San Miguel De Allende: Traditional Mexican Drinks Tasting

Mexico has more than tequila. This 90-minute tasting introduces you to tequila, mezcal, sotol, bacanora, raicilla, and posh, with a professional taster and sommelier explaining how each drink is made and how to judge it. I like the clear teaching and the chance to taste spirits many people have never encountered. I also like that Alex adjusts the session to your group instead of running a stiff, one-size-fits-all lecture.

The main caution is simple: the food and wine portion may not always match expectations. The experience describes four gourmet tapas and Mexican wines as possibilities, but some recent bookings focused only on spirits and did not include the advertised snacks or wine. Confirm exactly what your session includes before you go.

Key points to know before booking

• Six Mexican spirits may appear in one sitting: Tequila, mezcal, sotol, bacanora, raicilla, and posh are the main focus, though the exact lineup can vary.
• Alex is the central strength: His teaching style is friendly, thorough, and tailored to the people at the table.
• This is a class, not just a bar crawl: You learn about production, Mexican states of origin, aging, aromas, and tasting technique.
• The private format can be customized: Only your group is scheduled to participate, according to the experience details.
• The setting is central: You meet at ICAVI Tasting Room, Recreo 10A, in San Miguel de Allende’s Zona Centro, and return there at the end.
• Budget about $125 per person: The value depends on how much you want guided instruction and access to less familiar spirits, not simply the number of pours.

What the 90-minute session is really about

This tasting is built around comparison. Instead of ordering one margarita or a neat pour at a bar, you sample several Mexican spirits side by side and learn why they taste different.

That comparison matters. Tequila and mezcal are familiar names, but sotol, bacanora, and raicilla are less common outside Mexico. Posh is also included among the traditional drinks covered by the experience. For many people, the unusual bottles become the best reason to book.

The session is led by Alex, a professional taster and sommelier associated with ICAVI Tasting Room. His approach combines background, production methods, and sensory practice. You are not expected to arrive with a trained palate. Alex explains how to use your nose and taste buds to identify aroma families, flavors, qualities, and signs of age or production style.

Expect a good part of the first hour to be educational. That is not a complaint, but it is important to understand the format. If you want quick shots and a lively night out, this may feel slow. If you want to understand what is in your glass, the teaching is the point.

Tequila and mezcal, familiar names with more to learn

Tequila often gets reduced to a party drink. This class gives it more respect by looking at how it is produced, where it can be made, and how its aromas and flavors develop.

You learn to slow down. Smell first. Notice the initial impression. Taste carefully. Compare what happens across different pours. Alex also explains how production, environment, and aging affect the final drink.

Mezcal receives similar attention, with the added benefit of direct comparison with tequila. The two spirits may both be associated with agave, but their differences become easier to understand when you taste them in an organized sequence.

The most useful part for a beginner is the practical method. You leave with a better sense of what you personally enjoy. That can help the next time you face a long tequila or mezcal menu and do not want to order at random.

Sotol, bacanora, and raicilla bring the surprises

The lesser-known spirits are where this experience earns its place on a San Miguel itinerary. Several people who had already tried tequila and mezcal found the introduction to sotol, bacanora, and raicilla especially rewarding.

Each drink is connected with different Mexican regions and production traditions. Alex explains the states where the spirits can be produced and how their processes differ. You also compare aromas and flavors instead of treating all agave-based drinks as interchangeable.

The benefit is cultural as much as culinary. These bottles tell you something about Mexico beyond the standard tourist menu. You get a clearer view of regional drink traditions, small-scale production, and the reasons a spirit can taste so different from one area to another.

I would pay close attention during this section and write down the names of anything you enjoy. The lesser-known spirits may be difficult to find again once you leave San Miguel de Allende.

How the tasting works at the table

The tasting is not described as a formal meal. The planned starter is four gourmet tapas or canapes, intended to accompany the drinks. That pairing can make the alcohol easier to approach and gives you a chance to notice how food changes the taste.

Still, the food needs a careful note. Some sessions included snacks, while others did not provide the advertised small plates. If the tapas matter to your decision, ask ahead of time whether they are confirmed for your date.

A tasting also requires sensible pacing. The experience lasts about an hour and a half, and several spirits may be served. You should treat it as a serious alcohol tasting, not as a set of full drinks. Arrange your evening with that in mind, especially if you plan dinner afterward.

The activity begins and ends at Recreo 10A in the historic center. Since it is near public transportation and does not involve a complicated route between sites, it works well as an early evening plan. The listed operating window shows Tuesday availability from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, but confirm your exact start time when booking.

The value of Alex’s teaching

The strongest part of the experience is Alex himself. He explains the making of each spirit, the regions connected with it, and the ways to assess smell and taste. His style is described as personable, funny, and generous with questions.

That matters because spirit tasting can become overly technical. Here, the goal is not to test you. It is to give you a useful vocabulary and a way to decide what suits you.

Alex also has expertise in wine. If you are more interested in wine than spirits, you may be able to arrange a session about Mexican wines from different wine regions, guided by an internationally certified sommelier. The experience description includes this option, but the recent accounts are much more specific about the spirit tasting than the wine portion.

One past group combined the tasting with dinner at Eneldo, a restaurant owned by Alex, and enjoyed a seven-course meal with wine pairings. That dinner is not part of the 90-minute tasting itself, so treat it as a possible separate plan rather than an included feature.

Private format, with one important caveat

The activity is described as private, meaning only your group should participate. That is useful for couples, families, and friends who want to ask questions without feeling self-conscious.

The private format should also make customization easier. You can focus more on tequila and mezcal, ask for lesser-known spirits, or discuss Mexican wine if that fits your interests. The exact flexibility depends on the arrangement with the host.

There has been at least one scheduling problem in the past, including a group that arrived to find the room closed and had to reschedule. Another group expected a private tasting but found additional people present. These appear to be exceptions, but they are worth taking seriously.

Send a confirmation request shortly before your appointment and make sure you have the correct day and time. The experience provides confirmation at booking, but a quick check can prevent a wasted evening.

Who will get the most from this experience?

I would recommend it most strongly to people who enjoy food and drink with a story attached. You do not need prior tequila knowledge. In fact, beginners may gain the most because Alex starts with the basics and shows you how to taste.

It is also a good fit for:

• Couples looking for a calm start to an evening
• Friends who want an activity beyond dinner and cocktails
• Solo visitors who enjoy guided learning
• Wine drinkers curious about Mexican bottles
• Anyone who has tried tequila but knows little about other Mexican spirits

Families can participate if all members meet the applicable drinking requirements, but the activity is clearly centered on alcohol. It may not suit someone who avoids spirits or prefers a fast-moving sightseeing tour.

The private setting is especially helpful for a group with mixed experience. One person can ask basic questions while another compares production methods or aging. You are not required to perform for the room.

Is $125 per person fair?

At $125 per person, this is not a cheap way to have a few drinks. You are paying for the sommelier’s time, instruction, guided comparison, the private format, and access to spirits that may be hard to sample casually.

The price makes more sense if you plan to pay attention and ask questions. A person who only wants a drink before dinner may get better value at a bar. A curious drinker who wants to understand Mexican spirits can reasonably see the fee as a short private class.

The value drops if the tapas or wine are important to you and are not provided. Since those elements have not appeared consistently, confirm them before you commit. The core spirit education remains the most dependable reason to book.

The high overall rating, 4.8 from 90 ratings, fits the strongest part of the experience: Alex’s teaching and the unusual spirit lineup. The lower scores focus mainly on scheduling and missing inclusions, not on the quality of the explanations or drinks.

Timing your evening in San Miguel de Allende

The session lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes and ends where it starts. That makes planning simple. A 4:00 PM appointment can lead into dinner, while a later session can become the main event of the evening.

I would avoid scheduling another fixed activity immediately afterward. The start time needs confirmation, and the class may run at a relaxed pace if your group has many questions. You will also want time to walk, eat, and let the tasting settle.

The central location is convenient for an evening in Zona Centro. You do not need to arrange a tour bus or travel between several production sites. This is a compact urban experience focused on the table, the bottles, and the conversation.

Mobile tickets are accepted, and service animals are allowed. The activity is offered in English.

Cancellation and practical booking advice

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Before booking, I would ask three direct questions:

• Is the tasting private for my group only?
• Which spirits will be served?
• Are the four tapas and Mexican wines included on my date?

Those questions address the only recurring points of confusion. They also help you decide if the $125 price fits what you actually want.

Should you book the Mexican Drinks Tasting?

Book it if you want to learn, not just sip. Alex’s friendly instruction, the comparison of six distinctive Mexican spirits, and the chance to discover sotol, bacanora, and raicilla make this one of San Miguel de Allende’s more unusual evening activities.

I would book it for a couple, small private group, or solo drink enthusiast who enjoys tasting slowly and asking questions. I would skip it if your priority is a full meal, a large cocktail experience, or a guaranteed wine-and-tapas pairing without confirming the details first.

For the best result, treat it as a private spirit class with possible food extras. That expectation matches the strongest part of the experience and gives you a fair way to judge its value.

FAQ

Where does the tasting begin?

It begins at ICAVI Tasting Room, Recreo 10A, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Where does the experience end?

It ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the tasting last?

The activity lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

What time is it offered?

The listed opening hours show Tuesday availability from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Confirm the exact appointment time when booking.

Which Mexican spirits may be included?

The experience focuses on tequila, mezcal, sotol, bacanora, raicilla, and posh.

Is Mexican wine included?

The experience offers the possibility of learning about Mexican wines from different regions with an internationally certified sommelier. Confirm whether wine is included in your specific session.

Are snacks provided?

The planned starter is four gourmet tapas or canapes. Because food has not been provided consistently in every session, confirm this before booking.

Is the activity private?

Yes. It is described as a private activity for your group only, though you should confirm this when arranging your appointment.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes, the activity is offered in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.