We’ve sure been doing some talking about Epcot lately, what with the 2017 International Food and Wine Festival starting in less than a month (!!!) and some sneaky peeks happening over the past few weeks.
But lest we get lost in a sea of future Marketplace Booths, there is plenty happening in the here and now, too. And one of the places it’s ALWAYS happening is La Cava del Tequila inside the Mexico Pavilion of World Showcase.
This cave full of liquor features one of my absolute favorites with the Avocado Margarita, which remains near the top of my Drinking Around the World list. It’s creamy, surprisingly refreshing, and fully satisfying on a hot day. But if you’re looking to stray outside the list of tried and true favorites, with over 70 types of tequila you can easily find something new-to-you!
So let’s head on down to La Cava, inside the Mexico pyramid. And remember, you can queue up to grab your drinks To-Go; or you can wait for a table to open up at this cozy little spot.
Entrance into La Cava del Tequila
But if you do choose to sit a spell, you can’t beat the atmosphere. Low lighting, lots of stone and brick work, beautiful murals showcasing the tequila-making process, and carved chairs help this place feel right at home in the beautiful Pavilion while still having a vibe unique to anywhere else in Disney World. It’s a great little getaway.
Seating in La Cava
On my most recent visit, I veered outside my norm to try a few new drinks (though I couldn’t resist one of my favorite standby snacks in all of Epcot, which you’ll see soon). Listed right under the Avocado Margarita, you’ll also see a couple of Specialty Drinks on the menu.
La Cava del Tequila Menu
The Gin Agua Fresca is a beautiful drink. It’s comprised of Gin Gracias a Dios, Agua de Jamaica, Pamplemousse Liquor, Pomegranate Liqueur, fresh Lime Juice, and Agave. The glass should be rimmed with Hibiscus Salt (I think they accidentally rimmed this one with tajin on our visit…which gave the drink a too-smokey flavor for me).
Gin Agua Fresca
The pomegranate liquor lends the drink its jewel-toned color, while the combination of strong liquors, pamplemousse, and fresh lime juice add some zing. Again, this was a little smokey for my tastes due to the tajin, but a hibiscus rim should be less so. Regardless, this is worth getting. It’s fun and unique.
The Mexican Mule is a unique combination of flavors that adheres to the spirit of a classic Moscow Mule. Fresh Lime Juice, Ginger Beer, and Mole Bitters are mixed with Ancho Reyes Liqueur and Mezcal Zignum Reposado standing in for the traditional vodka.
Mexican Mule
The strength of the tequila definitely comes through here, but you still experience the spicy ginger beer as with a typical Mule.
I also dove into a couple of new drinks not highlighted on the Specialty Drinks menu.
La Cava del Tequila
The Negroni is a sophisticated drink traditionally comprised of Gin, Vermouth, and Campari. But here at La Cava, their version combines Mezcal Zignum Reposado, Aperol, and Cynar (an artichoke liquor).
Negroni
It’s got a strong finish and a slightly bitter and smoky taste, making it a bit more adventurous than some of the other options. But it’s a twist on a classic, and if you’re a negroni fan you’ve gotta try it. I enjoyed it more than other negronis I’ve tried.
The current Paloma is a reboot of the previous version, so I was interested to try the newest incarnation. It’s traditionally a combination of Tequila (naturally!) and Grapefruit. But of course La Cava steps it up, including Mezcal Ilegal Blanco, Combier Pamplemousse liquor, Fresh Lime, and Agave Nectar. Plus the Tajin half-rim!
Updated Paloma
This one is fruity and tart and we all absolutely loved it. It’s essentially a margarita, so if you’re a marg fan, this one’s for you.
And, of course, here’s that snack I mentioned earlier. Among all the new drinks I tried, I just can’t grab a seat and not top the table with a bowl of my favorite Chips and Queso in the World!
Queso and Chips
While La Cava is clearly — and understandably — known for tequila, it’s not a visit for me without the warm, gooey, jalapeno-spiced cheesy heaven in a bowl.
La Cava del Tequila will always be among our must-visit watering holes in Walt Disney World. And even though we’re jonesing to try Choza de Margarita (the Mexico Pavilion’s soon-to-open — we hope! — outdoor margarita bar), you’ll always find us stepping up and getting cozy inside La Cava.
Do you have a favorite La Cava beverage? Let us know in the comments!
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I assume these specialty drinks are made to order. I haven’t been to La Cava since they started premixing all their margaritas, but I could be tempted back if these are freshly prepared.
Any idea if these are made to order or not? La Cava was always a go to spot for a drink at Epcot until they started pre-mixing everything. Having to pay over $20 to get a margarita made to order stings a bit.
(By the way, I’m still tickled that I got to meet you at a Jellyrolls a few weeks ago!)
I tried the agua Fresca and found it overly sweet and it tasted pre-mixed. Also, my rim tasted like sugar which made it even sweeter. I was disappointed. I also tried the Paloma and DID enjoy that one.
Honestly, there’s no way I’d pay almost $15 for a drink and not have one that’s made correctly (meaning with the ingredients advertised). They’d have made me a new one! Glad you still enjoyed though- it would have been a no-go for me as I don’t care for Tajin. My husband would probably love the Mule as he’s been on a ginger beer kick lately.
I wanted to inquire if the International Food and Wine Festival would also have stalls for different tequila. I am not really into wine, so that is why I am deciding if I would like to attend or not.
Greg, you can browse the 2019 menus to get a feel for the drinks offered during the Food and Wine Festival.