Explore Mexico Finest Agave Spirits and Cocktails

Mexico’s agave world is much larger than tequila. In this 90-minute private tasting, you move from familiar tequila into mezcal, raicilla, bacanora, sotol, and agave gin, with Ariel or Martin explaining how each drink is made and where it comes from. The lineup may change your idea of what an agave spirit can be.

I like two things right away: the tasting covers spirits from several Mexican regions, and the hosts take time to explain production rather than simply pour samples. I also like the small-group setup, which lets you ask about bottles that catch your interest. The main drawback is simple: this is a serious amount of alcohol in a short session, so you should not plan to drive afterward.

Key points at a glance

• Six styles of agave spirit: Taste tequila, mezcal, raicilla, bacanora, sotol, and agave gin.
• Three different favored tequilas: The tequila portion goes beyond one standard pour.
• A palate-cleansing lemonade: A magic lemonade is included to reset your mouth between samples.
• Food and unusual pairings: The hosts may pair spirits with desserts, vegetables, and even crickets.
• Private English-language setting: Only your own group participates, with Ariel or Martin leading the tasting.
• Plaza Bonita meeting point: You meet at Plaza Bonita in central Cabo San Lucas and return there when the tasting ends.

Why this Cabo tasting is different from a standard tequila stop

Many Cabo excursions offer a quick tequila sample as part of a larger day out. This experience is built around the tasting itself. You are not squeezing it into a tour of another attraction. For about an hour and a half, the focus stays on Mexican spirits, how they are produced, and how their flavors change from one bottle to the next.

That wider scope matters. Tequila is made from blue Weber agave and is strongly associated with Jalisco, but Mexico produces other agave spirits under different regional traditions. Here, the lineup includes tequila from Jalisco, mezcal from Michoacán and Guanajuato, raicilla, bacanora, sotol, and agave gin.

Sotol is technically made from a desert plant rather than agave, which makes its place in the tasting especially useful. It gives you a point of comparison and helps show that Mexican spirits do not all fit into one neat category.

You will also taste three different favored tequilas, plus blackberry wine base tequila and a final signature cocktail. The exact order and pouring sequence are not specified, but the plan is clear: you are sampling a range rather than repeating the same style all afternoon.

Meeting Ariel or Martin at Plaza Bonita

The experience begins at Plaza Bonita, Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 17, in central Cabo San Lucas. You should allow enough time to find the meeting point, especially if you are coming from a hotel, cruise area, or another part of town.

The activity is offered in English, and it is private. That means only your group takes part, rather than being mixed with a large public class. A private format can make a real difference during a tasting. You can ask why one mezcal tastes smoky, compare bottles, or ask about something you have never tried without waiting for a large group to catch up.

Ariel and Martin are named as hosts for the experience. The strongest praise centers on their ability to explain tequila and mezcal from production through tasting while keeping the mood friendly. That balance is important. A tasting can become dry and technical, or it can turn into a sales pitch. The information here suggests a more useful middle ground, with practical explanations and room for curiosity.

The tasting ends back at the same meeting point. Private transportation is not included, so plan your own way to Plaza Bonita and back to your hotel or ship.

The first pours: tequila from Jalisco

Tequila usually gives you the easiest starting point because it is the spirit most people already recognize. The tasting includes tequila from Jalisco, the Mexican state most closely tied to the drink, and three different favored tequilas.

The value of comparing several tequilas is not simply the number of pours. It lets you notice how production choices affect the final drink. You may find differences in sweetness, pepper, fruit, oak, or the feel of the alcohol, depending on how each tequila was made and aged.

This is also where the production lesson becomes useful. Instead of judging tequila only by whether you like it in a margarita, you get a chance to consider it as a spirit with its own character. The hosts explain the process from growing and harvesting agave to distilling and aging, giving you a framework for tasting.

The experience also includes blackberry wine base tequila. That sounds like a sweeter and more flavored departure from traditional tequila, and it can be a good contrast after more classic pours. If you prefer dry, earthy spirits, you may not enjoy every flavored sample. That is part of the point of a broad tasting: you learn what suits your own palate.

Mezcal from Michoacán and Guanajuato

The mezcal portion widens the picture. Samples from Michoacán and Guanajuato give you a chance to compare mezcal from different places rather than treating all mezcal as one smoky drink.

That distinction is worth paying attention to. Many first-time tasters assume mezcal is defined only by smoke. In practice, the spirit can show earth, roasted agave, fruit, herbs, minerals, and other notes. The precise flavor depends on the agave, the local method, and the producer.

The tasting pairs some spirits with food, including desserts and vegetables. You might also be offered crickets. That unusual pairing is not just a stunt. Small bites can show how a spirit changes with salt, sweetness, crunch, or savory flavors. It also gives you something to do between pours and keeps the tasting from feeling like a string of glasses with no pause.

I would approach the mezcal section with an open mind, especially if you have only tried mezcal in a cocktail. The format gives you room to ask questions and compare your first reaction with a second sample. If you strongly dislike smoky flavors, tell the host early. The private setting makes that sort of guidance easier.

Raicilla, bacanora, sotol, and agave gin

The less familiar spirits are the main reason to choose this experience over a basic tequila tasting. Raicilla and bacanora are both Mexican agave spirits, but they are not simply alternate names for tequila. Including them gives you a look at regional styles that are less common on a standard Cabo bar menu.

Sotol adds another useful comparison. It is often grouped with agave spirits in casual conversation, but it comes from a different plant. That makes it a good reminder that Mexico’s drinking traditions are more varied than a tequila and mezcal pairing.

Agave gin brings yet another angle. Gin is normally associated with juniper and botanical flavors, so an agave gin sample can help you compare a familiar category with a Mexican interpretation. It also breaks up the tasting and may appeal to you if you already enjoy gin cocktails.

The lineup is ambitious for 90 minutes. You should expect the session to move at a steady pace. This is not a leisurely evening where you spend half an hour on one bottle. It is best for someone who wants a broad introduction and is happy to keep listening, tasting, and asking questions.

Lemonade, food pairings, and the final cocktail

A palate-cleansing lemonade is included. That small detail matters more than it may sound. After several spirits, your mouth can start to register everything as alcohol. A sweet or tart nonalcoholic drink gives you a reset before the next sample.

The food pairings add another layer. The experience may match spirits with desserts, vegetables, and crickets. These pairings are not described as a full meal, so do not arrive expecting lunch or dinner. Think of them as tasting aids that help you notice how each pour works with different flavors.

The session ends with a signature cocktail. This is a sensible finish because it moves the experience from neat tasting to practical drinking. You have spent the first part learning how individual spirits taste. The cocktail shows how those flavors can work in a mixed drink.

The cocktail also makes the tour more accessible for anyone who finds neat spirits intense. Still, do not underestimate the total alcohol. The tasting includes several categories, three tequilas, flavored tequila, and a cocktail. Arrange transportation before you arrive, and do not drive afterward.

Is $50 a fair price?

At $50 per person, the value depends on what you want from a Cabo drink experience. If your goal is one margarita and a quick tequila sample, you can spend less elsewhere. If you want a guided comparison across several Mexican spirits, the price is more reasonable.

You are paying for more than liquid in a glass. The session includes instruction on growing, harvesting, distilling, and aging, along with a broad list of pours and a final cocktail. The private format adds value for couples, families with adult children, or small groups who want to ask direct questions.

There is also a practical advantage for bottle shoppers. The hosts can help you understand what you are tasting, and the experience includes spirits that may be unfamiliar at home. Several bottles may catch your attention, but you should buy only after considering how you will transport them and whether you truly liked the spirit neat.

The price does not include private transportation. That cost is easy to manage if you are already in central Cabo, but it matters if you are staying far from Plaza Bonita. Check your route before booking so the simple meeting point stays simple.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this for an adult who is curious about Mexican spirits, not just someone looking for a party stop. You will get the most from it if you want to learn the difference between tequila, mezcal, raicilla, bacanora, sotol, and agave gin.

It also suits repeat Cabo visitors who have already tried the usual tequila tasting. The inclusion of three favored tequilas and several less familiar spirits gives the session more range than a standard introduction.

The experience may be less suitable if you dislike strong alcohol, want a full meal, or prefer a slow cocktail class with only one or two drinks. The schedule is packed, and the alcohol builds quickly. You should also skip it if you need to drive afterward.

For people who enjoy food matching, the pairings with desserts, vegetables, and crickets add a memorable twist. You do not need to be an expert. In fact, the tasting is useful precisely because it gives beginners a way to ask basic questions without feeling out of place.

Booking, timing, and cancellation details

The activity lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes. It is offered in English, uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is received at booking. The experience is generally booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 38 days, so I would reserve before your Cabo dates are full.

The activity requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded or accepted.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Since this is a private activity, only your own group takes part.

Should you book the Cabo agave tasting?

Book it if you want a serious introduction to Mexico’s agave spirits in a small, private setting. The strongest reasons are the range of bottles, the clear focus on how spirits are produced, and the chance to taste beyond tequila and mezcal.

I would be especially inclined to book if you have already done a basic tequila tasting and want something broader. Just plan transportation, eat sensibly before the session, and leave room for the alcohol. If you do that, $50 buys a useful and unusually wide look at Mexican spirits rather than a quick souvenir-shop sample.

FAQ

Where does the agave spirits tasting begin?

It begins at Plaza Bonita, Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 17, Centro, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico.

Where does the experience end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Plaza Bonita.

How long does the tasting last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

What spirits are included?

The tasting includes tequila, mezcal, raicilla, bacanora, sotol, agave gin, three different favored tequilas, and blackberry wine base tequila. It ends with a signature cocktail.

Is food included?

Food pairings may include desserts, vegetables, and crickets. The included items are tasting pairings, not a stated full meal.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included. You are responsible for reaching Plaza Bonita and returning from the meeting point.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.