FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Agave Lessons

by Kelly Magyarics

Nov 1, 2022

© Jcfotografo | Dreamstime.com

November 2022

If your only experience drinking tequila in Mexico has been sipping a margarita while waist-deep at your Cancún resort’s swim-up bar, you’re not giving the spirit its fair shake. Make a pilgrimage to its natural habitat, and you are guaranteed to view it as more than the makings of a salt- and lime-accompanied shot. Mundo Cuervo — the hospitality arm of Jose Cuervo — can take you there and school you in the spirit.

 

Tequila is produced in the Mexican state of Jalisco, home to its namesake town. To start your agave adventure, fly into Guadalajara and check in for the night at Casa Habita, whose fun rooftop pool and lounge area serves botanical tequila and mezcal cocktails. Nearby, Hueso restaurant, helmed by Chef Alfonso Cadena, occupies a 1940s refurbished building whose stark white walls boast 10,000 whitewashed animal bones and plant remnants.

 

The tequila-drenched fun really starts when you board the Jose Cuervo Express, a two-hour train ride that makes the 40-mile trip to Tequila while passing through fields studded with rows of agave plants and their spiky, green-gray, succulent leaves. (Agave is closely related to the lily and amaryllis, not the cactus.) Depending on the offer, your train car might have its own bar, live music or lounge-style seating; Premium Plus is the best bet for most guests, as it includes a comfy seat, drinks, snacks, a tour of the agave fields and a distillery tour.

 

A mariachi band greets the train at Tequila Station, where local vendors sell brimmed hats — buy one, as the sun is intense. During the In the Fields Experience, watch a jimador slice through the leaves of a fully grown agave to reach the piña, the heart of the plant whose juice is fermented and distilled into tequila.

 

Through sustainability efforts like The Agave Project, Jose Cuervo continuously finds uses for the fibers left over after tequila production, from drinking straws to compost. A more recent initiative, The Agave House, hopes to be a prototype for sustainable, affordable housing in the area. Built with dirt/clay bricks, bagasse fibers, wood and recycled bottles, it incorporates eco-friendly practices like rainwater harvesting and solar heating.

 

A short bus ride from the fields takes you to La Rojeña Distillery, Jose Cuervo’s flagship location and the oldest active distillery in Latin America. During the guided walk-through tour, you’ll see how piñas are cooked in brick ovens to release the sugars before the juice is fermented and distilled in copper pots. Afterward, thirsty guests can taste three expressions and may even sample a piece of cooked agave, whose earthy sweetness hints at the finished spirit. Diamond and Elite ticket holders taste the brand’s higher-end Reserva de la Familia tequilas and get a peek inside the private cellar. Previously an inner sanctum reserved for family members, now it’s the place where the precious liquid dating back decades or longer rests inside stacked barrels and dust-covered glass carboys.

 

After the distillery, explore the shops and bars in the cute town, including taking a requisite photo by the colorful “Tequila” sign in the square and finding that perfect souvenir. If you arrive via train, you’ll return to Guadalajara by motor coach. However, if you’ve made the trip by car, consider staying a night or two at Hotel Solar de las Ánimas, a 93-room Cuervo-owned boutique property featuring 17th- and 18th-century Mexican architecture based on a Creole colonial house. Sip a tequila tipple in the gorgeous courtyard pool with Mexican tile backdrop or amid the marbled columns and gilded bar of La Antigua Casona restaurant. For the ultimate view, grab a creative take on the margarita at the rooftop Sky Bar, which overlooks the 10,000-foot-high Volcán de Tequila in the distance, sink into a lounge chair and soak in this uniquely spirited sojourn.

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Daily
Dec 4, 2023

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Offers a Bevy of Holiday Events

There may not be snow in Los Angeles this season, but Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is certainly full of the holiday spirit, with Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s events happening in the hotel’s gorgeous event spaces.

Dream a Little Dreamliner: Air Tahiti Nui Brings The Islands of Tahiti to the Air

From the moment you step onboard Air Tahiti Nui’s Tahitian Dreamliner, you will be transported to The Islands of Tahiti. The French Polynesian carrier considered every detail to awaken its passengers’ senses, creating the feeling you are already on the Islands while 30,000 feet in the air.

Daily
Dec 4, 2023

Stocking Stuffers for Your Favorite Vagabonds

Looking for fun things to stuff into the toe of a few holiday stockings? Here are some great choices:

Destinations / North America
Dec 4, 2023

6 U.S. Christmas Markets to See on Your Travels

It’s time to start dreaming of your next trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through these U.S. Christmas markets with us.

Exclusive Savings: Cruise Along the Danube River with Global Traveler

Exclusive Sailing with Global Traveler

Daily
Dec 4, 2023

Hotels Around the World Unveil Incredible Designer Holiday Trees

Everyone loves a good Christmas tree, but these iconic hotels around the world take it one step further with designer-styled trees illuminating lobbies and public spaces, wowing all who enter. From Lela Rose to Louis Vuitton, don’t miss these ultra-luxury trees redefining tree decorating as we know it.

Daily
Dec 1, 2023

The River Less Traveled: 3 Compelling River Cruise Itineraries Debuting in 2024

In addition to intimate settings, smaller staff-to-passenger ratios, and personalized food and beverage options, river cruises have the advantage of providing a deeper dive into a region’s culture, food and history. The Rhine, Rhône and Danube in Europe and the Mississippi River and St. Lawrence in North America have much to offer travelers with their itineraries, tying together beloved cities and lesser-known destinations along their routes.

Reconnecting the World: GBTA Convention 2023 Spotlights the Vital Role of Business Travel and In-Person Connection

In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention remains an indispensable platform for business travel industry professionals seeking to make the most of the power of face-to-face connections. Taking place August 13–15 in Dallas, the 2023 GBTA Convention provides the unique opportunity for professionals and companies to join visionaries, thought leaders and industry experts for meaningful networking, cutting-edge insights and inspiring innovation.

Daily
Dec 1, 2023

Celebrate Christmas in Croatia

With the holidays right around the corner, travelers are preparing for holiday travels. For those looking for a last-minute getaway filled with holiday cheer, consider Croatia. With a variety of winter activities perfect for travelers and locals alike, the Christmas countdown in Croatia is in full swing. Leading up to Christmas, Advent in Croatia makes it even more worth your while to visit the country with free winter incentives. If you plan on visiting Croatia, here are five cities going all out for the holiday season: