One of Mexico’s biggest exports is tequila. The spirit dates to the 16th century, and fans of tequila can even visit its namesake town. Derived from the blue agave plant, the distilled beverage has recently had a huge surge in popularity—as well as another agave-based favorite, mezcal, which has a smokier flavor than its tequila brethren—and Las Vegas has taken notice. We’ve rounded up nine Strip spots to get your tequila (and mezcal) fix, as well as some great cocktails, too.
1. Chica
Lorena Garcia is the first Latina chef with her own eatery on the Las Vegas Strip—Chica, an ode to her Latin-fusion roots. It’s here that guests can enjoy 100 different tequilas and mezcals. “We hit all the major tequila houses,” says Daniel Grajewski, Chica’s beverage director. “We try to have a breadth of everything. But it’s not just about having the big names. We want to be a place for everybody. If you want El Tesoro, Don Julio—we’ve got those, but then we have Patron Extra Añejo that is aged in sherry barrels and is unique and different-tasting.”
Recommendations: 50/50 with Tequila Ocho reposado, Carpano vermouth and citrus bitters; Palomita with Tequila Ocho plata, fresh grapefruit juice, grapefruit cordial, grapefruit soda, lime and agave.
The Venetian, 702.805.8472
2. Electra Cocktail Club
Tequila and mezcal selections hit nearly 80 different brands at Electra, but it’s here that guests can enjoy a club-like experience combined with specially crafted cocktails that take spirits to an elevated level, thanks to the creations of world-renowned bartender Sam Ross. “Here, we help guests craft their own cocktails,” says bartender Daniel Yang. “It’s about finding the right cocktail instead of the cookie-cutter choices. Finding a cocktail that matches the person’s taste. It’s also about the energy here—high energy and a live DJ.” Electra also offers some very special brands of tequila from smaller houses, like Tequila Fortaleza from a family in Mexico that has been making the spirit for more than 100 years.
Recommendations: Del Rio with blanco tequila, Cocchi Americano and Bruto Americano; Spicy Tommy’s #2 with blanco tequila, fresh lime, agave and orange wedges.
The Palazzo, 702.607.1950
3. Hussong’s Cantina
Hussong’s Cantina, which started in Ensenada, Mexico, dating back to 1892, is the bar that invented the margarita. In 1941, the bar welcomed the German ambassador and his daughter Margarita to Mexico. The bartender concocted a drink especially for her—a mix of tequila, damiana, sugar and lime juice—and named the drink after her. Hussong’s Cantina also serves margaritas in pint glasses—the original way margaritas were served, they say. Here you can try the original margarita recipe plus frozen margaritas, 10 different tequila cocktails and special margaritas of the month.
Recommendations: Original Margarita with Jose Cuervo Tradicional reposado tequila, triple sec, organic agave nectar and fresh-squeezed lime; The Romance Margarita with Sauza Hornitos blanco and reposado, triple sec, organic agave nectar, fresh-squeezed lime juice, strawberry purée, banana liqueur and Grand Marnier.
The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, 702.632.6450
Hussong's Cantina
4. El Segundo Sol
This writer must say, El Segundo Sol offers one of the best strawberry margaritas she’s ever tasted. That said, the restaurant offers more than 100 tequila brands, makes its own margarita mix from scratch every day (nearly 15 gallons worth), makes its own syrups, fresh squeezes all of its juices, offers more than a dozen margaritas from mango and strawberry to lime, and makes a really strong frozen house margarita. Don’t skip the happy hour, where you can get that house margarita for just $5.50 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Recommendations: El Segundo Big Stick with frozen Sauza margarita, Chambord, blue curaçao and Midori; Strawberry Margarita with Sauza tequila and fresh strawberry purée.
FSLV—Fashion Show Las Vegas, 702.258.1211
5. Javier’s
It’s all about tequila and margaritas at Javier’s,” says Drew Kaiser, general manager. In fact, fans of both can choose from more than 120 different tequilas and mezcals, 16 different types of specialty margaritas or break the bank with a 2-ounce shot of Patrón en Lalique tequila for $1,000. More affordable 2-ounce pours include popular brands like Clase Azul, Dos Artes, Casamigos and Don Julio tequilas.
Recommendations: Margarita de Piña with reposado tequila, St-Germain, agave nectar, fresh lime juice and pineapple; Margarita de Jalapeño with reposado tequila, St-Germain, agave nectar and lime and orange juices.
Aria, 702.590.5284
6. Mama Rabbit
When Mama Rabbit first opened, it was specifically built to house one of the largest selections of tequila and mezcals—nearly 300 labels—on the Las Vegas Strip. While the offerings are now around 170, Mama Rabbit is still a hot spot for some of the harder-to-find, rare mom-and-pop brands. In fact, the bar and lounge has regulars that come in every week just to see what’s new. “Recently we’ve added tequila drinks that a whiskey drinker could have, like a tequila Old-Fashioned, where it doesn’t taste like tequila but like the whiskey, or the vodka or tastes like the fruit drinks people might like,” says Chris Larsen, the director of beverage at Park MGM.
Recommendations: Palomita with mezcal, grapefruit juice,
hibiscus, fresh lime and agua fresca cerveza; Mama’s Margarita with blanco tequila, orange juice, lime juice and salt or no salt and spicy or not spicy—your choice.
Park MGM, 702.730.7777
Mama Rabbit
7. Cabo Wabo Cantina
If you haven’t heard of Cabo Wabo tequila, maybe you’ve heard of the Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar? While the once lead vocalist of the band Van Halen recently sold his Cabo Wabo tequila brand, he built a restaurant and spirits empire that spreads to the Strip with Cabo Wabo Cantina at Miracle Mile Shops. (He also performs at The STRAT.) It’s here that you can try the popular Cabo Wabo tequila brand, along with 60 other varieties of tequila. Beverage manager Steve Roehm suggests trying a flight, which includes three small pours, to get the best tequila-tasting experience. “You can taste the different aging,” he says. “Blancos are aged not at all or up to two months, reposado is two to 11 months, and añejo is 11 months or more. It’s fun to taste them all next to each other and see how it changes from a young kinda earthy, herbal flavor to as you get more aging you get that caramel, oak and wood taste.”
Recommendations: Cabo Wabo tequila flight; Cocorita with Cabo Wabo tequila, lime juice, crème of coconut and freshly toasted coconut.
Miracle Mile Shops, 702.385.2226
8. Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar
This two-story restaurant sits right along the popular Linq Promenade offering scratch-made Mexican cuisine along with its popular Friday and Saturday night Latin Dance parties. Then there’s the tequila selection: more than 140 brands and more than two dozen mezcal choices. A great way to try different tequilas is by ordering Chayo’s tequila flights—three small pours of blanco, reposado and añejo tequilas. Or try one of 18 different specialty tequila-based cocktails, all made with fresh-squeezed juices and made-in-house margarita mix.
Recommendations: Cucumber Margarita with Gran Centenario blanco tequila, fresh cucumber purée, triple sec, and fresh-squeezed lime; High Roller Margarita with Maestro Dobel Diamante tequila, fresh-squeezed lime, Grand Marnier and agave nectar.
The Linq Promenade, 702.691.3773
9. Diablo’s Cantina
Every day at the top of the hour between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., watch as bartenders spin the giant wheel for specials on everything from shots to cocktails. It’s a great, affordable way to try Diablo’s tequila offerings. With a selection of up to 50 different tequila brands, there really is something for everyone’s tastes and price range, says Cindy Gault, general manager. If you’re celebrating a birthday or anniversary, you get the chance to spin a giant wheel; Diablo’s will buy you whatever selection the wheel lands on, she says.
Recommendations: Passionfruit Fiesta with Olmeca Altos reposado tequila, passion fruit, fresh lemon and lime juices; Mexican Cucumber with Hornitos plata tequila, muddled cucumber, basil and fresh lime juice.
Luxor, 702.262.5225
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