Tweet
I dont know that I think a train ride, chips and salsa, and tequilla make a very good combination
Chicago Tribune Story Linked Here
A trip on the Tequila Express
AMATITAN, Mexico - The fun begins as soon as the train pulls out of the station.
A mariachi band strikes up. Drink orders are taken. The host elicits a few cheers and laughs from guests in his car.
We are heading toward a traditional Mexican fiesta, with music, dancing, food and good times. And a tequila factory tour too.
In fact, it's the tour that draws most visitors to the Tequila Express, an all-day excursion that departs Guadalajara in the morning and returns the same evening. For many, it's a good way to visit a factory and leave the driving to someone else.
Visitors get a look at the Herradura tequila operation in Amatitan, a small, dusty town about 20 miles east of Tequila. But the train ride -- done at a slow pace to enjoy the views -- and the post-tour buffet and entertainment help make this trip popular.
It's a good time, but not a drunken party. Patrons include families and seniors.
"This is a tour for having fun and learning Mexican traditions," said Paco Aguilera, a Tequila Express guide. "This is not spring break.
"We let people have as much fun as they want and drink as much as they want, but we want them to know it's a family environment."
It doesn't mean you can't party. Mariachis stroll through each car during the 1 1/2-hour ride, and guests nosh on chips and salsa. Servers bring soft drinks, beer and, for those who can't wait, tequila.
Along the way, riders enjoy a changing landscape -- the city, surrounding suburbs, cornfields, then sprawling fields of blue agave plants that eventually will be transformed into tequila.
In Amatitan, we're loaded onto buses for a short drive to Hacienda San Jose del Refugio, a sprawling Spanish-style farm that dates to 1820 and includes agave fields, a distillery, a large family home and living quarters for many of the workers.
The walking tour begins with a demonstration in which a jimador, or field worker, slices away the long leaves from the agave, leaving only the heart, or pina. Nearby, ovens heat up as the pinas, which are cut in half to reduce their weight, sit in large mounds before being cooked.
It's their sweet juice that's used to make tequila, which is transformed into a fiery drink once it has been fermented.
When it's over, guests are led to a large covered patio for a buffet that includes chile verde, enchiladas, taquitos, salad, rice and beans. Costumed dancers from different regions in Mexico sing and dance, and by the end of the day, many in our group join in.
"It's an interesting tour," said Emma Marvin, on sabbatical from her job in London to teach English in Guadalajara. "I realize that tequila is taken seriously here, and I was quite surprised how differently people see it. It's a refined drink."
The Tequila Express (www.tequilaexpress.com.mx), in its ninth year, is operated by the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce to promote tourism. Tours operate Saturday and Sunday throughout the year. Most tours sell out in advance, but last-minute seats are usually available for Sunday trips.
The price is 850 pesos, about $77 -- not cheap, but a worthwhile splurge. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster's Mexico outlet (www.ticketmaster.com.mx).
AMATITAN, Mexico - The fun begins as soon as the train pulls out of the station.
A mariachi band strikes up. Drink orders are taken. The host elicits a few cheers and laughs from guests in his car.
We are heading toward a traditional Mexican fiesta, with music, dancing, food and good times. And a tequila factory tour too.
In fact, it's the tour that draws most visitors to the Tequila Express, an all-day excursion that departs Guadalajara in the morning and returns the same evening. For many, it's a good way to visit a factory and leave the driving to someone else.
Visitors get a look at the Herradura tequila operation in Amatitan, a small, dusty town about 20 miles east of Tequila. But the train ride -- done at a slow pace to enjoy the views -- and the post-tour buffet and entertainment help make this trip popular.
It's a good time, but not a drunken party. Patrons include families and seniors.
"This is a tour for having fun and learning Mexican traditions," said Paco Aguilera, a Tequila Express guide. "This is not spring break.
"We let people have as much fun as they want and drink as much as they want, but we want them to know it's a family environment."
It doesn't mean you can't party. Mariachis stroll through each car during the 1 1/2-hour ride, and guests nosh on chips and salsa. Servers bring soft drinks, beer and, for those who can't wait, tequila.
Along the way, riders enjoy a changing landscape -- the city, surrounding suburbs, cornfields, then sprawling fields of blue agave plants that eventually will be transformed into tequila.
In Amatitan, we're loaded onto buses for a short drive to Hacienda San Jose del Refugio, a sprawling Spanish-style farm that dates to 1820 and includes agave fields, a distillery, a large family home and living quarters for many of the workers.
The walking tour begins with a demonstration in which a jimador, or field worker, slices away the long leaves from the agave, leaving only the heart, or pina. Nearby, ovens heat up as the pinas, which are cut in half to reduce their weight, sit in large mounds before being cooked.
It's their sweet juice that's used to make tequila, which is transformed into a fiery drink once it has been fermented.
When it's over, guests are led to a large covered patio for a buffet that includes chile verde, enchiladas, taquitos, salad, rice and beans. Costumed dancers from different regions in Mexico sing and dance, and by the end of the day, many in our group join in.
"It's an interesting tour," said Emma Marvin, on sabbatical from her job in London to teach English in Guadalajara. "I realize that tequila is taken seriously here, and I was quite surprised how differently people see it. It's a refined drink."
The Tequila Express (www.tequilaexpress.com.mx), in its ninth year, is operated by the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce to promote tourism. Tours operate Saturday and Sunday throughout the year. Most tours sell out in advance, but last-minute seats are usually available for Sunday trips.
The price is 850 pesos, about $77 -- not cheap, but a worthwhile splurge. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster's Mexico outlet (www.ticketmaster.com.mx).