Tequila Tour Review: Private Adventure to El Cascahuin

So, you are considering a tequila tour? Let me share my adventure of doing just that in the form of a private excursion to Tequila and the El Cascahuin Distillery. Very far from your average tourist trap, it was rather more of an authentic experience and it really let me see, and of course taste, what makes proper tequila quite unique. My review goes into all the specifics, hopefully it really helps if you are planning your own tequila pilgrimage!

Setting off to Tequila

Okay, the whole thing started very early one morning in Guadalajara. A comfortable van, almost like a personal chariot, picked me up straight from my hotel. That drive itself was pretty cool, offering what appeared to be some great views of the countryside as we headed to Tequila. The guide, it turned out, was really friendly and quite knowledgeable, pointing out all sorts of things and relating lots of facts about the region, the agave plants we passed by, and just the overall history that made the area what it now is.

Actually, getting out of the city felt great. You get a feel of what that part of Mexico is all about when you see it pass by your windows. What seemed to be stretching fields of blue agave plants painted the area, a true testament to where you’re heading. We spoke for quite a while, too, just about local stories, family-run tequila companies, that type of thing; he truly seemed ready and able to respond to every question I threw at him.

A First Stop at the Agave Fields

It was only a short drive, really, maybe around an hour outside of Guadalajara, when we stopped at one of these agave farms. By the way, getting out and walking through the fields was, in a word, amazing! The guide, he showed me exactly how they actually cultivate the agave, too it’s almost an art that’s been around for ages. That knowledge definitely brings you a newfound respect for tequila; imagine all those patient people working the land!

Really, watching the jimadores at work, which is what they call the agave harvesters, they displayed the kind of strength and precision you only develop from doing this over what seems like your whole lifetime. Also, they told me they only harvest what appears to be perfectly ripe plants and use some seriously specialist tools to chop them. Very interesting to listen to, for sure. What really hits you, too, is that they have some very deep knowledge that makes this all work.

El Cascahuin Distillery: Tradition in Action

After a brief journey on we arrived at El Cascahuin, really a distillery with such history. It isn’t like those big brand places either; rather, it’s got what I felt was a familial vibe, and that sense of doing it the traditional way permeates everything they do. You sense that as soon as you step through the door. What appeared to be the whole tequila-making process, from actually roasting the agave to distilling and then bottling it, felt very upfront and accessible.

And it shows when you look; so, every part seemed to display that they were very proud to still follow those older methods, even when other people mostly seem to use modern equipment. They were still using the old brick ovens, and that the fermentation happened in open-air vats, just small, distinct differences that added an extra note to what that tequila becomes. Furthermore, the scent of roasted agave hung so thickly, in what seems to be a very inviting way throughout the place.

Tequila Tasting: A Sensory experience

Obviously, this was quite the highlight: the tequila tasting! We had a sip of pretty much their range, and what’s neat is they each told the story of the bottles’ differences as you taste, telling you just what actually influences the final product. By the way, from the young, very bright blancos to what are rather more aged, complicated reposados and anejos, there’s seemed to be something that will please almost any palate.

Really what they seemed to focus on a lot was explaining the subtler stuff, what the aroma indicates, where certain flavor notes originated, too it’s almost a small lecture on what it means to experience fine tequila. What seemed great to me too was the unhurried atmosphere; rather, they wanted me to fully enjoy the drink and completely understand what was in front of me. They even suggested just what foods go quite nicely with the different types of tequila they produce.

Exploring the Town of Tequila

Next on the trip was a visit into Tequila itself, a what seems to be very picturesque Mexican town which, I ought to say, quite deserved its place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. What you immediately find is, cobblestone streets lead to what feel like stunning plazas surrounded by beautiful colonial architecture.

Just, it all seemed steeped in history. We had a wander round, seeing everything from the church to that old Sauza family home (one of the huge tequila names) and a museum showing a view of the area’s cultural history. The town, though, really had what seemed to be a very special vibe about it; actually, with tons of little tequila stores and bars, you very clearly knew where you actually were! Lunch was amazing too, at a place dishing up really tasty, what seemed to be classic Jalisco dishes, accompanied, naturally, by more tequila!

What Makes This Tour Special?

Basically, it wasn’t simply just a tour, this one really got me closer to what makes the tequila culture authentic. What felt good about this excursion was that I really got that close insight into a family-operated distillery, a sharp contrast to the sometimes a bit soulless, much larger industrial firms. Also, that fact that it’s private is brilliant as it means you don’t have to stick with lots of random people and listen to things you have no interest in!

You feel like you learn such more just because the guide is very easily personalized, responding right away and then adjusting to all your areas of specific interest. What I’ll hold very dear in my memories isn’t just the flavor of that amazing tequila, rather, what I can feel still is how friendly and educational all of the experience seemed from the very first step.

Worth Doing?

So, very much yes, I believe that’s a confident stamp of approval. That tour provides a truly exceptional glance right into all that it really takes to make tequila. Very, very far from being only a boozing day, the journey has cultural learning as one of its main elements, showing exactly what efforts, stories and individuals came together and helped to shape that symbolic beverage. What with those wonderful agave fields and just small, what felt like authentic distilleries coupled together, this promises what will be something incredibly real.

Basically, if you seek to get yourself out from those well-worn tourist routes and in return wish to actually know, truly understand, and certainly actually taste the heart of what defines the drink of Mexico, that private day-long excursion just might become some memory that will never fade!