Tequila & Mezcal Tasting Experience

In Cabo, a tequila tasting can be more than a quick round of shots. At Santos Destilados, you get a guided introduction to handmade tequila and mezcal, with snacks meant to show how food can change what you taste. One guide has even used shrimp as a pairing, an unexpected detail that gives the session a distinctly Mexican twist.

I like two things in particular: the tasting is in central Cabo San Lucas, so you can walk over from nearby hotels and shopping areas, and the guide explains the spirits before you start sampling. The main consideration is that the tasting includes several pours in a short session, so this is best for adults who want to focus on agave spirits, not for anyone seeking a general Cabo excursion.

At a glance

• Six tequila varieties and three mezcales: The tasting is described as including both spirits, with the included selection also listed as four tequilas and three flavored tequilas. Confirm the exact lineup when you book.
• A guide-led lesson: Learn about the making and traditions behind tequila and mezcal, then taste with guidance on how to notice their flavors.
• Snacks with a local angle: Pairings can include agave heart, meat, shrimp, cheese, dark chocolate, and grasshoppers.
• Central Cabo location: Meet at Santos Destilados, within walking distance of major hotel and shopping areas.
• About 90 minutes: Sessions are usually offered in the morning, afternoon, and evening, with English- and Spanish-speaking guides.
• Adults only: The experience is not suitable for children under 18.

Start at Santos Destilados in central Cabo

The tasting begins at Tequilera Santos Destilados Centro, a shop called Santos Destilados in Cabo San Lucas. Its central location is useful: if you are staying near the main hotel and shopping areas, you can walk to the meeting point rather than arrange a ride. That also makes the tasting easier to fit into a day of sightseeing or an evening out.

There is a practical benefit to keeping this activity on foot. You do not need to drive before the tasting, and you can avoid trying to find a taxi immediately afterward. Since the session includes multiple pours, it is sensible to leave your car behind regardless of how confident you feel about pacing yourself.

The setting is a tasting room rather than a trip to an agave-growing region or a distillery. That keeps the experience convenient and focused on the spirits, but it also sets expectations: you will learn and taste in central Cabo, not tour fields or production equipment.

Get the lesson before the first pour

The guide introduces the history and making of tequila and mezcal before the tasting gets underway. One participant described the lesson as lasting about an hour before the first shot. The full activity is listed as 90 minutes, so the pace may leave less time for extended sipping than the word tasting suggests.

That early explanation is a real advantage. Instead of being handed a lineup of unfamiliar drinks with little context, you get a framework for thinking about what is in the glass and how these spirits are made. The guide also explains traditions connected with each sample, giving you more to take away than a list of names.

The guides are a key part of the appeal. Names associated with the experience include Luis and a host nicknamed the Mexican Johnny Cash. The person leading your session may differ, so do not assume either will be there on a particular date. The useful point is that the format is led by a dedicated guide, and the experience is designed to feel personal rather than like a large, impersonal group tasting.

One small skill the guide may teach is to swish tequila around your mouth so you can notice its flavor instead of treating every pour as a shot. That is worth trying, especially if tequila has mostly meant salt, lime, and a quick swallow to you. A slower sip gives you time to compare one sample with another.

Taste tequila and mezcal side by side

The tasting includes handmade tequila and mezcal, two agave spirits that are often grouped together by visitors but are not interchangeable. This session gives you a chance to sample both and hear about the processes and traditions behind them, rather than rely on a single drink or a menu description.

The experience is described as offering six tequila varieties and three kinds of mezcal. The included-items breakdown, however, lists four different tequilas and three flavored tequilas. Those descriptions do not line up exactly, so if the precise count matters to you, check the tasting lineup with Santos Destilados before booking. The core offer remains clear: you will taste both tequila and mezcal, with a guide explaining the samples.

Take the pours one at a time. You are not expected to arrive with a trained palate, and there is no need to pretend you can identify every note. Pay attention to what changes between samples, and ask your guide to explain what you are tasting. That is the point of a guided session: the drink becomes easier to understand when you can compare it and ask questions as you go.

The tasting also includes three flavored tequilas according to the included-items details. These give you a different angle on tequila than a lineup limited to unflavored varieties. The listing does not specify the flavors, so avoid arriving with a particular flavor in mind. Ask what is being poured when you sit down.

Snacks make the tasting more than a lineup of shots

Food is part of the activity, not just an afterthought. Pairings may include dark chocolate, agave heart, meat, shrimp, cheese, and grasshoppers. That range offers you several ways to notice how a bite can affect the taste of a spirit, from familiar cheese and chocolate to ingredients that may be new to your palate.

The shrimp pairing is a particularly useful detail. A guide has shown how a piece of shrimp can alter the flavor of tequila, giving you a reason to taste again after eating. It is a simple lesson, but one you can use later when choosing food with a drink. The grasshoppers are the most unusual option, and they add a local food element that goes beyond the usual tourist tasting routine.

The exact order of the food and drinks is not specified, and the snack portions are not described. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, contact the provider before you go rather than assume a substitute will be available. There is no stated menu guarantee, so treat the pairings as part of the planned tasting, not a full meal.

A personal format, with a few things to clarify

This experience is promoted as a personalized session with a private guide, rather than a big-group tour. That format can be valuable if you want to ask questions, move at a comfortable pace, or get a clearer explanation of what you are tasting. The guide can respond to the group, and the small-scale feel is a better match for learning than a fast round of pours.

The exact group size is not given, though, so private guide should not be taken as a promise that you will be the only person in the room. If a one-to-one session is important, ask Santos Destilados what private means for your chosen time. The experience may be especially appealing to couples or small groups who want to share a guided tasting, but the available details do not set a maximum group size.

A guide’s personality also shapes the session. Hosts have been praised for explaining things clearly, responding to the group, and sharing enthusiasm for tequila and Mexico. That is encouraging, but guide assignments can change. You can still expect a live guide in English or Spanish, while the individual host and the exact style of presentation may vary.

Is $35 a good value?

At $35 per person for about 90 minutes, the price buys more than a few drinks. You are paying for a guided lesson, a tasting of tequila and mezcal, snack pairings, and the convenience of a central meeting point. If you are curious about Mexican agave spirits and want context as well as samples, that combination makes the cost reasonable.

The value depends on what you want from the session. If your goal is to taste a large number of spirits with no explanation, this may feel too structured. If you would rather know what you are sampling and why the pairings matter, the guide-led format is where the value lies. The short duration also makes it easy to fit around other plans without giving up half a day.

Keep in mind that the exact tequila count needs clarification: the experience description says six varieties, while the included-items list breaks the pours into four different tequilas and three flavored tequilas. That is the one detail I would check before paying, especially if you are comparing the session with another tasting based on the number of samples.

Timing, transport, and who should book

The tasting lasts 1.5 hours and is usually available in the morning, afternoon, and evening. That range gives you some flexibility, but consider where it sits in your day. An early session can leave the rest of the day open; an evening tasting may be a convenient start to a night in central Cabo. Since you will be sampling several spirits, do not plan on driving afterward.

The meeting point is Santos Destilados in central Cabo San Lucas. English and Spanish guides are available, and the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Children under 18 are not suitable for the experience, which makes sense given the alcohol tastings.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is offered. These terms help if your plans are still shifting, but the most useful preparation is simpler: check the meeting point, confirm the tasting lineup if counts matter, and let the provider know about any food allergies.

This is a good fit if you enjoy learning through tasting, want an easy-to-reach Cabo activity, or would like an introduction to tequila and mezcal beyond familiar bar pours. It is less suitable if you do not drink alcohol, expect a distillery tour, need a substantial meal, or are traveling with children under 18.

Should you book the Santos Destilados tasting?

I would book this if tequila and mezcal interest you and you value a guide who explains what is in your glass. The central location, food pairings, and personal teaching style give the 90-minute session a clear purpose. The practical questions to settle first are the exact tequila lineup and whether your chosen time will be private in the sense you expect.

If you want a relaxed, informative introduction rather than a full-day excursion, this is an appealing use of part of your Cabo visit. Pace yourself, try the snacks with the drinks, and ask the guide to show you how to taste rather than simply swallow. That small shift can make the session more memorable, and it may change how you order tequila next time.

FAQ

How long is the tasting?

The activity lasts 1.5 hours.

How much does it cost?

The listed price is $35 per person.

Where does the tasting start?

It starts at Santos Destilados, also identified as Tequilera Santos Destilados Centro, in central Cabo San Lucas.

How many drinks are included?

The experience is described as six tequila varieties and three kinds of mezcal. The included-items breakdown lists four different tequilas and three flavored tequilas, so confirm the exact count with the provider.

What snacks are paired with the spirits?

Pairings can include dark chocolate, agave heart, meat, shrimp, cheese, and grasshoppers.

What languages are available?

Live guides are available in English and Spanish.

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can children attend?

No. The activity is not suitable for children under 18.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.