of this part of the state of Jalisco. While the blue of the waters is provided by the infinite plantations of Tequilana Weber Blue agave, the plant treasure from which the most famous drink in Mexico is extracted.
The city is the tequila capital par excellence. Knowing how this liquor is made and then savoring it is the great incentive to get to know it. All the distilleries open their doors to the outsider, many with surprising craft production for the neophyte in tequila matters. Although if you want to be safe, there is no shortage of the best known. Especially La Rojeña by José Cuervo, the birthplace of this international drink, whose last name flies over any street or square. In fact, La Rojeña has its entrance in the main square of the town.
Peeking into that large square allows you to understand why Tequila is part of the list of Magical Towns of Mexico. A select club reserved only for populations that exhibit the best and most interesting of the country’s historical, cultural and folkloric essences. And of course the city more than complies with it.
Just take a look at the Main Square to start soaking up some Mexican icons. There, traditional architecture based on brightly colored facades coexists with the colonial monumentality and bare stone of the great church of Santiago Apóstol, built in the 18th century. Although with the passage of time it is much better known as the temple of the Immaculate Conception.
Without leaving the square, there is also the Municipal Palace, whose façade integrates perfectly into the complex. So much so that it doesn’t even stand out except for its great access to the internal patio. There an ideal wall is erected to give free rein to the national passion for muralism. In this case to represent pre-Hispanic deities that are still considered protectors of the people and their crops.
Actually, any corner of Tequila is a hymn to tradition. Without going any further, next to the church the Cleofás Mota market stalls open to eat torta ahogada, mole with chicken or tasty dishes of beef birria. The most typical and cheap. As the afternoon progresses, it is not difficult to come across mariachi bands that roam the plaza and its cantinas looking for customers to serenade for a few pesos.
In fact, the animation increases as the sun goes down. Taking into account that the great attraction is to visit the La Rojeña distillery, but also others such as Orendain, La Rienda or Casa Sauza, and to culminate these visits with the subsequent tastings, it is obvious that the atmosphere is heating up. Any afternoon has a lot of partying in Tequila.
In addition, it is almost obligatory to visit emblematic taverns, some as glossy as the Margaritas bar inside the José Cuervo factory, and others more humble such as La Capilla, temple of the batanga and other cocktails starring tequila. Just as it is customary to walk through the Main Square and stop next to the central music kiosk to drink a cantarito. Some large ceramic glasses that once empty become an improvised souvenir to remember a memorable afternoon of drinks.
It is undeniable that everything is related to tequila, but we must not think that it is only about drinking. It is interesting to walk the long street of Sixto Gorjón to go shopping. What to buy? Anyone looking for good country boots or a classy hat will find it here. Just like the jewelery made with local stones, especially pure obsidian, whose blackness recalls the nearby presence of the volcano.
Both this street and its adjacent streets, as well as the great square, are the epicenter of life in Tequila. And that is where the strong commitment to tourism is verified. A diverse tourism. Hence, along with the street food stalls, more and more quality restaurants are opening, such as the Cholula inn or the Antigua Casona. Just like working on activities that go beyond visiting distilleries and tasting tequila.
With this purpose, the Juan Beckmann Gallardo Cultural Center was born. In its rooms, a large part of the history and art of Mexico is captured, contemplating everything from pre-Columbian masks to the avant-garde of the 20th century. In addition to discovering the secrets of traditions as Mexican as charrería declared by Unesco intangible heritage of humanity.
All this is gathered in a large house on José Cuervo street. It could not be otherwise, since Juan Beckmann Gallardo was the previous president of the brand and he himself commissioned his son and his successor to create the exhibition. His goal was to give back some of what the place has provided to the family for generations. And since then this tribute to Mexican culture is a new hallmark of the city and one more reason for Tequila to be one of the Magical Towns of Mexico.
There are many tequila cocktails that are drunk in the city of the same name. There are the margaritas, whether lemon or watermelon, there is the brave pigeon, also the batanga with cola and mixed with a knife, or the bloody mariachi. Almost all of Mexican origin. However, tequila sunrise emerged in California and it was the Rolling Stones who gave it worldwide substance by naming one of their successful tours that way.
So much fame was given to this mixture of reposado tequila, orange juice, grenadine, crushed ice, orange slice and maraschino cherry, that even a few years ago from the José Cuervo distillery they created a limited edition of bottles honoring their satanic majesties and his fondness for tequila sunrise.
