There is no scarcity of bars in Los Cabos. I imply, it is Los Cabos. However for those who’re in search of one thing that is slightly extra on the market, that goes effectively past the standard beer and shot chug huts, head to Clase Azul La Terraza Los Cabos and do their Style of Tradition expertise.
Sure, that is from Clase Azul, the tequila model that is simply recognizable by their hand-crafted, hand-painted bottles. Mexican-owned and operated, they not too long ago started an enlargement into the world of hospitality. This house features a restaurant, bar, omakase and boutique. The Style of Tradition expertise runs for round $400 per individual. I used to be advised to anticipate a number of surprises alongside the best way, however nothing like Mark Mylod’s The Menu.
It is a grand, theatrical pairing expertise pushed by tequila. Clase Azul’s Grasp Distiller, Viridiana Tinoco, collaborates with Chef Ivan Arias to create a menu to pair with its “5 icons” (a loving time period they name their hallmark spirits). There’s solely eight company per night, and the menu modifications seasonally.
The expertise begins when coming into a darkish, dome-shaped room with scale-shaped tiles on the partitions. Altar-like shows are carved into the the periphery. Every incorporates bottles of Clase Azul. Within the middle of the house, is an agave plant that lit with a heat glow—contact it and the show turns right into a vibrant amber.
Upon coming into the tasting room issues get richer. It may have been a part of the set of Dennis Villenueve’s Dune. The earthy/sand shade of the veined, quartz-like stones feed life and heat into the house.
As a result of it is a model expertise, there will likely be movies. However they are not obtrusive. Our group is proven a quick video explaining how each Clase Azul Tequila Plata and Clase Azul Mezcal Durango are made. These spirits arrive in tulip-shaped glasses together with the primary programs whilst you’re seated on the bar.
Clase Azul Tequila Clase Azul Reposado
Clase Azul Tequila Clase Azul Reposado
The Tequila Plata is accompanied by lime-marinated white fish ceviche topped off with a plantain chip and a inexperienced apple. Mezcal Durango, is paired with margarita scallop topped off with a candy tamarind cajeta that accentuates the smokey character of this complicated spirit. In the event you’ve sat by means of sufficient spirit tastings, you know the way shortly your palate can get fatigued. Happily, between each course espresso beans and a neighborhood bread are delivered to you to re-balance your sense of scent and tastebuds.
The tasting then strikes to the dinner desk the place we sip the extra complicated Clase Azul Tequila Reposado and Clase Azul Tequila Añejo. The Reposado is served with a black bean stuffed corn tetala entrée topped with a chili adobo pork stew and pickled onions, and a mint and onion salad. This melded properly with the vanilla and clove notes of the reposado.
However the standout pairing of the night is the Añejo, which is aged for 25-months in American whiskey casks, together with a slow-cooked mole. It is a reminder that, in each spirits and in meals, time is an important ingredient.
Simply whenever you assume issues are about wrap up, the room goes darkish. As a last shock, the panels within the wall reveal a Clase Azul Tequila Extremely bottle whereas a projection begins taking part in on the desk that introduces the ultimate pairing—three home made chocolate truffles made by Chef Arias together with the extremely.
In the event you’ve ever subscribed to the concept spirits do not actually meld with multi-course high-quality eating, this expertise will change that. And if I took one factor away from all of that is that an anejo tequila and mole may be one of many best mixtures.
Alfonso Fernández Navas is a vogue editor for Esquire Journal and Males’s Well being Journal, specializing in all issues vogue, fashion, and stylish. He was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and, naturally, the best-dressed within the room.