one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor?

Alright.  We didn't actually have THAT much tequila in Tequila, but we did have a generous serving of the Jalisco region's prized product at Mundo Cuervo, the Jose Cuervo Distillery.  We visited the region with some of our fellow medical Spanish classmates and had a really great day.


The drive itself was long, but full of photo worthy scenery.  The land was covered in blue agave and was a sight to see.

Upon arrival, we walked around the beautiful little town.  We strolled through the outdoor market, snapped photos in front of the cathedral, and wandered around the Cuervo distillery.

 

For lunch, we visited the town's central market, complete with several different eateries ready to be enjoyed.  Earlier, I had asked someone which place was their favorite and he pointed us to Conchome.  For lunch we had meat marinated in tequila that we wrapped in fresh tortillas.  How fresh you ask?

Here is the lady making the tortillas just across the market.

And here are the tortillas on our table.

After lunch, it was time for our tour.  Tequila is made from the blue agave plant.  After taking off the leaves, you are left with a "pineapple" which is pressed to remove the juice.  The left over fibers are recycled into cookies and paper.  The foodie in me wondered how the same ingredient that can make paper can also make tasty cookies.  So of course I bought them at the store and will let you know when I find out. 

 
Back to the tequila.  The liquid is then processed into alcohol.  The first batch produced is 55% alc. vol.  The distillery isn't allowed to sell it, but they were allowed to let us taste it.  As one could imagine, it tasted like rubbing alcohol and left that warm burn in my throat.  We continued to learn about the aging process and resulting 35% alc. vol.  Blanco is aged a few days in oak barrels, Reposado a few months, and Anejo a few years giving them progressively more complex and smoother flavors.  The highlight of the tour was learning to taste tequila.  First, you swirl the tequila in the glass a few times and look for drops to form and drip down the glass.  This lets you know the tequila is safe to drink.  Then you tilt the glass and smell the tequila at the bottom, middle, and top of the glass.  Finally, you taste. But it's not ordinary taste.  You breath in through your nose, take a sip, hold it in your mouth 4-5 seconds, swallow, and then breath out through your mouth.  Pretty cool.

After all that learning, we called it a day with margaritas on the patio before heading back to Guadalajara.