TL;DR: You get 5 tequilas of different styles and 1 mezcal (probably a 1 oz pour for each). You also get a traditional margarita plus chips and guacamole in addition to the tasting. The Tequila Ambassadors provide unparalleled expertise on the styles, production and tasting approaches. It costs $150 but it’s not just a tasting. It’s a full on 1.5 hour class and the experience is a must-do in Rickey’s opinion.
[Note: Jump to the bottom of the post for more info about location, reservations, etc].
Checking In
When checking in Rickey waited in the regular La Cava del Tequila line because it wasn’t very long. However, you can probably just walk right up to the host and they should be able to accommodate you right away.
Once you check in you’ll be sent to what Rickey calls “tequila jail”, which is actually just a roped off section near the front of the line. You will wait here until they have your table ready. And in the meantime, you can get your liver warmed up with the delicious but basic Welcome Margarita that comes with your tasting.
The Set Up
There are just a few tall tables in the seating area which accommodate the tastings. What this means is that you will be standing for the duration of the experience. If you find at any point that you are no longer standing, then you have had enough. It’s time to attempt a graceful exit.
The experience does not include a full meal, but does provide chips and guacamole to keep you nourished as you soak yourself in tequila. However, there’s not enough of this snack to give you the base you need to withstand the boozy onslaught. In other words, eat first unless you’re wild.
Finally, you get a beautifully arranged tray of delights which you will sniff and nibble in various combinations to help enhance your tasting. And, y’all, it really does make a difference. Plus you get to snack on crickets! Rickey double dog dares you to do it.
The Tequilas
Before you get started tasting, your Tequila Ambassador (or, as Rickey calls him, your Spirits Guide) will instruct you on the best way to fully understand the different elements present with the nose and flavor profiles of the tequilas. Rickey has done a lot of tastings in his illustrious boozing career, and this was the most informative and eye opening. Rickey doesn’t want to spoil the techniques here, but if you meet him at a party he will probably try very hard to impress you with his newfound expertise.
The Experience
Along with instruction on how to taste the spirits, your Tequila Ambassador will explain the processes for making tequila and mezcal. This is helped by the colorful murals on the walls at La Cava del Tequila which detail these procedures in picture form. It’s a nice touch to have the visual element handy as part of the bar’s decor (which, tbh, Rickey had always been too cross-eyed to notice before).
Rickey’s Spirits Guide was Humberto, an actual angel who has come to Disney from heaven, by way of his home town, Tequila, Mexico.
Humberto started the tasting with Siembre Valles Anscestral, which is a blanco tequila, meaning it’s not aged more than 2 months (which is why it’s clear). This one was a bit harsher, a common feature of an un-aged tequila. It was also almost smoky like a mezcal with light citrus and spice on the finish.
The Arette Reposado came next. A reposado is aged more than two months but less than one year, generally in oak barrels. This gives it a golden color and a softer palate than a blanco. With Humberto’s guidance Rickey was able to detect notes of pepper, oak, caramel and cinnamon in the Arette.
Third, the El Tesoro Laphroaig Edition is an anejo, meaning it’s aged 1-3 years. This one is unique because it’s aged in Laphroaig Scotch barrels, which makes it taste quite a bit like a very smoky, peaty scotch, with some spice and vanilla in there as well.
Next, Tromba Tequila makes this Extra Anejo exclusively for La Cava del Tequila. An extra anejo is aged for more than 3 years and is often unbelievably smooth. The La Cava Special Sauce (as Rickey calls it) does not disappoint on this measure. It is all oak, caramel and vanilla with a slightly peppery finish.
The Casa Dragones Joven Sipping Tequila was the last tequila Rickey tasted, and it was almost like drinking water at that point. The blend of silver tequila and extra anejo was so smooth, clean and bright that Rickey forgot he was getting drunk. It was both complex and easy to drink, with vanilla and spice on the palate. It was also $300 a bottle, helping to justify the price tag of the overall tasting experience.
The final spirit was the Real Minero Marteno mezcal. It was earthy with bright fruit and green pepper spice. This was also the part of the experience where you got to eat bugs! Honestly, they probably planned this one for last so people are throwed enough to brave it.
In the end it took Rickey a bit too long to finish his shots, so they moved him to a table in order to free up the space. They also offered him another free marg for no discernible reason other than the fact that they are HEROES. This does not mean that this will happen for you, but it does speak to the level of service they provide for this experience. Also, Rickey just wanted to brag, tbh.
Overall
Rickey was decidedly not sober at the conclusion of this tasting (and he’s got about 20 enthusiastically framed but indecipherable post-tequila photos of Gran Fiesta Tour to prove it). So it might be the tequila talking, but Rickey has deemed this his absolute favorite Disney experience to date. It combines practical knowledge about tasting spirits with a wealth of information about the mechanisms for making different styles of agave based booze. And the people who run the show are delightful, kind, knowledgeable and should be crowned the kings and queens of Disney.
More Information
Rick’s Tricks: Not everyone at the table has to do the tasting or pay for it. That said, if others are enjoying the bounty of knowledge provided by the Spirits Guide, then Rickey thinks they should tip appropriately.
Speaking of, an 18% gratuity was included. If you want to tip more you might need to tell them before they run your card. You can also bring cash for tip (which they probably prefer anyway).
Location: La Cava del Tequila, Mexico Pavilion, World Showcase, EPCOT
Cost: $150 per person plus tax and service charge
Reservations: As with regular dining reservations, you can book the tasting on My Disney Experience 60 days in advance. You can also go directly to the info page for the experience to check availability.
Guests can reserve parties of up to 6 online but will need to contact the La Cava del Tequila Team for larger groups (see below).
Further Communication: If you have questions or modifications to your reservation after you book, you can email lacava@palmasrestaurants.com. In Rickey’s experience they get back to you quite quickly.
Accommodations: You will also use the contact info above if you have any problems standing for a lengthy period of time and need other arrangements.
Will you be eating crickets with Humberto any time soon? Let Rickey know your thoughts in the comments!