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So I feel kinda bad that it's taking me this long to write a review of this place that I stopped at, 6 months ago, on our ill-fated Mexico cruise in which we got sick with, we're pretty sure, two simultaneous different illnesses on the way back... Cabo was great, though, when we didn't know what was about to come... I just hope I didn't get Luis sick after I left! (Just to be clear, I don't think either were because we were on a cruise. I'm pretty sure one we picked up right before we left, given the local news the week we were gone about every which thing spiking cause it was winter, ironically *other* than covid, and the other was likely something we ate in one of the subsequent ports.) But anyway, 6 months later, assuming they haven't changed too much, I'm finally getting around to a couple reviews of that trip. I actually wanted to write this review, more than anything, to explain a question *I* was trying to figure out based on all the reviews I could find before actually showing up: why is it that there's a $35 "class" you have to sign up for in advance, despite a bunch of reviews saying it's free? Anyway, last December, I paid the $35 (looks like it's $36 now), so I can answer that question. The answer - most of the time, the owner runs a shop in the front, where visitors can come in whenever they want, and try various tequilas and tequila-based liqueurs, some made by the distillery running the tasting, some made by other small-batch distilleries (me and my wife did try a bunch of free ones after I did the class - my wife not being as into spirits as me - and I bought a couple wonderful liqueurs as a result.) So if you don't have the time, or you're not that much of a "drink spirits neat" person, definitely stop by for that. If you schedule a class with him, though, he *closes* the shop for the group, or in my class, just me, and launches into professor mode with tastings of all *kinds* of cool rare agave-based spirits. (Actually, he was even nice enough, when I showed up like half an hour before my reservation, to close early when I showed up. The nice thing about getting a cruise at the beginning of cruise season, I suppose, Cabo wasn't very busy yet.) I will also mention, the funny thing about the "lecture" aspect - he said he'd meet me in the back room (where there were a bunch of cool bottles waiting), then when he was done setting up, launched *right* into what was clearly a prepared spiel, for the average American Cabo tourist audience who think of tequila as the cheap party drink that gives you headaches, and if they drink mezcal, just think of it as "smoky tequila". I didn't want to interrupt, but a few minutes in, after making it clear that I did know my way around *relatively* well (I'm not an expert, but I know the difference between espadin and wilder agaves... I surprised him when I said I'd tried a couple sotols, and shocked him when I said I'd tried pox once before :D), and being it was just us, I got a slightly less lecture-like experience, but one where I still learned a ton and tried a bunch of cool spirits, including a couple really expensive rare things you can basically only try, and thus, purchase, here. One of those was a tiny bit tempting, but I'm not quite that rich, haha. The other cool thing - I knew the "experience" version included some type of "pairing", but I wasn't sure what that meant. Not that I needed more food, coming from a cruise ship, but it *was* very cool that, for each of the many different spirits I got to try small samples of, he'd also prepared individual bite-sized samples of various foods, basically one-to-one with the spirits, so you could try the spirits paired with whatever he thinks goes best - which is pretty brilliant, food being such an important part of the enjoyment of drink! Such a good idea! Anyway, that was a few months ago, but I get the impression that it is likely still much the same. So I suppose the other question is, if it were still mostly the same experience, if I were back in Cabo, would I stop by again if I had time? And I likely would - even if, at that point, none of it was a surprise, honestly, it's a pretty good deal if you're a spirits nerd, just in terms of how cool, rare, and also wonderful (I mean, assuming you like agave-based spirits) some of the stuff I got to try was, plus it was just fun hanging out with someone as excited about it as me. (Plus the food pairing was great.)
Day 1 in Cabo must--private tequila tasting at Santos Distillados. Don't stop somewhere that just throws out a bunch of samples. Santos Distillados delivers an experience. The 1+ hour session goes way beyond a simple tasting. Juan "the Mexican Jonny Cash" gave a thorough explanation of tequila and mezcal--history, growing, distilling process, taste profiles...all of it. There wasn't any question he couldn't answer. My understanding and appreciation of tequila improved 100%.
4 months ago
Came here on a trip to Cabo last year and keep forgetting to write a review but swore I would because I loved the experience. I booked a tequila tasting here through Airbnb experiences and I'm so happy I did! We ended up being the only people who had booked this session so we got a private session. We got to learn all about tequila, the industry, and different regions it is produced in. We then got to taste different types of tequila along with different pairings so we could really pay attention to what flavors were brought out. I learned to really sip and appreciate. The shop is cute and intimate. Because we were the only ones there we got to taste some extra tequila and mezcal and spend our time doing some extra shopping. I walked away with a bottle of extra anejo tequila that I have since finished and will have to come back to get another bottle. They will help you pack up your purchases and let you sample lots of things too. He told us if we wanted to, to come back and grab a shot on our way to the bars before we left. Thank you for your hospitality, I will be back if I'm ever in the area! If you have something planned after the tasting id recommend you leave a big enough space because I had a sunset cruise booked after this and was quite buzzed and felt a little sick on the boat (oops). read more
Business owner information
Lenin M.
Thank you so much for the kind words! It’s wonderful to hear that…
1 year ago
I'm not really a tequila drinker, mezcal even less so, and this definitely did not convert me, but what it did do was open my eyes to the amazing variety of nuance offered by these agave based liquors. We started our journey with a trip through the history and heritage of tequila, then an overview of the manufacturing process. Finally came the tasting, and we tasted everything! By itself, paired with food (heck at one point we ate grasshoppers!), aged tequila, new tequila, fruity dessert tequila, ancestral style small batch mezcal, and a super aged anejo that would sit well at any rum tasting! Our host was funny and his tale was fascinating but soon it was time to go. read more
We came here on a viator tour and was definitely worth it! Inside the distillery, you'll find friendly staff, an array of tequila and mezcal, and history and a more local vibe than you find closer to port. We learned a lot of the history of tequila and mezcal, including the types shaves and regions meant for each. We got a sample of various of them, including the proper procedure to take a shot. They were all wonderful! I think the only con if I have to come up with one is that the actual bottles of tequila were kinda pricey. Overall, I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a more "local" tequila tasting! read more
This place was fun! The tequila teacher was great, we loved him and his excellent customer service. The tequila was so good, I bought 4 bottles. I recommend coming here for the memorable experience. It's on the same block as Cabo Wabo if that's convenient for you. read more
So I feel kinda bad that it's taking me this long to write a review of this place that I stopped at, 6 months ago, on our ill-fated Mexico cruise in which we got sick with, we're pretty sure, two simultaneous different illnesses on the way back... Cabo was great, though, when we didn't know what was about to come... I just hope I didn't get Luis sick after I left! (Just to be clear, I don't think either were because we were on a cruise. I'm pretty sure one we picked up right before we left, given the local news the week we were gone about every which thing spiking cause it was winter, ironically *other* than covid, and the other was likely something we ate in one of the subsequent ports.) But anyway, 6 months later, assuming they haven't changed too much, I'm finally getting around to a couple reviews of that trip. I actually wanted to write this review, more than anything, to explain a question *I* was trying to figure out based on all the reviews I could find before actually showing up: why is it that there's a $35 "class" you have to sign up for in advance, despite a bunch of reviews saying it's free? Anyway, last December, I paid the $35 (looks like it's $36 now), so I can answer that question. The answer - most of the time, the owner runs a shop in the front, where visitors can come in whenever they want, and try various tequilas and tequila-based liqueurs, some made by the distillery running the tasting, some made by other small-batch distilleries (me and my wife did try a bunch of free ones after I did the class - my wife not being as into spirits as me - and I bought a couple wonderful liqueurs as a result.) So if you don't have the time, or you're not that much of a "drink spirits neat" person, definitely stop by for that. If you schedule a class with him, though, he *closes* the shop for the group, or in my class, just me, and launches into professor mode with tastings of all *kinds* of cool rare agave-based spirits. (Actually, he was even nice enough, when I showed up like half an hour before my reservation, to close early when I showed up. The nice thing about getting a cruise at the beginning of cruise season, I suppose, Cabo wasn't very busy yet.) I will also mention, the funny thing about the "lecture" aspect - he said he'd meet me in the back room (where there were a bunch of cool bottles waiting), then when he was done setting up, launched *right* into what was clearly a prepared spiel, for the average American Cabo tourist audience who think of tequila as the cheap party drink that gives you headaches, and if they drink mezcal, just think of it as "smoky tequila". I didn't want to interrupt, but a few minutes in, after making it clear that I did know my way around *relatively* well (I'm not an expert, but I know the difference between espadin and wilder agaves... I surprised him when I said I'd tried a couple sotols, and shocked him when I said I'd tried pox once before :D), and being it was just us, I got a slightly less lecture-like experience, but one where I still learned a ton and tried a bunch of cool spirits, including a couple really expensive rare things you can basically only try, and thus, purchase, here. One of those was a tiny bit tempting, but I'm not quite that rich, haha. The other cool thing - I knew the "experience" version included some type of "pairing", but I wasn't sure what that meant. Not that I needed more food, coming from a cruise ship, but it *was* very cool that, for each of the many different spirits I got to try small samples of, he'd also prepared individual bite-sized samples of various foods, basically one-to-one with the spirits, so you could try the spirits paired with whatever he thinks goes best - which is pretty brilliant, food being such an important part of the enjoyment of drink! Such a good idea! Anyway, that was a few months ago, but I get the impression that it is likely still much the same. So I suppose the other question is, if it were still mostly the same experience, if I were back in Cabo, would I stop by again if I had time? And I likely would - even if, at that point, none of it was a surprise, honestly, it's a pretty good deal if you're a spirits nerd, just in terms of how cool, rare, and also wonderful (I mean, assuming you like agave-based spirits) some of the stuff I got to try was, plus it was just fun hanging out with someone as excited about it as me. (Plus the food pairing was great.) read more
Business owner information
Lenin M.
Gracias Adam, for that extensive explanation on our tasting, Luis…
2 years ago
Day 1 in Cabo must--private tequila tasting at Santos Distillados. Don't stop somewhere that just throws out a bunch of samples. Santos Distillados delivers an experience. The 1+ hour session goes way beyond a simple tasting. Juan "the Mexican Jonny Cash" gave a thorough explanation of tequila and mezcal--history, growing, distilling process, taste profiles...all of it. There wasn't any question he couldn't answer. My understanding and appreciation of tequila improved 100%. read more
No burn ! Juan Andres will teach you how to drink tequila and not feel the burn. Crazy part is that it works!!! Also you can discover the FLAVOR in the tequila.. who knew it actually had flavor . We're so used to tossing back shots but there's more to this traditional liquor read more
3 years ago
10/10 experience, Luis was so knowledgable about tequila and mezcal. He taught us how to drink tequila without having it burn our throat. We learned how tequila isnt really made for shots. We tried blanco, reposado, anejo, and extra anejo. He also had us try mezcal, and some flavored tequila such as coffee, mango, peanut butter, and coconut, my favorite was the coffee one and the mango but they were all so delicious. We purchased the coffee one at the end to bring back with us. We had a private room where we learned about the history of the tequila and how it came to be. We also tried the agave plant when its cooked it was so amazing. He also had us try each tequila/ mezcal with a pairing of food, including crickets which suprisingly were very tasty. Overall amazing experience, would reccomend!! read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
Business owner information
Lenin M.
Thank you for this wonderful review. I hope to see you soon again.
5 years ago
Business owner information
Lenin M.
Gracias, and next time you are in Cabo, you know where we are, we…
7 years ago
Business owner information
Lenin M.
Good afternoon Kristina,…
More info about Santos Destilados
Calle Mariano Matamoros S/N
Col. Centro
23450 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Mexico
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624 123 2087
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http://www.santosdestilados.com
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