Nine sips in ninety minutes. This private Cabo San Lucas workshop pairs six handmade tequilas and three mezcal tastings with snack pairings, all in a walkable room near hotels and shopping. It’s the kind of stop that turns a quick drink into a real feel-for-the-agave experience, led by hosts like Juan Andrés (often called Johnny Cash) and Luis.

I especially like the food-first pairing approach—dark chocolate, agave heart, shrimp, cheese, meat, and even grasshoppers for the brave. I also like how the guide keeps it conversational: you learn what you’re tasting, and how to drink it so it doesn’t just burn.

One thing to think about: this is a tasting with alcohol, and private transportation isn’t included—so plan to walk, use public transit, or arrange your own ride afterward.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• Walkable start in central Cabo at Tequilera Santos Destilados Centro, with you finishing back at the same spot
• Nine drink samples total: six tequila varieties plus three mezcal types
• Pairings that change the flavor using snacks like agave heart and dark chocolate
• A guide-led explanation, not a long lecture (you’ll hear tequila and mezcal context without getting stuck)
• A private setting so you can ask questions and get attention instead of waiting your turn
• Grasshoppers are optional if you want the full, playful Mexican-food experience

Central Cabo Setup: Meeting at Tequilera Santos Destilados Centro

This tasting starts in central Cabo San Lucas, inside Tequilera Santos Destilados Centro on Calle Mariano Matamoros. The big practical win is that it’s walkable from many hotel and shopping areas, so you’re not negotiating pickup times or driving right before or after.

You’ll get a mobile ticket, and you’ll receive booking confirmation at the time you book. The tasting is offered in English, and it’s set up as a private activity, meaning only your group is in the room during your session.

Also, the location is close to public transportation, and service animals are allowed. In other words, this fits well if you want an easy add-on to a day already built around walking, shopping, or grabbing a meal nearby.

Timing-wise, it runs about 1 hour 30 minutes. That’s long enough to get meaningful explanations and multiple pours, but short enough that it won’t swallow your whole afternoon or evening.

What You’ll Sip: Six Handmade Tequilas and Three Mezcals

You’ll taste a total of nine varieties: six tequila options and three kinds of mezcal. The guide doesn’t just hand you a glass—this is structured to help you notice differences between styles and production choices.

Here’s the key idea: tequila and mezcal both come from agave, but they express it in different ways. In practice, that means you’ll be learning how to spot what makes each spirit feel distinct—some will lean sweeter, some more smoky, and the way you taste (small sips, focused palate moments) matters.

From what this experience is built to teach, you’ll get a “how it’s made” foundation too—agave plants, growing region, and production process are part of the explanation. Several people specifically mentioned learning the right way to taste so tequila doesn’t just feel like a shortcut to a burn.

If mezcal is your main obsession, bring that up at the start. Some sessions include an added bonus pour for mezcal fans. You won’t lose anything by asking—you’re in a private setting.

How the Guide Turns History Into a Practical Tasting Lesson

This workshop stands out because the guide’s goal is understanding, not performance. You get a short history and cultural context around tequila and mezcal, but it stays tied to what’s in your glass.

Hosts like Juan Andrés (with the Johnny Cash nickname) and Luis come through as engaging hosts who explain origins and significance in Mexico, while also giving you “use it now” tasting tips. People also mention that the history is not overly long, and it doesn’t feel like the guide is just repeating the same talking points.

A practical bonus: you’ll learn how to appreciate tequila flavors and avoid the harshness that can happen when you treat it like a shot. That matters if you’re the kind of person who wants to taste, pause, compare, and then actually remember what you liked.

The private format helps here. You can ask questions as you go—about what you’re tasting, why one pour hits differently, or how to choose tequilas after the tasting is over. With a shared group, you’d often run out of time before questions get answered.

Food Pairings That Make the Spirits Make Sense

Alcohol tasting gets more fun when food is part of the plan—and here it is. Each tequila and mezcal is paired with snacks designed to support different flavor notes, including sweet and savory options.

Expect pairings such as:

• Dark chocolate (a frequent pairing to highlight sweetness and richness)
• Agave heart (a traditional nod to where the whole spirit begins)
• Cheese and meat (to balance and soften edges)
• Shrimp and other savory bites (so you’re not stuck in only sweet flavors)
• Grasshoppers for the people who want the full Mexican bite experience

Even when you skip the grasshoppers, the presence of that pairing is a reminder that this tasting isn’t pretending Mexico’s food culture is separate from its spirits. It’s one evening, yes—but the snack choices help you experience agave as an ingredient across cuisines.

One smart approach: take a small bite, then wait a beat before your sip. You’re aiming to notice how flavors change, not just chase the next pour. That’s exactly what the guide-style approach is built for.

Some groups also mention a sweeter or dessert-style finish. Don’t assume it’s guaranteed, but it’s the sort of thing that can happen at the end of a guided tasting when the host wants to cap the experience.

Why Private Feels Better Than a Big Group Tequila Tour

At $40 per person, you’re paying for a focused session. The biggest value isn’t only the number of pours—it’s that you’re not squeezed into a shared schedule where everyone follows the same rhythm.

In a private setting, the guide can:

• tailor explanations to what you care about (tequila vs. mezcal)
• move at a comfortable pace
• answer questions without cutting them off
• adjust how they teach you to taste

This matters because tequila tasting isn’t just a checklist of brands. It’s a sensory skill. People in past sessions talked about learning how to drink tequila properly, and how to tell the difference between styles they’d previously only recognized by label.

It’s also a great choice if you’re the type who likes to learn while you travel. You’ll get the story behind the agave spirits, but you won’t be trapped listening while everyone else gets the same canned script.

And yes, you do end up with preferences. One common outcome is realizing you like a specific style—like reposado—once you’ve tasted it with context and food.

Price, Value, and Who This Cabo Tasting Fits Best

At $40 per person for about 1.5 hours, this sits in the sweet spot for travelers who want an educational tasting without turning it into an all-night event. You’re getting alcoholic beverages with food pairing, and that’s a real value component. The tasting format is the product, not just the alcohol.

What you should factor in: private transportation isn’t included. If you’re staying far from the center, you’ll want to plan your own ride or check how easy it is to get there on foot or by public transit.

This is a strong fit if you:

• want a smaller, guided experience instead of a big group rush
• care about tequila and mezcal beyond brand names
• like pairing food with drinks
• travel as a couple, small family, or group who can ask questions

It may be less ideal if you want a totally hands-off bar crawl vibe. This tasting is structured around explanation and how the palate reacts. It’s also not a booze-free activity, so keep that in mind for your day-planning.

If you’re choosing between tequila-only tastings and tequila-plus-mezcal, this option helps you compare. You’ll learn how those spirits differ and how food pairing affects what you taste.

Should You Book This Cabo Tequila and Mezcal Tasting?

Book it if you want a short, high-impact cultural stop in central Cabo San Lucas—one that teaches you how to taste, not just what to drink. The pairing system (including agave heart and dark chocolate) is the kind of detail that makes the whole hour feel meaningful, and the private format helps you get answers instead of rushing through sips.

Skip it only if you strongly dislike the idea of tasting alcohol in a guided format, or if you don’t want to handle the “no private transportation included” part of planning. Otherwise, it’s a smart use of time, and it’s easy to fold into a day of shopping and local meals in town.

FAQ

How long is the Cabo San Lucas tequila and mezcal tasting?

It lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.).

How much does the tasting cost, and what’s included?

It costs $40.00 per person and includes tequila and mezcal tasting with food pairing.

Where does the tour start, and does it end nearby?

You’ll meet at Tequilera Santos Destilados Centro, Calle Mariano Matamoros, Centro, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is this experience private, and is it offered in English?

Yes. It’s a private tour/activity (only your group participates), and it’s offered in English.

What snacks are paired with the tequila and mezcal?

You’ll get snack pairings such as agave heart, dark chocolate, meat, shrimp, cheese, and grasshoppers for those who want to try them.

Is there free cancellation, and how late can I cancel?

Yes, free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience starts, you won’t receive a refund.

You Might Also Enjoy

Premium Tequila Route with professional tastingCabo Shore Excursion: Beach Horseback Ride & Tequila TastingPrivate Tequila Tour with Local ExpertMexico City: Tequila and Mezcal Museum Ticket with Tastings