mexico

Touring the Tequila Cazadores Distillery: Does Listening To Mozart Make For Better Tequila?

Filed under: Spirits

To understand the story of Mexico, one must look at Tequila, a beverage that earned its roots from the Aztec goddess of agave Mayahuel, all the way to the early 1900s when Mexican revolutionaries took the drink as a sign of rebellion and strength. After thousands of years of growth and development, today, tequila represents the modernization of Mexico.I journeyed to Arandas in the highlands of Jalisco with a group of journalists to see the process of one of Mexico's finer brands, Cazadores.

Indeed, Tequila Cazadores' three labels together constitute the #1 selling premium tequila brand in the world. We began in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, already, 5,000 ft above sea level, and drove two and a half hours further up into the mountains. The farther out of the city we drove, the greater abundance of blue agave fields we saw, entering into the Agave Trail, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And the farther up we drove, the redder the soil became, each mile out achieving a greater and deeper shade, revealing the high concentration of iron and minerals in the soil, resulting in a sweeter and less fibrous agave plant. Tequilas from the highlands tend to contain more fruit notes such as citrus, pear and orange, while tequilas from the lowlands tend to have more herbal flavors such as mint and grass.

A unique tequila undoubtedly is made through a unique process. At Cazadores, after the agave cores are cooked under 24 hot waterfalls, they are sent to the mill where they are cut, shredded and squeezed. The agave juice is fermented for four days with yeast in steel vats, without any chemicals or preservatives. And in the tradition of Cazadores creator Jose Maria Bañuelos, the fermenting juice must listen to classical music. A firm believer in the Mozart effect, aimed to create harmonious vibrations in the fermenting juice. Indeed, yeast is very sensitive to sound. Talk or shout into a vat and the yeast moves. With Mozart playing around the clock, the music had a soothing effect on the yeast to create the most desirable must, or agave juice.

Gallery: Cazadores in Arandas

Tags: jalisco, mexico, mozart effect, tequila, tequila cazadores

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Yucatan Government Buys Chichen Itza

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan state in Mexico draws tourists from around the world each year. Recently the Yucatan government made a big purchase, buying the 205 private acres of the Chichen Itza zone for $17.6 million. The land was owned by businessman Hans Jurgen Thies Barbachano. While the ruins of Chichen Itza are federal property the land under the monuments had been privately owned for hundreds of years. The transaction puts and end to years of bickering over the site.According to an article on American Egypt, the previous owner, Fernando Barbachano Gomez Rul (grandfather of the current owner) had to take the battle to court in the early 200s after the state began withholding money from the sale of tickets into the site. In 2004 the federal courts ruled that Chichen Itza was private property. There have been disputes over the rights to sell merchandise to tourists on the site and vendors had been asking the government to buy the land. The site is home to many beautiful Mayan buildings, some of which have been restored. Chichen Itza is a a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second-most visited of Mexico's archaeological sites. Chichen Itza's El Castillo was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World after a worldwide vote in 2007.

Tags: Chichen Itza, Mexico, yucatan

Banyan Tree's Latest Resort in Mexico, or is it?

by Carrie N. Culpepper (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

New hotels are popping up on Mexico's Riviera Maya as faster than you can say "Caribbean beachfront land grab." The pristine stretch of white-sand beach is perfectly situated close to the Cancun airport and the charming town of Playa del Carmen -- that is, if you ever want to leave your resort.

Luxury resorts like the Fairmont Mayakoba have been populating the Yucatan Peninsula since the lovely Maroma brought luxe (and an amazing spa) to the area in the late '90s. But late in 2007, a new player arrived in the area with a new trick: the private pool villa. The Banyan Tree Mayakoba is a resort with a grand scale -- the buildings feel over sized, the roofs curving up to the sky for dramatic effect -- and its setting, built around a fresh-water lagoon lends an exotic mystique. The only catch with providing guests with such lavish rooms and private pools, is they tend to stay in them.

Gallery: Banyan Tree Mayakoba

Tags: Banyan Tree, Banyan Tree Resort, BanyanTreeResort, carribbean beach mexican resorts, CarribbeanBeachMexicanResorts, luxury mexican resorts, LuxuryMexicanResorts, mayakoba, mexico, riviera maya, riviera maya mexico, riviera maya resorts, RivieraMaya, RivieraMayaMexico, RivieraMayaResorts

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Rancho La Puerta: Siempre Mejor Means Always Better

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas

Rancho La Puerta, founded by Edmond and Deborah Szekely in 1940, is the original destination fitness resort and spa and remains family-owned and operated. Today's guests enjoy the very best resort spa experience, shaped by expertise developed over 65 years. So it should come as no surprise that Rancho La Puerta is a nominee for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Extended-Stay Spa.

Each week, some 150 guests share 3,000 acres of mountains and meadows beneath 3,885' Mount Kuchumaa and where the meandering Kumeyaay Creek meets the Tecate River. The peak straddles the U.S.-Mexico border, and Native Americans consider its slopes and summit a sacred place - so much so that it was the first geographic feature in the U.S. to be named a National Historic Site by the Department of Interior based on spiritual significance.

Rancho La Puerta, which is located in Tecate, Mexico (a 45 minute drive southeast of San Diego) offers 32 acres of gardens, hiking trails, an organic farm, several pools, extensive spa and fitness facilities, a salon, individual casitas for guests, a large dining hall, gift shop, and an intimate library -- as well as numerous inviting lounges and conference rooms.

Gallery: More from Rancho La Puerta

Tags: awards-main, best extended stay spa, best spa, luxist-awards, mexico, rancho la puerta, spa, spa-main

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Carlos Slim Beats Buffet & Gates for World's Richest Man Title

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

Mexican telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim has beat out Warren Buffet and Bill Gates to capture the title of World's Richest Man, according to Forbes' newly-released rich list. With an astonishing net worth of $53.5 billion, Slim, whose most recent acquisition is a major stake in the struggling New York Times, is the first person from a developing nation ever to be named the world's richest person. The 70-year-old mogul's ever-expanding fortunes - his net worth jumped by $18.5 billion over the past year - is attributable to a spike in value for his his enviable cell phone holdings.

Gates (No. 2) and Buffet (No. 3) have not suffered any reversal of fortune that knocked them down on the list; in fact, Gates is up by $13 billion and Buffet by $10 billion for the year. Rather, the magazine notes, their declining position is due to having given so much money to charitable causes. Slim is known for wearing inexpensive suits and rarely using the computers his companies sell, preferring old-style paper notebooks. While he owns an impressive collection of art, including works by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, the AP notes that he works out of a set of somewhat dowdy, 1970s-style offices.

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Tags: bill gates, billionaire, Carlos Slim, Forbes, Mexico, new york times, warren buffet, worlds richest man

Edra Blixeth's Casa Captiva, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

A few weeks ago we mentioned that Edra Blixseth's Rancho Mirage, California compound, Porcupine Creek had hit the market for $75 million. Now the Wall Street Journal reports that another bank-controlled property tied to the once well-propertied ex-wife of timber magnate Tim Blixseth and co-founder of the Yellowstone Club is up for sale. Casa Captiva is an idyllic six-bedroom retreat in Los Cabos, Mexico.

The estate has 280 feet of oceanfront and the secluded cove is situated in the most exclusive and private community of Punta Bella adjacent to Villas Del Mar in Palmilla in the city of San Jose del Cabo. With 10,000 square feet of space with 7,000 square feet of outdoor space there is plenty of room (a good thing for the Blixseths who were collectors). The floors, windows and deck are handcrafted with teak wood and the home has a great room, large kitchen, family room, gym, office, bar and caretaker's quarters. The master suite is a private space with a den and bedroom facing the ocean, two dressing rooms, steam room, Jacuzzi tub and a a meditation room that opens onto a private garden. The property has an infinity pool and large Jacuzzi and the beach is just steps away. The property is listed at $12.875 million.

Tags: casa captiva, CasaCaptiva, edra blixseth, EdraBlixseth, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, los cabos, los cabos mexico, LosCabos, LosCabosMexico, mexico

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Rent An El Banco Villa

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

If you are in search of spring vacation ideas, El Banco Villas is now leasing two of their luxurious villas. El Banco is a 110 acre compound with one of the longest stretches of white, sandy beach on the Punta de Mita Peninsula. This beachside setting is just north of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico's Pacific Coast. The two Villas, Villa Mirador and Villa Los Arcos offer expansive views of the Bay of Banderas, Marietas Islands, Sierra Madre Mountains and El Banco's long stretch of white-sand beach.The villa design was inspired by Mexico's Spanish Colonial heritage and incorporates grand arches, gracious courtyards and hand-craftsmanship as well as amenities that address every contemporary wish. Each of the four bedrooms in the villas has a private terrace.

The villas rent for $3,000 (plus 16% tax) per night from December 16 to April 30 and for $2,000 a night from May 1 to December 15. Concierge services are available to arrange golf reservations, surf lessons, in-home massage, yoga, restaurant reservations, local excursions, trips to luxury spas and anything else you can dream up. A private chef can prepare up to three meals a day to keep you happily well-fed.

Tags: el banco, ElBanco, mexico, puerto vallarta, PuertoVallarta, villas

The Residences at Vallarta Gardens: Mexico's Newest Private Club

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments, By Design

If lives are fueled by searches for sanctuary, contentment, and adventure, then arguably, few activities reveal as much about those dynamics as do our travels -- and the destinations and domiciles we choose. Such choices say much about lifestyle-investing preferences and it is perhaps this desire to invest – not in high yielding stocks, but in high yielding personal and family attunement time, that the private residence club concept has remained popular, even in this capricious economy. The most successful ones provide exceptional amenities (private chefs, town car services, yacht usage, dedicated concierges, maid service, pre-arrival and daily grocery shopping, etc.) as well as a deeded part ownership in the residence itself. The most successful ones also have a balanced design template where the destination combines sanctuary and adventure, and where the architectural and interior designs reflect the uniqueness of the area.

One of the newest Residence Clubs that does all this is Vallarta Gardens, near Puerto Vallarta. The Private Residence Club is part of the mixed-use resort idea, that combines fractional, and full ownership villas. There are two designs for their Club Villas: first, the Sea Breeze with 5,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space, four bedrooms, four and one-half baths, large outdoor and rooftop terraces, a private plunge pool, media room, living area with a fully-equipped kitchen. The second is the Coral residence, with 3,500 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, three and one-half baths, rooftop and ground level terraces, open living and dining area with a fully-equipped kitchen. Fractional prices, as of this writing, start for 1/13th (3 weeks guaranteed plus unlimited usage, space available) from $100,000 for the Coral and $150,000 for the Sea Star. Whole ownership villas start from $1,550,000.

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Tags: deeded fractionals, DeededFractionals, la cruz, LaCruz, mexico, private residence clubs, PrivateResidenceClubs, puerto vallarta, PuertoVallarta, single site fractionals, SingleSiteFractionals, vallarta gardens, VallartaGardens, yacht clubs, YachtClubs

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"Bury" Your BlackBerry in the Sand of Los Cabos

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Luxury Travel & Hotels

If you needed more proof of our pronounced love-hate relationship with our communication devices, the Marquis Los Cabos Resort invites its arriving guests to participate in a "BlackBerry Burial Ceremony."

After a de rigeur welcome drink and opportunity to avail yourself of a cool towel, you head out to the beach and bury your phone in the sand.

Now, the only thing that seems worse for an electronic device than sand burial is the dreaded toilet dunking, but luckily this ceremony is just a ritual.*

First, your smart phone is placed in a protective case -- a coffin, as it happens. Then, you must go at least ten minutes without your phone while the spa director teaches you how to massage your over-used hands. Try not to panic.

Finally, your dig out your phone -- I'm imagining a frantic, sand-flinging scene -- and then you get your phone back again to tell everyone on Facebook or Twitter what you've done.

*A note for the cautious! This ritual makes Sascha Segan, PC Magazine's cell phone editor, just a bit nervous. "In general you don't want sand or other little particles near your delicate electronic equipment and cell phones are pieces of delicate electronic equipment," he said.

"But what about the coffin?" I asked.
"How well sealed is that coffin?" he said. "I would feel much better if you put the phone in a zip-lock baggie before you bury it."

He suggests using the self-same bag that got your three-ounce liquids through airline security. And if you really want to bury your phone, the one to do it with is Casio Rock from Verizon. "That one is 100% sand proof."

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Tags: blackberry, loscabos, mexico

Escape to Casa de Sierra Nevada in San Miguel de Allende

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

There is a certain type of traveler who will scoff when you tell them that you love San Miguel de Allende, a city smack in the middle of Mexico. "Oh, that's where the gringos go," they'll say, and it's true. There are many US and Canadian retirees that have made this Silver City their home, and in fact it's been a magnet for north Americans since just after World War II. The attraction was the ability to study at two different art schools in town where GI Bill dollars went very far, Or perhaps it's better to call that the justification, the attraction was the beauty of this town, which is well-preserved – an attraction that exists to this day, drawing gringas like me, international tourists besides, and not a few Mexico City weekenders.

Let that certain type of traveler scoff, for San Miguel is a confection of a city, with brightly painted buildings, and old iron lamps and absurdly narrow and steep cobblestoned streets, the cobblestones themselves streaked with color. There are plenty of things to do here, but I think the best itinerary is just to wander around those streets from early morning to late night, interrupted with a coffee from El Petit Four bakery and a hand churned ice cream from a street vendor in the afternoon.

Your luxurious base of operations should be Casa de Sierra Nevada, a boutique hotel with 37 rooms and suites, spread across six historic mansions which date from the 16th to the 18th century. These six buildings are all within a few steps of one another – three are connected by courtyard – with the exception of Casa Parque, which is a few blocks away in a former 17th century fort. (This building is said to be haunted, but when I visited I saw nothing supernatural.)

Gallery: San Miguel de Allende and Casa de Sierra Nevada

San Miguel de Allende's Narrow Steep Streets

Tags: hotel, mexico, sanmigueldeallende, spa

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Antiguo Tequila from Casa Herradura Arrives in the U.S.

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Originally developed in 1924 and served exclusively to family and friends of the manor at Mexico's Hacienda del Refugio, Antiguo tequila has never been sold in the U.S. - until now.

The super-premium brand was launched commercially in Mexico in 1995 to commemorate Casa Herradura's 125th anniversary (est. 1870) of producing the world's finest tequila, using the original formula that was kept a secret for almost a century.

Antiguo is crafted using only 100% pure agave to be a lighter bodied, exceptionally smooth and mellow spirit. Distilled at 80 proof, it has a suggested 750ml retail price of $24.99 to $29.99 here depending on the expression: Blanco, Reposado and Añejo, in handsome vintage-inspired bottles with Herradura's signature horseshoe motif.

Tags: Casa Herradura, CasaHerradura, Mexico, tequila

Tequila el Jimador Añejo's New Look

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Starting in October, the Añejo expression of Tequila el Jimador, the #1 selling tequila in Mexico, will be available here in a new package that aligns its look with its Blanco and Reposado offerings. The new Añejo package will initially be available in California and Texas, and will roll out to the remainder of the U.S. by year's end. The new look features the same classic tall, angular bottle as the other expressions (above) and identical iconography of the Jimador on the label to pay tribute to the proud men that harvest the agave plants used to make the 12-month aged 100% agave tequila. Tequila el Jimador is produced by Casa Herradura, which was named "2007 Best Distiller of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Since 2000, Tequila el Jimador has received numerous accolades from industry insiders, including the Adams Beverage Media Growth Brand Award in the Fast Track Category for 2005 and 2006.

Tags: agave, Mexico, tequila, Tequila el Jimador, TequilaElJimador

Slow Economy Dooms The Home Of The Caesar Salad

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

The simple restaurant that spawned a million lunches has closed down. The AP reports that Caesar's in Tijuana, Mexico, the restaurant famous for popularizing the Caesar salad has closed down. Casar's restaurant shut down this week, a victim of the tourism decline in Mexico. The restaurant wasn't the original place where the Caesar salad was invented but had ties to the older restaurant that created the salad in the 1920s. Caesar's made a traditional version of the salad but could not survive in this economy and the restaurant was evicted for not paying the rent. The AP says that the Restaurant Moderno in Piedras Negras, the reputed birthplace of the nacho also closed this summer.

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Tags: caesar salad, CaesarSalad, mexico, tijuana

Ltd. Edition Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario Tequila

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

This fall Jose Cuervo will release a limited edition 250 Aniversario Tequila retailing for $2,250. The special bottling commemorates the historic birth of tequila production and the establishment of 10 generations of Cuervo family tradition: on November 2, 1758 King Carlos of Spain granted Don Jose Antonio de Cuervo the first plot of land on which to cultivate agave. In anticipation of the 250th anniversary, expert Jose Cuervo jimadores planted blue agave on the same land granted in 1758 and used these estate-grown plants exclusively in the production of Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario. This precision was utilized to ensure every decanter maintains a direct link to this historic event and pays tribute to the centuries of labor and family passion that led to the creation of an industry.

Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario is a 100 percent blue agave Extra Añejo Tequila blended from the most select tequilas in the family's reserve and aged in a unique double-cask method. The best of these Extra Añejos, aged in toasted new American Oak barrels for a minimum of three years, were selected by the master distiller and blended together to achieve a superior tequila. The distinctive blend was then finished for 10 months in Sherry casks originating from Spain. The decanter was inspired by the original glass bottle first used by Jose Cuervo to ship Tequila to towns throughout Mexico. Each comes packaged in elegant oak gift box and will have its sequential number etched into the glass, certifying the product's rarity and authenticity.

Tags: agave, Jose Cuervo, JoseCuervo, Mexico, Tequila

Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Introduces El Mayordomo

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Concierge service is rewarding, but common; let's face it, Best Western has concierges. Butler service, on the other hand -- the round-the-clock ask-and-it's-done white-glove kind, that's still something special. The Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Holistic Retreat & Spa in Los Cabos, Baja California has just added butlers to its list of amenities, and they're free... well, whenever you book an ocean view suite.

Your attendant clocks in the moment you arrive and tends to the minutiae of any resort stay like dinner reservations, spa appointment, and dry cleaning. Yet the role of steward entails more than that: he will unpack your luggage, run your bubble bath, coordinate in-suite dining, plan an entire day trip and make sure your bed is turned down and your shoes are shined when you return. If there are enough of you for a cocktail party, he can arrange that as well. And anything else in between, so we're told.

Although Pueblo Bonito says "no request is too large or too small," there is one thing you can't ask your butler to do: take care of your children -- the Los Cabos property has been designed exclusively for adults. With your own butler, though, it will give you chance to be kids. Arthur would be proud...

Gallery: Pueblo Bonito Pacifica