Tequila!

We had barely been in Mexico for three days and already TJ was off in observance of a holiday (US Veterans Day).

To commemorate the event, we embarked on a road trip to the small town of Tequila with two cars full of TJ's new co-workers and their family and friends.

There are a number of ways to spend a day in Tequila. One is by boarding the popular Tequila Express. Another is by visiting the Sauza Distillery. Both are fine options that we will likely explore at a future date, but they were not on the agenda this time around.

Located approximately one hour from Guadalajara, Tequila is a small, picturesque town surrounded by mountains. For all of the modern architecture that can be found in Guadalajara, Tequila is what I envision when I think about the Mexico of old.

It is the home of a handful of very old, very beautiful, churches.

...but even in Catholic-dominated Mexico, tequila is god. Well, ok, maybe not God-god. But perhaps a minor deity.

In fact, a plaque in the town square indicates that Tequila's tequila resulted in the town's inscription onto the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites on July 12, 2006. 'The agave landscape and the ancient industrial facilities of Tequila...deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity.'

Indeed.

After exploring the small town and taking in my first authentic Mexican brunch (Juevos Rancheros...yummy!), we treated ourselves to a tour of Jose Cuervo's distillery, La Rojeña.

Highlights of the tour included:

A walk around the grounds of the beautiful Cuervo mansion...

An explanation of tequila production...

And, of course, a little bit of sampling in both the distillery and in "La Cava," where photos were not permitted. The cave is where the Cuervo family's private label, Reserva de la Familia, is stored and aged. We were allowed to sample some of the reserve, as well as some 120 proof tequila not sold in stores...but only a little. Tequila doesn't grow on trees, you know. It grows on Agave plants.