Guadalajara and the Tequila Train 2/5/2011

We boarded the Tequila Express train in Guadalajara at 9:30 am, yes in the morning, and were greeted by margaritas, or anything else we wanted with tequila. the train was bound ofr Herdurra Hacienda for us to learn about the tequila maaking process, have a wonderful lunch, entertainment, and drink, and drink, and drink tequila. Some did that more than others! until the train returned back at 5pm

At the train station and aboard the train we were entertained by a

miriachi band. It was loud, but fun!

At the hacienda, they showed us how they harvest the agave in the fields. It is still done this way by hand. It takes about 8 years for a plant to mature. they keep out the very center to replant(kind of like a pineapple). Then they cut off the exterior 'leaves' and use the inner core that resembles a pineapple. Those cores then get roasted squished and juiced for fermentation. We tasted the roasted agave, ithad yellowed, gotten soft, like ripe pineapple, and taseted really sweet! A nice treat!

Smile for the camera!

It is not tequila yet, it must go through the fermetation process. These are the three stages and have very differnt alcohol and sugar content. The names of the stages translate into death, ordinary and white tequila. The difference in the different types of tequila, blanco,reposada, anejo, is the length of time it ages....in Kentucky oak barrels! White is aged 2 days, reposada is a few months and anejo is a year or more, I think

After out tour we were fed a huge 'comida' That is lunch around 2 or 3 pm, that really is the size of dinner. We had every kind of typical mexican food, and of course te tequila was flowing well. While enjoying our food and for a couple hours after we were entertained by miriachi, dancers, lasso ropers, and singers. It was then back to the train..tequila flowing of course, and we arrived back to our hotel around 5 or 6pm!!
A great time was had by all! Click on the next picture to watch a video of our entertainment! It was