Tequila Flights are the New Wine Tasting

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Tequila is becoming more well-known as a premium spirit. Here’s what you need to know about tequila flights—even if you think you aren’t a tequila drinker.
Many songs have been written about tequila, but not very many about chardonnay, malbec, or prosecco. If you put your mind to it, you can probably name at least half a dozen country singers who croon about tequila, lamenting the bad decisions made from drinking tequila or the woes that lead to cracking open a bottle of Jose Cuervo. As far as I know, no one has written a song about the debauchery that happens when you’ve had one too many glasses of a lovely, buttery Chardonnay. 
However, tequila flights are the new wine tasting. This article offers everything you need to know for a great tequila flight tasting—even if you think you aren’t a tequila drinker.
Everything You Need to Know About Tequila Flights
But there is a refinement to be found in tequila tasting. The trend toward tutored tequila tastings is on the rise. I’m not talking about the “Let’s do shots, grab the salt shaker” kind of tequila experience, but an upscale, catador-led tasting designed to challenge the palate and savor the notes of quality tequila and to develop a genuine appreciation and understanding of this agave-based spirit. 
Tequila Has Notes and Undertones, Too
If you enjoy a good wine tasting where you learn about notes and undertones, or if your cocktail hour vocabulary is peppered with terms like tannins and aeration, then why not give your tastebuds something different to play with and book a tutored tasting with a catador? You might have to hop on a plane to Dallas to do it, but that’s as good an excuse as any to visit this bustling Texas city. 
And, while “But I don’t like tequila” probably sounds like a plausible reason to stick with the grapes, I’ll share that I don’t like tequila. My youthful experience with tequila was so mind-blowingly awful that I can’t even handle a margarita. My catador-led tasting experience was a pleasant surprise, and I was wholly prepared not to like it. 
While I can’t say that a neat glass of tequila will replace a perfectly dry glass of champagne as my favorite libation, I can say that I enjoyed learning about tequila. I would return for another round of instruction and the sips accompanying it. 
What is a Catador?
A catador is a certified, expert tequila taster. The word catador—plural catadores—is synonymous with sommelier. A catador-led tasting can be a fun experience—if it weren’t fun, people probably wouldn’t partake—but it’s more refined than knocking back some shots. If you think of tequila tasting like a wine tasting where you’re learning about what you’re sipping and how to appreciate the different notes and variations, you’re on the right track.  
The Mexican has the only certified catador in the DFW area. Photo courtesy of The Mexican
Like wine, all tequila is not created equal, and a catador can help you explore tequila beyond Jose Cuervo so you can decide what you like. A tasting is sometimes referred to as a cata. 
My Catador-Led Tequila Tasting
The Mexican has elevated food and a luxe yet still approachable vibe. Photo courtesy of The Mexican
I had my tasting at The Mexican , an upscale eatery in Dallas’ Turtle Creek neighborhood. The Mexican has an impressive array of tequilas and a creative menu that includes Mexican favorites, steaks, seafood, a raw bar, and more. If you’re looking for a casual place to grab some Tex-Mex, this isn’t it, although the elegant, special occasion-worthy atmosphere is quite approachable. 
The chips and salsa service at The Mexican is next-level. Photo by Jill Robbins
The Mexican houses the Dallas Fort Worth area’s only certified catador, Leonardo Alejandro Vargas. Vargas obtained his certification after studying under Don Francisco Hajnal Alfaro, a long-time Jose Cuervo master tequila blender. Vargas leads tequila tastings and tequila flight programming at The Mexican, integrating tequila flights into a fine dining experience. 
Leonardo Alejandro Vargas came to my table with a flight of three small tequila glasses shortly after my server had taken my order. I gave him an abbreviated version of why I wouldn’t say I like tequila, and he assured me I would be pleasantly surprised. 
My tequila flight was brought to my table shortly after I ordered. Photo by Jill Robbins
Don’t Smell the Tequila
Vargas’ most important advice was not to smell the tequila and that the smell would impact how my taste buds processed the flavors. Since I’m not too fond of the smell of tequila, I was happy to heed this advice. 
The tasting portions were tiny, but it was enough to help me understand what I liked. Photo by Jill Robbins
Once I had the tequila in my mouth, I let the tequila swish over my tongue as I exhaled. Holding my breath as I took my first sip impacted how I processed the taste. When he pointed out that I’d taste notes of caramel or vanilla in my tequila, I didn’t believe him, but I should have because Vargas knows his stuff. I could pick up on caramel notes in my neat glass of tequila. 
Vargas went through the tasting process before I started, and we talked about the flavors and notes of what I tasted as I sipped. I only had one sip that wasn’t a positive experience, and that is because I slipped up and got a whiff of the tequila in my glass as I was sipping it. It’s natural to want to inhale as you raise a glass to your lips—at least this was so for me—so I had to train myself not to inhale as I took my first taste. 
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed my experience. 
How to Taste Tequila Flights at The Mexican
There are two ways to enjoy a tequila tasting at The Mexican: tutored tastings or with tequila flights added to your dining experience. The former is more intensive and designed to give you a deeper dive into the world of tequila. 
Book a tequila tasting at The Mexican by calling the venue directly. Photo courtesy of The Mexican.
Tequila tasting table experiences are booked through The Mexican’s events team. Call 972.768.3470 for reservations. The price will vary based on the size of your group. A typical tasting will feature three to five tastings of tequila or mezcal and will be paired with various foods that enhance the notes of each spirit. Catador-led tastings are available Thursday through Sunday, and yes, this unique experience is worth planning your trip around. 
Tequila and mezcal flights are also available to add to any dining experience, ranging from three to five tastings of tequila or mezcal. Leonardo will help you choose your spirits based on your preferences. Pricing ranges from $65 to $250.
Can’t Get to Dallas for Tequila Flights? All is Not Lost
Although it’s easier to locate a wine tasting than a catador-led tequila tasting, other tequila-tasting venues are popping up around the United States and in Mexico. Sipping Life offers several options for tastings and tours in California and Mexico , so if you plan a trip to the Golden State or sunny Mexico, you can plan one around tequila tastings.
Tequila Catador in midtown Reno offers a hefty selection of over 500 types of tequila as well as a full food menu. Many high-end resorts in Mexico offer onsite tequila tastings or facilitate reservations for off-property tequila-centered experiences. The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa has a tequila education program. The Four Seasons Punta Mita offers a tequila masterclass that teaches participants how to blend their own tequila.
Entering “tequila tasting near me” into Google or asking Siri to find you the closest catador might not be as simple as locating a wine flight. Still, as tequila continues to make a name for itself as a premium spirit, the availability of tutored tequila tastings may widen.
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Challenge Your Tastebuds with Tequila Flights
If your tequila experience is limited to dim memories of shots paired with salt and lime or the occasional margarita with your tacos, peel back a layer and dive deeper into what goes into tequila making. Find a new way to enjoy tequila, whether that’s a craft cocktail—margs and tequila sunrises don’t count—or try it neat. 
Sadly, my tequila flight, curated by Leonardo Alejandro Vargas, didn’t result in any country songs about tequila or even any interesting stories. Still, I did broaden my horizons and learned a few things about tequila I didn’t know. If you’re not a tequila person, like me, learning a little bit more about tequila and how to properly taste it might not send you running to Amazon for that “I Heart Tequila” tee shirt, but it can challenge and expand your palate, and that’s not a bad thing.
Salud.
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Tequila Flights are the New Wine Tasting
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