There are eleven international pavilions in the Epcot World Showcase, each with its own particular personality and charm (read bar). Where would you expect the San Diego Bars Examiner to begin this project but Mexico? Those who know him best would expect him to start "researching" back at the airport in San Diego, and don't be so sure he didn't. But, this examiner's affinity for Margaritas aside, the Mexico Pavilion is the first you come to if you start walking clockwise around the Showcase, which we did. This, it turns out, was our sole concession to anything resembling organization or a strategy, and it broke down instantly under the weight of the first bar's tequila menu.
The Mexico Pavilion is primarily a Disney-charming, Disney-authentic replica of a Quetzalcoatlan temple pyramid. Inside is a boat ride, a market bizarre, an Mexican (duh) restaurant; outstanding in service, atmosphere and fare, and yes, a bar: La Cava del Tequila de San Angel Inn. This last is a mouthful, certainly, but the word tequila on its sign sang to us from the pyramid entrance, and was quite clearly where we wanted to be.
La Cava is an ideal place to begin an unlikely examination of unexpected Disney bars, first in how it brazenly advertises Tequila. Is there anything less wholesome? Less innocent? Less Disney? Well, the contradictions don't end at the sign, because inside you will find reasonably priced (Disney-reasonable), generous (Disney-generous), shots (yes, shots) of exceptional representatives of this appalling spirit.
From Blanco, to Reposado, to Añejo, La Cava features some 90-varieties of tequila, and about twenty sinfully delicious flavors of Margarita. It was difficult (impossible) to pick a single Margarita to sample (we didn't), but decided first upon the Blended Wild Passion Fruit - Price $12.50:
as described in the Specialty Drinks menu (another Disney anomaly)
El Mayor Premium white tequila
Canton ginger liqueur
Passion fruit & Mango nectar
lime juice
topped with Passion Fruit foam, served on the rocks with hibuscus Himalayan salted rim.
When drinking DisneyRitas at the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase, do not settle for anything less than Himalayan hibuscus salt.
As this was our first stop, and first cocktail (sure), when the Cantinero, Fernando, explained with Disney-patented charm how the Portuguese word for Passion Fruit is maracujá, we were able to retain it long enough to write it down, and share it with you here. As we then chose to move on to the Norway pavilion next door, and sample Carlsburg instead of eating, maracujá represents the sum-total of endearing cultural trivia we were able to commit to memory. We're not sorry, we love Carlsburg.
Next Stop: Norway
Follow the entire On Location, Walt Disney World "Roaming Indy" Series.
and see the
Disneyland Bar Series:
Resort Bar Breakdown.
Magic Kingdom Specialty Drinks.
Disney Drinking Opportunities.
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