Tequila Trail Voyage Tips and guide

Tequila Trail is an itinerary to tour the tequila distilleries and agave fields around the town of Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico. The tequila-producing region with its distilleries and agave fields is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trips start in Guadalajara. They typically begin with a train trip or a bus trip to Tequila and usually visit two other nearby tequila-producing townsː Amatitan and El Arenal. The traditional Tequila Trail has been a popular tourist activity since the 1970s.

In 2025, the Jalisco Tourism Ministry introduced a new route, called the Los Altos Tequila Trail, that includes different tequila producers in the highland towns that ring the Tequila Valley. These distilleries and their agave fields are at higher elevations and produce tequilas with a sweeter flavor profile and different terroir than those produced in the lower valley. There is no overlap between the two routes, and a serious tequila aficionado will want to experience both routes.

Tequila is an appellation that is legally defined and regulated by an official organization called the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT). They set standards that producers must follow, maintain a registry of all tequila producers, set quality standards, establish trade protections through international agreements, and promote tequila around the world. It's a big business.

There are more than 200 licensed tequila distilleries. The vast majority are in the state of Jalisco, and the best known of those, around the town of Tequila. Every distillery has a unique identification number that must be displayed on every bottle they sell. This is sometimes on the label on back of a bottle, but can be a sticker affixed to the bottle. Tequila afficianados look for the registration number (referred to as the NOM). With the number, they can find out what distillery produced their bottle, where it's located, and what other tequilas they sell. If you've got a bottle of a "vanity tequila" (in which famous celebrities promote "their" tequila brand), you can find out who really produces the tequila behind the celebrity. Most celebrities obviously know nothing about tequila and have never stepped foot into a distillery, but occasionally one surprises you. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson touts "his" tequila (called Teremana), and a bit of research shows that, in fact, he did establish his own distillery that produces only his brand to his specifications. His distillery (NOM 1613) is in the Highland town of Jesus Maria, and it really does make only artesanal tequila with traditional processes, but unfortunately for the traveler, is not open to public tours.

Visits to tequila distilleries usually include a tasting session that features the distillery's house brands. Most group tours also include tastings that feature tequilas from multiple distilleries. Here's what to expect and how to get the most out of the experience.

A tasting is called a cata and the expert who presents a tasting is the catador. A catador is to tequila as a sommelier is to wineː not necessarily an expert at making the stuff, but an expert at experiencing the different types and the flavors and aromas that exemplify each of them. Tequila samples are poured in flights so they can be evaluated side by side. Typically, these flights include as many as 8 1/2 ounce samples.

When you are given a tequila sample, first look at its appearance and guage its color and clarity. Then sniff it to see what aromas jump out at you. Is there one that dominates? Can you name it? (for example, is it like limes, or fresh mown grass?) Swirl the sample and inhale deeply. Does the second impression of its aroma change your mind? Then take a sip and see what flavors you can identify. Talk to your companions at the tasting and compare notes. If someone sitting next to you identifies a different aroma or flavor, can you pick out that flavor yourself? Listen to what the catador finds in the sample when he or she tastes it. Do you taste, smell, or see the same things they mention? Take a swallow of the tequila and pay attention to how it feels as it crosses your palate and goes down your throat. You might feel a burn or maybe it comes across as very smooth to you. What does the catador and your tasting companions think about it. Do you have an overall conclusion? Good stuff, or not one of your favorites?

If you're serious about getting the most out of your tequila experiences, bring a small notebook and jot down impressions of each tequila you taste, otherwise, you're sure to forget a few by the end of a long day of tequila toursǃ

The Tequila Valley represents the "Lowlands" agave fields and distilleries. It is the traditional "Tequila Trail" experience and features major distilleries like Jose Cuervo, Casa Sauza, and Herradura, as well as expansive agave fields and smaller, Artesanal distilleries. Tours to the Tequila Valley are often in large groups that may be transported via train ("Tequila Express") or large, luxury motor coaches. Most tours to the town of Tequila will visit a major distillery, agave fields, and will typically include lunch or dinner at a typical Mexican restaurant in town, often accompanied by copious samples of tequila and accompanied by mariachi music. Mariachi is recognized by UNESCO as part of the intangible culture of Mexico and the state of Jalisco boasts that it is the birthplace of the vibrant musical style.

• Tequila
• Amatitán
• El Arenal

• Jose Cuervo (Tequila)
• Sauza (Tequila)
• Herradura (Amatitan̠)

• Fortaleza (Tequila)
• Cascahuín (El Arenal)
• Arette (Tequila)
• La Cofradía (Tequila)
• La Tequileña (Tequila)

The Los Altos region (Highlands) lie about 2 hours drive northeast of Guadalajara and surround the Tequila Valle (Lowloands), which includes the town of Tequila itself. Towns on the Los Altos route generally lie at an elevation of 5,000 to 7,000 feet (1500 to 2100 meters) while the Tequila Valley lies at just under 4,000 feet (1200 meters). Besides elevation, other factors affecting the terroir of Highlands tequilas are cooler temperatures with wider daily and seasonal temperature variations, and significant differences in the soil where the color is generally much blacker than the red color of the valley soils. The practice of purchasing agave from independent producers can make it difficult to discern terroir effects in most tequilas, but a number of small artisanal distilleries produce estate-label tequilas that are made only from agaves grown on an individual property, making it possible for a discerning palate to isolate and identify flavor characteristics of a particular producer.

• Arandas
• Tepatitlán
• Atotonilco El Alto

• Don Julio (Atotonilco)
• Patron (Atotonilco)

• San Matias (Tepatitlan)
• La Alteña (Arandas)
• El Pandillo (Jesus Maria)
• Siete Leguas (Atotonilco)

Trips to the Tequila Trail usually start in Guadalajara.

Guadalara has a large, busy international airport (GDL ^IATA). It receives connecting flights on domestic carriers from Mexico City, Cancún, and Monterrey. More than 30 international gateways offer flights to Guadalajara with the most frequent flights coming from Los Angeles and Houston.

From Guadalajara, bus and train is the most common way to reach Tequila, though a number of tour operators have van service, particularly on the Los Altos Tequila Trail.

The tours and tasting events described in this article are intended for adults who understand and accept the potential risks of consuming alcoholic beverages. Tequila tastings are intended for adults of legal drinking age. The drinking age in Mexico is 18. Participants should be aware of their own limits and avoid excess drinking. Do not drive a vehicle after drinking. Go with a tour group or have a designated driver. Aside from the obvious risks of being involved in an accident, be aware that the state of Jalisco is stricter than most parts of Mexico when it comes to drunk driving. Police have no tolerance for intoxication and the state law defines drunkenness as over 0.04̥ percent (whereas 0.08 is most common in other parts of the country).

• Oaxaca - Visit some of Mexico's most famous mezcal distilleries
• Valle de Guadalupe - Mexico's largest wine-growing region with more than 100 wineries to explore