Mezcal Tasting -Masterclass + Blind tasting-

The clever part of this experience is the blind comparison of five mezcales. Instead of tasting one bottle and calling it good, you compare spirits from different regions, agave species, and production methods. That gives you a better sense of why mezcal can taste so different from one pour to the next.

I like the two-part format: first, 45 minutes of teaching, then 45 minutes of tasting without labels guiding your expectations. I also like the private setup at ICAVI Tasting Room, where your group can ask questions at its own pace. The main consideration is the price, $125 per person for about 90 minutes, so this makes the most sense if you want a serious tasting lesson rather than a quick drink.

Key points at a glance

• Five mezcales in a blind comparison: Taste spirits from five regions and compare different agave species and production methods.
• Alex Galina leads the class: Your instructor is an international sommelier and agave expert.
• A useful 45-minute lesson comes first: Learn how to approach mezcal before judging the pours.
• Private English-language format: Only your group participates, with a mobile ticket and a return to the same meeting point.
• Tapas are included: Expect a starter of 3 to 4 tapas alongside the tasting.
• A short, focused San Miguel activity: The session lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes and takes place at Recreo 10A in Zona Centro.

Starting at ICAVI Tasting Room on Recreo

You meet at ICAVI Tasting Room, Recreo 10A, in San Miguel de Allende’s Zona Centro. The address puts the experience in the central part of town, and the activity begins and ends at the same place. That makes it easy to fit into a day of walking around the historic center without arranging a separate ride back.

The listed operating window is Tuesday from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, from November 1, 2022 through August 12, 2026. Your booking confirmation should provide the exact start time. Since the session lasts roughly 90 minutes, allow a little extra time to arrive before the tasting rather than cutting it close.

The format is private, which matters here. You are not joining a large room where the instructor has to rush through the basics or keep the discussion at the level of the least experienced person. Your group is the only group taking part, so you can ask about a flavor, process, or bottle as soon as it catches your attention.

The session is offered in English. A mobile ticket is accepted, and service animals are allowed. The meeting point is near public transportation, although the available information does not specify a particular bus route or the best transport option from your hotel.

The first 45 minutes: building a mezcal vocabulary

Alex Galina begins with a 45-minute masterclass. Galina is described as an international sommelier and agave expert, and the lesson is designed to cover more than a simple introduction to mezcal.

That broader approach is useful because mezcal tasting borrows some ideas from wine and other spirits. You learn not only what is in the glass, but also how to pay attention to aroma, flavor, texture, and finish. The point is not to memorize a list of fancy terms. It is to give you a way to compare one mezcal with another.

This part can be especially helpful if you normally choose a drink by brand name or bottle design. Mezcal is made from different agave species, and the plant itself is only one part of the story. The production method and place of origin also affect what you taste. The class sets up those comparisons before you have to make them yourself.

The experience also reaches into tequila and wine. That does not mean the session turns into a general alcohol course. It means the tasting method can help you understand other drinks, too. If you have taken a wine class before, some of the structure may feel familiar. If you have not, Galina’s teaching gives you a starting point for tasting with more purpose.

One useful feature is that the lesson comes before the blind tasting. You first receive context, then put it to work. That order keeps the tasting from becoming a string of unconnected pours.

The next 45 minutes: five mezcales without the labels

The second half is a comparative blind tasting of five mezcales. You taste each one without being guided by the name, price, region, or bottle design. This removes some of the assumptions that can shape your judgment before the drink even reaches your palate.

The five pours represent different regions, different species of agave, and different production methods. That gives the tasting a clear purpose. You are not simply sampling five versions of the same idea. You are looking for differences and trying to connect those differences to how the mezcal was made.

Blind tasting can also be humbling in a useful way. You may prefer a pour you would not have chosen from a shelf, or find that a familiar expectation does not match what you taste. The format turns the class into a small experiment, with your own senses providing the evidence.

You should expect the discussion to focus on comparison. Pay attention to the aromas and flavors that stay with you, then consider how the five mezcales differ. The supplied details do not list the specific agave species, regions, brands, or bottle order, so you should not arrive expecting a published tasting menu.

That lack of a fixed bottle list is not necessarily a weakness. It allows the session to focus on the tasting method rather than on checking off famous labels. Still, if you want to research each mezcal in advance or buy a particular bottle afterward, ask the host what was poured during your session.

Tapas that give the tasting a little balance

A starter of 3 to 4 tapas is included. The available information does not name the dishes, so you should view them as a small food pairing rather than a full meal.

That distinction matters. At 90 minutes, the food gives you something to enjoy alongside the mezcal, but you should not plan on replacing dinner with this experience. If you are booking the session near the evening meal, leave room for another stop afterward.

Tapas also help break up a spirit tasting. Strong pours can become tiring when you taste them one after another, and a small bite gives your palate a change of pace. The food is a supporting part of the experience, not its central feature.

Because the menu is not specified, diners with allergies or strict dietary needs should ask in advance what the tapas contain. No special dietary arrangements are listed in the provided information, so do not assume substitutions are available.

Why the private format affects the value

At $125 per person, this is not a casual, low-cost tasting. You are paying for a private activity, an expert-led lesson, five comparative pours, and tapas in a central San Miguel location. The value depends on how much you want the teaching and comparison, not just the amount of mezcal in the glass.

For someone already interested in agave spirits, the price can make sense. The blind format gives you a more useful lesson than simply sampling several pours while a staff member names them. You also have the advantage of asking questions that match your own interests, whether that means production methods, agave varieties, or how mezcal compares with tequila.

For a group of four, the cost adds up quickly. A family or group that wants a relaxed cultural activity may still find it worthwhile, especially since the session is private and the teaching reaches into wine and tequila as well. But if one or more people in your party do not drink mezcal, the price is harder to justify.

The experience is also short. Ninety minutes is enough for a focused class, but it is not an afternoon workshop with a meal or a visit to a distillery. You are paying for concentration and guidance rather than a long field trip.

What makes this more than a standard tasting

The strongest feature is the connection between instruction and practice. Galina does not simply hand you five drinks and ask which one you like. The first 45 minutes gives you a framework, and the second 45 minutes asks you to use it.

The class can also leave you with a better sense of wine and tequila. That wider usefulness is important if you are curious about tasting in general. You can carry the same habits into a wine bar, a tequila tasting, or your next bottle shop visit.

The setting is another plus. The tasting takes place in a small, described-as-cute tasting room rather than as part of a large public event. The provided feedback also highlights the passion of the host, though the host’s name is not identified there. You can expect the atmosphere to feel personal, but the exact room layout and decor are not specified.

One point to keep clear: mezcal is not automatically meant to be swallowed quickly as a shot. This experience is built around noticing differences. If your idea of a good evening is fast drinks and loud company, the careful format may feel slow. If you like learning why a drink tastes the way it does, the pace should work well.

Who will get the most from the 90 minutes

I would choose this for an adult who wants a structured introduction to mezcal while visiting San Miguel de Allende. It suits a couple, a small group of friends, or a family group whose members are all interested in tasting and learning.

It is also a good fit if you are new to agave spirits. You do not need to arrive with a working vocabulary. The masterclass is there to give you one, and the blind tasting lets you practice without relying on labels.

Experienced drinkers can enjoy it too, particularly if they like testing their assumptions. The five-region comparison offers more substance than a single mezcal flight, although the available details do not say how rare or expensive the individual bottles are.

I would think twice before booking if you want a full meal, a distillery visit, a long cultural tour, or a large social event. None of those are part of the stated plan. This is a compact tasting class in central San Miguel.

Book it for a Tuesday evening when you want one focused activity. The listed Tuesday hours run from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, giving you room to place it before or after another dinner plan. Since the session returns to the meeting point, you do not need to arrange a separate end location.

Booking and cancellation details to keep in mind

Confirmation is provided at the time of booking. The activity is commonly reserved about 21 days ahead, so booking early is sensible if your San Miguel schedule is fixed, particularly for a private session with a set Tuesday window.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Canceling within 24 hours means no refund, and changes made inside that period are not accepted. The cut-off follows San Miguel de Allende local time, so use the local clock when making changes.

You can bring a mobile ticket. Service animals are allowed, and the location is near public transportation. No separate hotel pickup is listed, so plan to reach Recreo 10A on your own.

Should you book the ICAVI mezcal masterclass?

Book this experience if you want to understand mezcal, not just drink it. Alex Galina’s 45-minute lesson, followed by a blind tasting of five mezcales from different regions, agave species, and production methods, gives the $125 price a clear purpose.

Skip it if you are looking for a cheap tasting, a full dinner, or a tour beyond the tasting room. For the right person, this is a focused and private way to leave San Miguel with a sharper palate and a much better idea of what makes one mezcal different from another.

FAQ

Where does the mezcal tasting take place?

The meeting point is ICAVI Tasting Room at Recreo 10A, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point, ICAVI Tasting Room.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

What does the session include?

It includes a 45-minute mezcal masterclass and a 45-minute blind comparative tasting of five mezcales. A starter of 3 to 4 tapas is also included.

Who leads the masterclass?

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

How many mezcales will I taste?

You will taste five different mezcales in the blind comparison.

What differences are included in the tasting?

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

Is the activity offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

When does the experience operate?

The listed operating hours are Tuesdays from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, during the period from November 1, 2022 through August 12, 2026.