Enjoy a Festive Mezcal Experience at Banyan Tree Cabo Marques

Infusing local culture, tradition and flavors, Banyan Tree Cabo Marques creates a distinctive environment for guests to experience authentic Mexican customs. Though not widely distilled or distributed, mezcal has recently become a fascination in the United States. Made from the maguey (agave) plant, it's obscure, organic and arcane. Most importantly, it's artisanal. Legend holds that a lightning bolt struck an agave plant, cooking and opening it to release its juice. Because of this myth, mezcal has held a prominent position in religious rituals, mythology and the economy, and is still referred to as the “elixir of the gods.”

Today, mezcal continues to play an important role during rituals and festivities across Mexican villages. Mezcal is made exclusively from different species and varieties of wild and semi-wild agave, harvested by the “maestros mezcaleros” in the local villages of Guerrero and Oaxaca, two states on the Pacific Coast. Twice distilled in copper pot stills, every bottle is inscribed with the species of agave, the age of the harvest, the village of production, the name of the maestro mezcalero and the batch and lot number; connecting consumers with the provenance of each bottle by the land, people and plants that created it.

At Banyan Tree Cabo Marques, a special beverage cart comes round to guest's tables at lunch and dinner at La Nao restaurant, displaying the various mezcals offered. A team of waiters presents a short description of the characteristics of the mezcal and offers guests a complimentary taste of the drink. Measured out in a traditional hand-painted “guaje,” a hollowed-out calabash fruit, five to six centimeters in diameter; these drinking vessels have been used by locals for centuries. Segments of different citrus fruits, such as oranges, tangerines and grapefruits accompany the drink; each sprinkled with seasoned salts to enhance the flavor, including red grasshopper salt and agave worm salt. The best way to enjoy mescal is to take a sip of the drink and then bite into a citrus segment seasoned with salt. Mezcal has a rich, smoky taste with notes of chili pepper, chocolate, ash, wood and fire. The higher the alcohol content in a particular mezcal, the less intense the notes. Variations occur in the smoke notes according to the amount and type of wood used and size of the ovens.

Home to stunning sunset evenings and azure coastal waters, Banyan Tree Cabo Marques is built on high stilts over sheer cliffs, providing sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Whilst staying at the resort, guests can savor a fusion of eclectic tastes of modern world cuisines influenced by Latin and Oriental cultures.

For accommodation and booking information, please visit https://www.banyantree.com/en/em-mexico-cabo-marques/ or call Banyan Tree Cabo Marques on 1-800 591-0439.