In the heart of Mexico
Picture this: unexpected offer to fly to Mexico for 17 days, nine boys I've never met, and me, the lone chica saying "Heck yes!" Why? Because life's too short to say no to adventure.
Picture this: unexpected offer to fly to Mexico for 17 days, nine boys I've never met, and me, the lone chica saying "Heck yes!" Why? Because life's too short to say no to adventure.
I had the incredible opportunity to join a talented team of Croatian bartenders on their journey to Mexico, capturing moments as their photographer.
They all share a passion for making cocktails so this trip was a pure dream as we dived into the culture, history, and flavors of Mexico! From the agave fields to the distilleries, we learned, tasted, and experienced everything that this magical place has to offer.
For me, as a photographer, it was an absolute paradise too! The history of each spirit and the delicious flavors we discovered made every captured moment special.
But let's start from the beginning.
Tequila
We began our journey in the west, in the fertile federal state of Jalisco. The saying goes "Jalisco is Mexico, and Mexico is Jalisco," because much of what we consider typical elements of Mexican culture today - charro cowboys, mariachi, tequila - originates right from here.
The city of Tequila, surrounded by rich volcanic soil, serves as the heart of tequila production, supplying the majority of the world's tequila. Tequila drink is made from this amazing plant called blue agave, and it's a huge part of the local culture.
Blue agave
Here, I discovered the artistry behind crafting different types of tequila, from Blanco to Reposado and Anejo. Tequila Blanco is like the fresh, pure taste of agave straight from the distillery. Tequila Reposado is a bit more interesting—it spends 2 to 12 months in oak barrels, adding some depth. And if you really love tequila, go for Tequila Anejo, aged over a year for a fancier flavor. When I tasted Anejo, it had a sweet smell like honey, making it my favorite. 🙂
During our time in Tequila, we toured famous tequila brands like Atanasio, La Fortaleza, Don Fulano, and Arrete. I enjoyed every distillery because all brands are rooted in tradition and have a genuine passion for making tequila. Getting a behind-the-scenes look at their production process made the experience even more special.
El Jimador - farmer who selects and cultivates the agave plant
Agave hearts (piñas)
Some photos from distilleries: La Fortaleza, Don Fulano, Atanastasio, Arette.
Traveling with bartenders included visiting the most famous bars, and the first one was the bar called La Capilla. If you want to let go of all your expectations and have a genuinely local Mexican experience, definitely visit it for a couple of hours and try the "Batanga" - a cocktail made with tequila, lime juice, and cola served in a glass with a salted rim. The bar is small, simple, and run down but that's the great thing about it. With live music playing and packed with locals signing at the top of their lungs, it was one of the most memorable bars we visited in Mexico.
Go and have a Batanga or 5 and just soak up the atmosphere! :)
Batanga coctail
Some photos from La Capilla
Tequila was such a beautiful city, full of history and traditions. If you ever go to Mexico, it is a must-visit. Here are a few more pictures I took to give you a glimpse!
Gringos de Croatia
Mariachi
Mayahuel - The Aztec Goddess of the Agave plant, fertility, and tequila.
Guadalajara
Our next stop after Tequila was Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city which is often called “the Pearl of the West” and is known as the birthplace of Mariachi music. We didn't have so much time to explore because the boys had a prep time and guest shift at a very cool bar called El Gallo Altanero. They got the opportunity to make cocktails and present their view of Mexican Spirits with a Croatian touch. It was so much fun and the cocktails were so tasty!
Guest shfit @ El Gallo Altanero
Mexico City
The weekend was reserved for Mexico City where we explored local markets, Salon de Agave, the National Museum, the Teotihuacán pyramids.
The Pyramid of the Sun
During nights we visited the most famous bars and enjoyed tasty cocktails! The boys had a guest shift at Limantour, one of the best bars in the world where they again presented cocktails made with Mexican spirits and a touch of Croatia and made another fantastic event.
Guest shift @ Limantour
Oaxaca
Our final destination was Oaxaca, a lovely state in Mexico, with beautiful nature, colonial architecture, unique crafts and textiles, flavorful food, and such friendly, kind people.
If you're ever in Oaxaca, you've gotta try mezcal. It's like a flavor explosion in your mouth! The first sip of mezcal bursted like a camera flash in my mouth lol.
Whereas tequila is made from slowly baked agave hearts (piñas) with the help of machinery, Oaxacan mezcal utilizes piñas that are roasted in a fire pit (before being distilled). The taste result is therefore complex and smoky. However, you can find some mezcals that are very smooth and don’t have that smokiness, so if you don’t like the first mezcal you try, don’t assume that you don’t like mezcal. You just haven’t found the one you like yet! :)
An earth oven
Unlike tequila, mezcal isn’t limited to one type of agave. Mezcal makers can take their pick of dozens of varieties of agave, though the most commonly used is the Agave espadín.
Out in the countryside, we visited rural, family distilleries where they make mezcal the old-fashioned way. There, we were warmly welcomed by mezcal masters and their families who generously showed us how they'd been making this drink for ages. It was heartwarming to witness the strong bonds within these families, as they passed down their passion from one generation to the next.
Maestro Mezcalero - Arturo Campos Sanchez
Maestro Mezcalero - Herminio Coronado
Coronado family
Maestro Mezcalero - Felix Santiago
While in the countryside, we drove through fields of agave plants, spotting different types like jabali, tobala and espadin. It was cool to see them up close and learn about mezcal, a famous Mexican drink.
Hope I will be back, for more mezcal, and more stories.
Souvenir to Take Home
Oaxaca isn't just known for its mezcal; it's a hotspot for skilled artisans too. One of the coolest crafts you can take home from here is an alebrije—a funky animal figure carved from wood and painted in wild colors. We got to peek into a workshop, where they showed us how they make these colorful figures using natural dyes. It was awesome!
I had such an unforgettable experience that I’ll always cherish. From soaking up the local culture to making genuine connections, every bit of it was a wonderful ride.
Thank you #mexico, you were full of surprises!
And a special love to @gringosdecroatia for making it happen!