Happy National Margarita Day!

Did you know that long before tequila is poured into your cup, it goes through a long and ancient process that starts in the heart of the city that gives it the name?

Tequila originates from the city of Tequila, in the state of Jalisco, about 60 km from Guadalajara.

Distilled from the blue agave plant, the process requires the plant to mature for seven to ten years before being harvested, to produce the soft and complex flavor of agave that characterizes tequila.

The popularity of the drink and the history behind it has made the town and the area surrounding it a World Heritage Site. It was also named a Pueblo Mágico (Magic Town) in 2003 by the Mexico Government.

The Tequila Trail

In the area around the town of Tequila in the state of Jalisco, greenish blue fields of agave stretch out mile after mile over the rugged, hilly terrain. All of the tequila in the world, some 60 million gallons a year, is produced in this region, which includes parts of the states of Guanajuato, Nayarit, Michoacan and Tamaulipas. In 1978 the “Appellation of Origin Tequila” was instituted, decreeing that agave-based drinks made anywhere else may not be labeled tequila.

Less than an hour west of Guadalajara lies a tourist circuit full of experiences and tradition, where centuries old haciendas, grand tequila mansions, distilleries, museums, opal and obsidian mines, archeological ruins, spas, train rides and other outings will be the protagonists of your trip.

In the Tequila Trail, you will have the opportunity to visit renowned distilleries and factories that will make your day unforgettable.  In the historic center of town, around the arches and the Church of Santo Santiago, there are guides offering picturesque tours.

Must Do’s in Tequila

• MUNDO CUERVO

Mundo Cuervo is the visitor and events center of Jose Cuervo. Here, visitors can tour through the oldest distillery in the Americas, where they will be able to see the tequila production process first-hand, and enjoy the Hacienda on the property.

• LA ROJEÑA  

Tours depart from the reception of the flagship distillery, which continues to produce artisanal tequilas after 250 years. The tour takes visitors through the entire production process, from the brick-built ovens for cooking the agave, the distillation room with its copper stills and the thousands of barrels that are stacked in the aging halls

• CASA SAUZA

Casa Sauza distillery tour brings to life the hard work and determination of the three Sauza family patriarchs who fought to make tequila what it is today. When travelers visit, they have the opportunity to discover the place where Casa Sauza Tequila has been created since 1873 and immerse themselves in the heritage, pride and passion that is at the heart of everything the distillery does.

• TOWN’S MAIN PLAZA and CHURCH OF SANTIAGO APOSTOL

The town’s main plaza is crowned by a central gazebo surrounded by colorful benches. At night, the whole area is lit up, inviting visitors and locals to sit and stay a couple more hours. The plaza also serves as an atrium to the Santo Santiago Apostol Church, which has a pyramidal base and is finished in stone.

• THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF TEQUILA

The museum is located in the city of Tequila. This museum has five rooms where different aspects are presented in the time evolution of the product, as well as a temporary hall which has hosted different works related to the tequila.

• TEQUILA EXPRESS TOURIST TRAIN

Another option for exploring the tequila-producing region is aboard the Tequila Express tourist train. It departs from Guadalajara and includes a guided tour of the Herradura distillery, lunch at a Mexican hacienda, live mariachis and folk dancing, and of course, tequila. .

• JOSE CUERVO EXPRESS

Since 2012, the Jose Cuervo Express travels across the agave landscape with the magic of yesteryear. Departures are Saturdays and from the station in Guadalajara to the Tequila Pueblo Mágico. It counts with three passenger wagons that accommodate 62 passengers each one. Glamour is not absent at these coaches, decorated with wood-panel walls and designed for maximum comfort, special for families.

For more information on Tequila, visit:

http://www.visitmexico.com/en/magicaltowns/things-to-do-in-tequila

http://www.visitmexico.com/en/tequila-jalisco-mexico