Mezcal vs. Tequila Cocktail Tasting in a Cantina

The fun starts before the first drink: you’re fitted with a Mexican costume, then guided through tequila and mezcal on their own before mixing both into fruit-based cocktails. I like the clear side-by-side format, and I like that your favorite tasting becomes a full cocktail at the end. The main drawback is that dinner is not included, so plan to eat separately.

I also like the small maximum of 15 people, which should make the tasting easier to follow than a packed bar event. The free show adds plenty of energy, but this is not a quiet, serious spirits seminar. Bring dancing shoes, and budget for tips because tipping the staff and entertainers is strongly encouraged.

Key points before you book

• Seventeen tastings plus one full cocktail: You sample tequila and mezcal straight, then compare them in specialty cocktails.
• A costume is part of the welcome: You are outfitted in Mexican dress before the tasting begins.
• La Catrina Cantina in Zona Romántica: The experience starts and ends at Lázaro Cárdenas 315B.
• Entertainment is built into the evening: Expect a free show and a lively atmosphere, not just a bar lesson.
• Small group size: The experience accepts a maximum of 15 people and is offered in English.
• Food and extra drinks cost extra: Dinner is not included, and the included alcohol is limited to the tasting sequence and final cocktail.

What happens at La Catrina Cantina

This two-hour experience is built around comparison. Instead of handing you one large cocktail and calling it a tasting, the bar first lets you try mezcal and tequila by themselves. That matters because the spirits can taste quite different before fruit, sweeteners, or other mixers enter the picture.

You begin at La Catrina Cantina, in Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romántica. The meeting address is Lázaro Cárdenas 315B, and the activity returns to this same spot at the end. Since no transportation is provided or needed as part of the experience, you should arrange your own way to the cantina and allow enough time to arrive before the start.

The costume fitting gives the evening a playful opening. It is not simply a technical tasting at a counter. You are invited to take part in the setting, and the outfit helps shift the mood toward a Mexican-themed night out. If you prefer a quiet, formal tasting room, this may feel theatrical. If you enjoy a little silliness with your drinks, it is a useful part of the appeal.

The experience is offered in English, so you can follow the explanations and cocktail comparisons without having to rely on guesswork. The supplied details do not name a dedicated guide, but Miguel is one of the bartenders associated with the welcoming service. The staff handles the drink preparation, while entertainers add to the show around you.

Tequila and mezcal, tasted without the disguise

The most useful part of the evening is the order of the tasting. You start with the spirits on their own, then see how each behaves with different fruits in specialty drinks from the Viva Mexico cocktail menu.

That sequence gives you a simple way to figure out what you actually like. Tequila can be familiar to many people through margaritas or shots, but the tasting lets you consider it apart from those standard uses. Mezcal is often more smoky, and that character can become clearer when you try it before adding fruit or other ingredients.

One person who began the evening leaning toward tequila found the smoky mezcals more appealing. That is exactly the sort of discovery this format can produce. You do not have to arrive as a spirits expert, and you do not need to know the difference between every agave spirit. You simply compare the flavors as the evening moves along.

The 17 tastings are the core of the value. They are not 17 full-size cocktails, so you should think of the experience as a broad sampling session rather than a night of 17 drinks. The benefit is range. You get to try several combinations without committing to one large drink before you know if you like it.

For a first visit to a cocktail bar in Puerto Vallarta, I find this more useful than ordering one drink at random. You get a better sense of how tequila and mezcal work with fruit, and you can use that knowledge when ordering later during your stay.

The Viva Mexico cocktail comparison

After the straight tastings, the bar creates several specialty cocktails using both liquors. The point is not only to offer sweet drinks. It is to show how tequila and mezcal interact with fruit and other cocktail ingredients.

This is where the experience becomes social and less formal. You taste a version made with one spirit, then compare it with a version made with the other. Mezcal’s smoke may remain noticeable in a fruit-forward drink, while tequila can come across differently in the same general style. The supplied details do not list every fruit or recipe, so you should not book expecting a fixed menu of named cocktails.

At the end, you receive a complete cocktail based on your favorite. That final drink is a smart touch. After sampling the menu, you do not have to settle for someone else’s choice. You get a full serving of the combination that suited you best.

This also makes the experience a better fit for mixed groups. One person may prefer a cleaner tequila drink, while another may favor smoky mezcal. Since you sample both, each person can make a more informed choice before the final cocktail.

Keep in mind that additional drinks are not included. The included alcohol covers the 17 tastings and the complete cocktail for adults aged 18 and over. If you want to continue drinking after that, or if you want food alongside the tasting, those purchases are separate.

A cantina evening with a show

The free show is not a small extra tucked into the schedule. Entertainment runs during the tasting, and the evening is meant to feel lively. The entertainers add movement and personality while the bartenders prepare the drinks.

The atmosphere received especially strong praise for its energy and service. The bartenders were described as friendly and welcoming, and Miguel was singled out along with the rest of the bar team. That suggests the evening works best when you want interaction and a bit of performance with your cocktails.

I would not choose this activity for a silent, academic study of agave spirits. The show, costume, and invitation to dance all push it toward a festive night out. Bring dancing shoes is not just a cute line in the instructions. You should be ready for an evening where the entertainment is part of the point.

That atmosphere can also affect how you plan the rest of your night. The activity lasts about two hours, but it may not feel like a quick drink before dinner. Since the event includes alcohol, food, entertainment, and a final cocktail, it makes sense to treat it as a planned evening stop rather than a rushed pre-dinner errand.

Why the 15-person limit matters

A maximum of 15 people keeps this from becoming a huge group bar crawl. You should have a better chance of hearing the explanations and seeing the preparation, though the exact seating arrangement is not provided.

The size also helps with the social side. You can share the comparisons with the people around you without the event becoming impersonal. At the same time, 15 is not the same as a private lesson. If you want one-on-one attention for every tasting, you may find the group format less tailored.

The English presentation is useful for anyone who wants to understand the drinks rather than simply accept a series of samples. The experience does not promise a formal certification or a detailed lesson in production methods. Its strength is the practical comparison: taste the spirits, try them in cocktails, and decide what suits you.

What the price is really buying

No tour price is provided here, so I cannot judge the exact cost against similar Puerto Vallarta activities. I can still assess what you receive for the booking fee.

Your included package contains 17 alcoholic tastings, one complete cocktail, the costume experience, the free show, and the hosted cocktail comparisons. If you enjoy sampling several drinks and want entertainment included, that is a stronger value than paying separately for a show and a series of bar orders.

The value is less convincing if you want a full meal, several large cocktails, or a long technical spirits class. Dinner is excluded, as are additional drinks and food. You should also set aside money for tips, since tipping the staff and entertainers is strongly encouraged.

I would compare the advertised price with the cost of ordering several small pours and a cocktail on your own. The advantage here is structure. You get a planned tasting, different cocktail combinations, a final drink selected to your taste, and entertainment without having to organize each part yourself.

Practical details for a smoother evening

The activity starts and ends at La Catrina Cantina, Lázaro Cárdenas 315B, in the Zona Romántica area of Puerto Vallarta. It is near public transportation, but you are responsible for getting to the meeting point.

The venue has stairs, so the setting may not suit everyone with mobility limitations. Service animals are allowed. Confirmation is received at booking, and the activity is available through a mobile ticket, which is handy if you are moving around Puerto Vallarta without printed documents.

The experience is for adults aged 18 and over when alcohol is included. Since you will sample 17 drinks and receive a full cocktail, eat beforehand or plan food nearby. Dinner is not part of the package, and the cantina does not include extra food or drinks in the listed experience.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Inside that 24-hour window, the payment is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. This is worth noting if your Puerto Vallarta plans are still shifting.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this to you if you want a social night built around drinks, not a quiet tasting lecture. It suits couples, friends, and small groups who like trying several flavors and do not mind a little showmanship.

It is especially useful if you are unsure about mezcal. The straight tastings let you identify the smoky style before you meet it in a cocktail. You may arrive expecting tequila to be your clear favorite and leave with a different order in mind.

The activity also suits people who want a ready-made evening plan in the Zona Romántica. You do not have to choose a bar, order a series of drinks, or decide which spirit works best with fruit. The staff handles that progression, and the entertainers keep the room active.

I would be cautious about booking it if you do not drink alcohol, if you need dinner included, or if you dislike costumes and audience-style entertainment. The experience is not designed as a meal, and the performance element is central rather than incidental.

Should you book the mezcal and tequila tasting?

Book it if you want a fun, organized introduction to tequila and mezcal with plenty of sampling. The strongest reasons are the 17 tastings, the chance to compare both spirits straight and in cocktails, and the final full drink made from your favorite combination.

The main tradeoffs are clear: food and extra drinks cost more, tipping is expected, and the lively show may be too much for anyone seeking a restrained tasting. For most adults who want a spirited evening in Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romántica, the small-group format and mix of drinks, costume, and entertainment make this a worthwhile choice.

FAQ

How long does the mezcal and tequila tasting last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the activity start?

It starts at La Catrina Cantina, Lázaro Cárdenas 315B, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

Where does the activity end?

It ends back at La Catrina Cantina, the same place where it begins.

How many tastings are included?

You receive 17 tastings, followed by one complete cocktail based on your favorite drink.

Are both tequila and mezcal included?

Yes. You taste tequila and mezcal on their own, then compare both spirits in specialty cocktails.

Is food included?

No. Dinner, additional food, and extra drinks are not included.

Is the activity offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded.