Mezcal Tasting -Masterclass + Blind tasting-

The real draw here is the blind comparison of five mezcales. You taste spirits from different regions, agave species, and production methods without seeing the labels first. That turns a simple drink into a small lesson in how place and process shape flavor.

I like the two-part format: 45 minutes with international sommelier and agave expert Alex Galina, followed by 45 minutes of tasting. I also like the intimate setup, with only your group taking part and three to four tapas served along the way. The main consideration is the $125 price for about 90 minutes, so this makes the most sense if you want a serious introduction rather than a casual night out.

Key points to know

• Five mezcales are compared blind, with differences in region, agave species, and production method put to the test.
• Alex Galina leads the class, bringing international sommelier experience and a focus on agave.
• The session lasts about 90 minutes, split evenly between instruction and tasting.
• Three to four tapas are served, giving you something to eat during the tasting.
• The experience is private, so only your own group participates.
• The meeting point is ICAVI Tasting Room, at Recreo 10A in San Miguel de Allende’s Zona Centro.

Why this 90-minute mezcal class is different

Many alcohol tastings are built around a series of pours and a few quick facts. This one gives the tasting a clear purpose. You are not simply moving from one glass to the next. You are comparing five mezcales and trying to understand what changes when the agave, region, or production method changes.

That structure matters. Mezcal is not one single flavor. The spirit can vary widely, and a blind tasting helps you notice those differences before a label or reputation tells you what to expect. You may find that a pour you assumed would be your favorite does not win you over, while another one surprises you.

The class is led by Alex Galina, an international sommelier and agave expert. The first 45 minutes are devoted to the masterclass, so you have time to learn the basic tasting approach before the blind comparison begins. The format also reaches beyond mezcal. The instruction includes ideas that can help you think about wine and other spirits, which is useful if you enjoy tasting but have never learned a clear method.

I see this as a good choice for someone who wants context without committing to a long tour. Ninety minutes is enough time to learn, taste, and ask questions, but short enough to fit into an afternoon or evening in San Miguel de Allende.

At ICAVI Tasting Room in Zona Centro

The experience begins at Recreo 10A, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. The activity ends at the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride back or figure out a second location after the tasting.

The setting is described as a small tasting room, which suits this kind of class. A compact room can make a guided tasting feel more focused than a large restaurant or bar. You are there to pay attention to the spirit, the explanation, and your own reactions.

The booking information lists the activity on Tuesdays, with operating hours from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Check the exact start time you select when booking, since the stated opening window covers several evening hours rather than one fixed departure.

The room is near public transportation, and service animals are allowed. Those details are useful if you are planning a full day in central San Miguel and want to reach the tasting without arranging private transport.

The first 45 minutes: learning how mezcal speaks

The opening half of the session is the masterclass. Alex Galina’s background as both a sommelier and an agave expert gives the lesson a wider frame than a basic introduction to one Mexican spirit.

You can expect the class to set up the tasting that follows. The important question is not only what the mezcal tastes like, but why it tastes that way. The five samples represent different regions, different species of agave, and different processes. The lesson gives you a way to consider those variables instead of treating every smoky note as the same.

That is where the class has real value. If you are new to mezcal, the terminology and range can feel confusing. A structured introduction lets you approach the tasting with a little more confidence. If you already drink mezcal, the comparative setup may help you sort out preferences you have felt but not been able to explain.

The instruction also touches on wine and other alcohol tasting techniques. That does not turn the experience into a wine seminar, but it does make the class useful beyond this one afternoon. You learn a general way to observe aroma, flavor, texture, and finish.

I especially like that the class comes before the blind tasting. You are not asked to guess first and then listen to a lecture after the fact. You get a framework, then you put it to work.

The next 45 minutes: five pours without the labels

The second half is the blind comparative tasting. Five mezcales are presented from different regions, agave species, and production methods. Since the labels are not guiding your expectations, you can focus on what is actually in the glass.

This is the heart of the experience. The tasting is designed to show how much variation exists within mezcal. One sample may strike you as more familiar, another more earthy, and another perhaps more surprising. The point is not to find one correct answer. It is to notice your own preferences and connect them to the factors introduced in the class.

A blind tasting also removes some pressure. You do not need to know a famous name or recognize a particular producer to take part. You can simply describe what you notice and compare your impressions with the rest of your group.

The private format helps here. Only your group participates, so the pace can stay personal rather than being set by a large crowd. For a family group or a small party with mixed levels of experience, that can be a real advantage. Someone who knows very little about mezcal can participate alongside someone who already enjoys agave spirits.

The activity is offered in English. That makes it a practical option for English-speaking visitors who want instruction rather than a quick tasting with limited explanation.

Tapas make the tasting easier

Three to four tapas are included as a starter. The food is not presented as a full meal, so plan to eat elsewhere if you need dinner. Still, having small bites during a 90-minute spirit tasting is useful.

Tapas give you something to eat as you move through the samples and add another point of comparison. Food can change how a drink comes across, and the small plates make the session feel more relaxed than a sequence of pours on an empty stomach.

The supplied details do not list the individual tapas, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish. Think of them as a modest food accompaniment rather than the main event.

What the $125 price really buys

At $125 per person, this is not the cheapest way to sample mezcal in San Miguel de Allende. You can find less formal ways to order a drink. The price needs to make sense through the instruction, private format, five-sample comparison, and included tapas.

For someone who wants only a casual mezcal, the cost may feel high for 90 minutes. You are paying for a guided experience, not simply for five glasses. The value improves if you care about understanding the spirit, want a focused introduction, or are sharing the activity with a small private group.

The sommelier-led format is another reason to consider the price. Alex Galina’s role is not just to pour drinks. He teaches tasting techniques that can apply to wine and other alcohol, which gives the class some use beyond the samples served that day.

I would also compare this cost with your other plans in San Miguel. If you have already scheduled several food and drink activities, this may overlap with experiences you have had elsewhere. If this is your main mezcal activity, the clear structure and regional comparison make it easier to justify.

The strongest value comes for couples, families, or friends who will pay attention and ask questions. If your group treats the class as background entertainment, you may not get as much from the fee.

Who will enjoy this experience most

This tasting suits people who like learning through comparison. You do not need prior mezcal experience, since the masterclass comes first. The class also works for wine drinkers who want to transfer familiar tasting habits to agave spirits.

It is a good fit for:

• Couples who want a short, structured evening activity
• Families with adult members who enjoy food and spirits
• Small groups looking for a private experience
• Mezcal newcomers who want more than a casual pour
• Wine drinkers interested in a different tasting method
• Visitors staying near central San Miguel de Allende

The format may be less suitable if you want a large social event, a full meal, or a longer visit to several places. It takes place at one tasting room and lasts about an hour and a half. That is a strength for a focused class, but a limitation if you want a full evening itinerary built around agave.

A useful lesson for beginners

Mezcal can seem difficult to approach because the category includes so many styles. The five-sample format gives you a manageable starting point. Instead of trying to memorize every producer or region, you begin with a simple question: how does this pour differ from the one beside it?

The blind element also helps you form an opinion without relying on price or packaging. You might discover that you prefer one agave species over another, or that production style matters more to you than a particular region. Even if you do not remember every detail later, you are likely to leave with a clearer sense of what you like.

I appreciate that the class does not appear to be aimed only at serious spirits collectors. The lesson is also tied to broader tasting skills. That makes it approachable for someone who enjoys wine but has never spent much time with mezcal.

For experienced drinkers, the benefit is the controlled comparison. Ordering separate pours at a bar rarely gives you five samples chosen to highlight regional, botanical, and production differences. Here, the comparison is the point rather than an accident.

Timing your visit in San Miguel de Allende

The listed operating day is Tuesday, with hours from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. That places the experience well for an afternoon or early evening plan. You can schedule it after time in the Zona Centro, then continue with dinner afterward since the included tapas are only a starter.

The meeting point is central, and the activity returns there at the end. That makes the logistics simple, especially if you are already staying or sightseeing in the historic center. Near public transportation is also helpful if you do not have a car.

The experience is often booked about 21 days ahead. That is a useful planning signal, especially if you are visiting San Miguel on fixed dates. I would reserve before arrival if the Tuesday schedule is the only time you can attend.

You receive confirmation when booking. The experience is private, so the reservation is for your group rather than a shared departure with strangers.

Practical details before you reserve

The activity is offered in English, which is important for a class built around explanation and discussion. The meeting point is ICAVI Tasting Room at Recreo 10A, in the Zona Centro. Confirm the exact meeting time on your reservation because the hours listed cover the evening operating period.

This is an alcohol tasting, so plan the rest of your day sensibly. The experience includes three to four tapas, but the supplied details do not describe them as a full meal. I would schedule dinner separately.

The booking allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded, and changes inside that period are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time in San Miguel de Allende.

Service animals are allowed. The experience is private, and only your own group participates.

Should you book this mezcal tasting?

I would book it if you want a short, serious, English-language introduction to mezcal and like the idea of comparing five samples side by side. Alex Galina’s sommelier and agave background, the blind format, and the private setting give the session more purpose than a standard bar tasting.

I would skip it if your priority is a low-cost drink, a full dinner, or a long tour through several locations. At $125, the value depends on your interest in learning, not simply on the amount of alcohol served.

For most curious drinkers, the best reason to choose this experience is its clear design: learn for 45 minutes, taste blind for 45 minutes, and use the comparison to decide what you actually enjoy. Reserve ahead if you need a Tuesday booking, and arrive ready to pay attention as well as sip.

FAQ

Where does the mezcal tasting begin?

It begins at ICAVI Tasting Room, Recreo 10A, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Who leads the masterclass?

The masterclass is led by Alex Galina, an international sommelier and agave expert.

How many mezcales are included?

The blind comparative tasting includes five different mezcales.

What differences are compared during the tasting?

The mezcales represent different regions, different agave species, and different production methods.

Is food included?

Yes. The sample menu includes three to four tapas as a starter.

Is the experience private?

Yes. Only your group participates in this private activity.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

When can this activity be booked?

The listed operating period runs from November 1, 2022, through August 12, 2026. The activity is listed on Tuesdays, with opening hours from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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