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Forbes
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
7 Surprising Foods That Pair Well With Tequila
Tequila may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about food pairings, but let's think again. More sommeliers are turning their attention to tequila flights to pair with foods, and high end restaurants are curating tequila pairing dinners to showcase how Mexico's premier spirit, in all its diverse flavor profiles, pairs surprisingly well with a wide variety of foods beyond the obvious tacos and margaritas. Depending on the type - blanco, reposado, añejo or extra añejo - each tequila has its own unique flavor profile (think citrus, spice, oak, vanilla, caramel, herbs) which can pair extremely well with complementary flavors in the food. As a rule of thumb, lighter tequilas pair best with lighter dishes, and more complex flavors in aged tequilas will complement richer foods. Bertha González Nieves, co-founder and CEO of Tequila Casa Dragones, is a passionate proponent of pairing tequila with food. 'While we are rooted in Mexican craftsmanship, all of our [tequila]In fact, González Nieves recently collaborated with her good friend and renowned Mexican chef Daniela Soto-Innes to launch the Casa Dragones Palapa Bar by Rubra, at the W Hotel in Punta de Mita, Nayarit. This new new huerto (farm)-to-bar concept serves tequila flights and cocktails that compliment the cuisine at Rubra, the hyper-local restaurant which Soto-Innes recently opened within the hotel's grounds. Some of González Nieves' favorite pairings from the Palapa Bar menu include: When pairing tequila with food, whether in cocktails or sipped neat, it's important to note that there are many different flavor profiles even within the same category of tequila, depending on where the agaves have grown, how the mash is fermented and how it is distilled, among other factors. For instance, a blanco from the Highlands of Jalisco will be sweeter, fruitier and floral, while one from the lowlands will be earthy, spicy, and herbaceous. So let your tastebuds be the guide as you start your tequila and food pairing adventures. Here is a basic guide to get you going. Foods That Pair Well With Tequila Blanco The fresh, citrusy and herbal qualities of tequila blanco make it a perfect match for all things seafood. Think ceviche, aguachile or crudo; sushi and sashimi; fish tacos; grilled shrimp or octopus; and raw or cooked oysters. The classic Mexican seafood cocktail with ketchup-based sauce quickly comes to mind, but why not try the tequila as a welcome drink for a Cajun-style seafood boil or New England clam bake for a cool change of pace that will wow your guests. Salads are great to pair with a good tequila blanco, and in fact, using the same tequila in the salad dressing would make the match even better. A lime and tequila-based dressing will complement any green or fruit salad, for instance. But even a classic Caesar with its umami rich anchovy dressing will bring the tequila's savory notes to the forefront. It may seem like a no-brainer, but salads with fruit like watermelon, pineapple, mango and grapefruit are fabulous paired with tequila blanco, as exemplified in myriad cocktails. And yes, even tuna and chicken salads will go beautifully. We already know that spicy Mexican food is a traditional complement to tequila, but why stop there when there are many other world cuisines that feature bold flavors. Thai cuisine is a perfect example of thinking out of the box when it comes to pairing tequila. Loaded with fiery chiles, herbs like lemongrass, lime leaves and cilantro, and savory condiments like fish sauce, soy sauce and curry pastes, the flavors of Thai food are a great counterpart to a citrusy or herbaceous tequila blanco. Try it with a green curry with shrimp and coconut milk for a heavenly match. Food Pairings For Tequila Reposado Next time you serve a cheese or charcuterie platter, try pairing it with a good quality reposado tequila. The salty, fatty flavors of cured meats will bring out the sweetness and spice in the tequila, creating a perfect balance in the palate. For a cheese plate, focus on aged and mature options like Cheddar, Gouda, Parmesan, or Manchego, and even smoked cheeses like Provolone will do a nice reposado plenty justice. For grilled meats, reposado is an excellent choice. Whether it's chicken, pork or beef, the smoky flavors from the grill are perfect for pairing with the light wood flavors from tequila reposado. Think pulled pork with a rich barbecue sauce, pork ribs with a slightly sweet and spicy glaze, or steak with chimichurri - they will all benefit from that hint of oak in the tequila. After all, fajitas and tequila are a classic pairing so why stop there? Foods To Serve With Tequila Añejo, Extra Añejo And Cristalino Aged tequila is the way to go when it comes to pairing with chocolate. While the flavor profiles of the tequila will vary depending on each producer, showing notes of oak, vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, cocoa and dried fruits, depending on the barrels used and the time the spirit spends maturing in them. Different chocolates will also have different flavors, so experimenting with your favorite tequilas and chocolate will offer a fun opportunity to learn about both. Read what the experts say about these fascinating pairings if you need further guidance. Since tequila añejo must be aged for at least one year in oak barrels, the result is a rich, caramel-like flavor profile which matches beautifully with creamy, vanilla scented flan and custards. In fact, there are recipes for flan that include tequila añejo in the custard or in the caramel sauce that forms at the bottom of the flan. This is truly a match made in heaven. Take the time to select the right tequila to complement each course and you will discover how tequila makes an excellent pairing with a wide variety of foods.
Elle
18-07-2025
- Business
- Elle
How the Woman Behind Casa Dragones Built a High-End, Celebrity-Favorite Tequila Brand
In ELLE's series Office Hours, we ask people in powerful positions to take us through their first jobs, worst jobs, and everything in between. This month, we spoke with Bertha González Nieves, the CEO and co-founder of Casa Dragones, a small-batch tequila company beloved by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart. González Nieves's journey started in college, when she visited Tequila, Jalisco, in Mexico, and promptly fell in love with the spirit. 'I felt so excited since day one that I found a subject matter that truly seduced my intellect,' she says. 'Every day, [I've] wanted to learn more.' After more than a decade of working in the industry, González Nieves launched Casa Dragones in 2009, with the intention of crafting a premium sipping tequila. She's since become Mexico's first female maestra tequilera. 'We see ourselves as explorers,' she says of her and her team. 'We represent the tequila lover, and we go out there and come back with great news of things that have never been done before.' Below, she describes the serendipitous forces behind her business, including how she met her co-founder and why her wife became part of the team. Plus, she shares how, through tequila, she's able to tell a nuanced story of 'an extraordinary country.' When I was 10 or 11 years old, my parents got a call from the school saying, 'Hey, your daughter is selling products at recess. She can't do that.' My mom was like, 'Well, what's the problem? She should learn how to sell.' I grew up in a family where my father and my grandfather were in the cosmetics business. I was very enthusiastic about their business, and I was selling their perfumes at school. So that's how I got started. I wanted to do it. No one convinced me. And I'm glad no one stopped me, because learning how to turn an idea into something—and enjoying that process—is really important. I really don't [have one]. I worked throughout college, and I remember being part of this firm that was doing some telemarketing. I didn't find it that exciting—more the subject matter than the job itself. It's good to do a lot of things you may not enjoy, so you can find the things that you truly enjoy. And the only way of finding that is by putting yourself out there. Those jobs that are not that great could be more insightful than you think. When I was studying business administration in Mexico City, I was selected by a program sponsored by the Japanese government to study in Japan and represent Mexico. They sponsored me to travel to different states in Mexico to learn about our key industries. One of the trips was to Tequila, Jalisco. I spent three days visiting different distilleries and agave fields. It was transformational to be able to see the process, the plants, the agricultural side of it, the production. And the finished product just captivated me. After, I called my parents and said, 'I know what I want to do. I want to go into the tequila industry.' And my parents were like, Oh god. It's been more than 30 years that I've been in this industry, and I love everything about it. It is truly part of the social fabric of our culture. When people think of Mexico, [tequila] is one of the top five things people around the world mention. So it's a way to tell our country's craftsmanship story and innovate in a category that's more than 250 years old. [Working in the tequila industry is an] opportunity to tell this story of Mexico that I have in my heart, that I grew up with—a Mexico not everyone knows about. We're sometimes pigeonholed into a cliché. And it's an extraordinary country. We have a very rich and varied culture. [I love] the opportunity to tell that story through this beautiful craft of Mexican spirit. That [title] was from one of the first articles written [about me] in the LA Times. It felt like a big responsibility more than anything else—and a great distinction. I take that very seriously and just want to make sure we are building a great business. And, at the same time, really contributing to our appellation of origin. For example, I was one of the founding professors of the first university courses at Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara designed for people who were already working in a distillery, but who needed to round out their expertise and learn about the entire production process. It's about making sure that we're leading with excellence and leading by example. It's about being a cheerleader for women in leadership. But it's tough. I never wanted to be defined by my gender. I want to be defined by my leadership and by what I contribute. Yes, I'm a woman in the tequila industry. Yes, they gave me the first title as a female maestra tequilera, but to me, it's more about what you do with that and how you contribute. How do you shed some light [on the fact] that leadership really has no gender? Leadership is about a skill set. Leadership is about preparation. Leadership is about results. I was at this party in Brooklyn, and suddenly, I'm speaking to the founder of MTV [Bob Pittman]. He's like, 'What do you do?' And I give him my background. He's like, 'Really? Well, I've always wanted to start a tequila company.' And I'm like, 'Really? Well, I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur in the tequila industry.' I didn't know if it was bar talk or not, but we exchanged cards, and the next day, his secretaries said, 'Mr. Pittman can meet with you on this date.' I put my best suit on, and I went to the meeting, and it was not bar talk. We realized early on that we had a very similar vision of where we could go, what the opportunity could be. Bob really believed in me, and I really believed in him. You need to have a very organic connection. It's going to be important what they're bringing to the table, but also that it's someone you can play ball with strategically—someone you can talk shop with for hours on end, who has different skill sets, different perspectives. Hopefully, by the time you choose a [business] partner, you've chosen partners before, so you have a bit of experience doing so. It's really critical. You're going to be spending, sometimes, more time [with them] than with your family. So you have to look at the right values, the right experience, and more importantly, [consider whether] you can actually do something together. Like [how] musicians jam and create great music; it's as complex and as natural as that. When I started [Casa Dragones], she was already running her own agency in New York, and I needed to start writing the story of our brand. She was like, 'Don't worry about it. I'll hire you a writer.' And I was like, 'There's no budget for that, so you're going to help me.' She helped put some stuff together, and I presented it to Bob, and Bob was like, 'Who did this?' I said, 'Mishele.' He was like, 'Well, she's hired.' I think that life is a project in itself. So you end up working with your partner, whether you're in the same business or not; you're working in the business of life together. So, it's worked for us. You need to know how to draw the line, and sometimes it's tough to do it. At the end of the day, this is such a big part of our lives that I cannot imagine doing it without her. I was on my way to the airport, and suddenly, my phone was burning up. Oprah was with Sheryl Sandberg for the launch of Facebook Live. They were doing a fireside chat and answering questions like 'shoes or bag,' 'this or that.' So they asked 'wine or spirits,' and she's like, 'Tequila.' Then Sheryl's carrying on, and Oprah's like, 'Don't you want to know what my favorite tequila is? Well, I just tried this new tequila called Dragones, and it comes in a blue box with a crystal decanter. Dear god.' After that, she put us on Oprah's Favorite Things [several] times. She really believes in supporting entrepreneurs. That was a big moment for us—and will forever be a big moment for us. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Forbes
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Casa Dragones Unveils New Tequila Tasting Experience With Inspired Culinary Partnership
Bertha González Nieves and Daniela Soto-Innes at the debut of Casa Dragones x Rubra Palapa Bar In the male-dominated world of Mexican spirits, all eyes turn to the leading lady of tequila: Bertha González Nieves. Co-founder and CEO of ultra-premium sipping tequila Casa Dragones, González Nieves is the world's first female Maestra Tequilera, or master tequila distiller as designated by the Mexican Academy of Tequila Tasters and the Tequila Regulatory Council. González Nieves received the designation only after spending 12 years in the industry, meaning that every tequila you've ever sampled prior was crafted by a man. With the exception of Casa Dragones and a few emerging female-led brands like Mijenta Tequila, most tequila formulations are still made exclusively by men. Now, González Nieves celebrates the debut of Casa Dragones' new tequila-tasting experience and bar. A labor of love from the start, it comes to life with a one-of-a-kind cocktail and culinary collaboration with one of Mexico's coolest female chefs, Daniela Soto-Innes. Lush landscapes are nourished by ocean breezes in Mexico's Riviera Nayarit, where the Casa Dragones Palapa Bar by Rubra debuts as the brand's first bar and tasting room outside of its home in San Miguel de Allende. Its location on the grounds of the W Punta de Mita is an integral part of its story. It sits inside the property's all-natural huerto, a carefully tended garden that feeds the menus at Soto-Innes' fresh new restaurant, Rubra, just steps away. "We are very excited to introduce our first tasting room and bar outside of our home in San Miguel de Allende, and especially excited to work with Daniela on her incredible vision of a bar within a huerto," said González Nieves at the bar's debut. "Partnering with Daniela [Soto-Innes] on the Palapa Bar gives us the opportunity to explore and create unique experiences with local ingredients and local talent to continue to seduce and enamor the tequila lover." Casa Dragones x Rubra Palapa Bar at W Punta de Mita The huerto is more than just a magical destination for sipping spirits at golden hour. Part of the joy of the experience is touring the gardens, ducking around fruit-laden trees and bushes of fragrant herbs with their dedicated caretakers to hear about the space's origins and expansion. Along the way, pick the herbs, fruits and flowers that form the base of each handcrafted cocktail. "We decided to create el huerto not just to harvest ingredients, but to give energy back to the land that inspires us," said Soto-Innes. 'It's our way of honoring didn't just want to design a menu, but to cultivate a living experience, one that grows from the roots with respect and intention.' Local beverage director Ivan Zuñiga has carefully crafted the bar's first cocktail menu in collaboration with the huerto's agricultural team to make the most of the peak flavors of seasonal blooms. Ingredients range from varietals of mint, basil and an array of chiles to the unexpected, like mustard, lemon verbena and wasabi. Cocktails at Casa Dragones x Rubra Palapa Bar Highlights include cocktails like the Mexican Dream, made with Casa Dragones Añejo, yellow lemon oleo, St-Germain, mandarin juice, lime juice and guava purée. La Curandera is made with with Casa Dragones Reposado, chamomile Dolin, clarified green apple juice, lime juice, yellow lemon juice, grapefruit bitters and mineral water. Tequila purists, no need to sweat; the Palapa Bar by Rubra offers more than just cocktails. A tequila tasting features Casa Dragones' four distinct sipping expressions: Casa Dragones Blanco, Casa Dragones Añejo Barrel Blend, Casa Dragones Reposado Mizunara and Casa Dragones Joven. Each tequila is paired with small plates from Rubra, which call on seasonally harvested plants, seafood and the bounty found within surrounding landscapes. A jícama and manzano chili aguachile with passion fruit granita pairs with with Casa Dragones Joven to start the experience. A whey bonbon made from Chontalpa chocolate and whey caramel pairs with Casa Dragones Añejo. The rest? Let it be part of the experience that unfolds along the way. Tatiana Bilbao-designed Casa Dragones x Rubra Palapa Bar The bar space packs just as much punch as its spirits. Designed by renowned Mexico City-based designer Tatiana Bilbao, the palapa-style structure, open-sided with a thatched roof made from dried palm fronds, feels intimately tied to the gardens that spread out beyond it and yet supremely elevated. Bilbao is known for her collaborative works and sensitive design approaches, which made her an obvious fit for the collaborative work between González Nieves and Soto-Innes. The bar itself was originally designed as part of a tasting room for Art Basel Miami Beach, crafted of highly sustainable terrazzo, typical to Mexican design. Stools were handcrafted by designer Raul Cabra, the director of Oax-i-fornia, who works closely with artisans and designers in Oaxaca. Other thoughtful details throughout the space pull from the historical and spiritual roots of the land and its native population, including the Cora and Huichol people. Located within the W Punta de Mita resort in Mexico's Riviera Nayarit, the Casa Dragones Palapa Bar by Rubra is open Wednesdays to Sundays, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations are available via SevenRooms.
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Travel + Leisure
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
These Insider Hacks Will Make Your Next Walt Disney World Vacation Even Better
The entrance was subtle—a wooden door flanked by Japanese lanterns, at the end of a short stone path—and by Walt Disney World Resort standards, very quiet. Just behind us, but seemingly a world away, hundreds of people were posing for selfies in Epcot's Japan pavilion. But my family of three was there for an omakase dinner at Takumi-Tei , or 'House of the Artisan,' a restaurant tucked into the Mitsukoshi Department Store. Across five intimate, interconnected dining rooms, each themed to an element (ours was stone), Takumi-Tei provides a welcome break from the crowds. The multicourse, take-your-time dining experience allows for warm, unhurried service, something that's rare at theme parks. After trying everything from Wagyu-beef tempura to bluefin tuna sushi topped with house-made takuan, or pickled daikon, we left to watch another dazzling show: Epcot's evening fireworks. The Island Tower, a new addition to Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Jacqueline Gifford/Travel+Leisure Disney has always been about the pageantry. But these days, its parks and other Orlando-area resorts are enhancing their food, accommodations, and amenities in a bid to appeal to luxury travelers. At La Cava del Tequila, a low-lit bar within the pyramid at Epcot's Mexico Pavilion, there are specialty cocktails crafted by celebrities, including Lily Aldridge, and made with cult-favorite spirits like Casa Dragones tequila. Wine Bar George, part of the Disney Springs entertainment complex, serves famous labels by the ounce (Château d'Yquem at $65 a sip, anyone?) curated by Master Sommelier George Miliotes. Last year, Victoria & Albert's , at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa , became the first restaurant at a U.S. theme park to earn a Michelin star. Not to be outdone, Capa, the Spanish-inspired steak house at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort , now has a star, too—and an elevated (yet still kid-friendly) rooftop setting on the 17th floor. Part of the Golden Oak residential community, the Four Seasons, now in its 11th year, helped usher in this shift toward premium spaces in the Orlando area. 'We love booking our clients there,' says Karen Magee, president of Valerie Wilson Travel and a member of T+L's advisory board. 'Their kids' club is top-notch, so parents can easily recover from the chaos of the parks.' Golf is a renewed focus for the nearby Waldorf Astoria Orlando , which just completed a multiyear enhancement of its 18-hole championship course, in addition to a sleek refresh of its rooms. The new Conrad Orlando offers private moments such as s'mores around a firepit or family photo sessions by the expansive beach of the Evermore Orlando Resort complex. The new Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is inspired by "Moana"; stylish outdoor lounges on the upper floors give visitors secluded spots to unwind. 'Too often, parents feel like Disney is something they endure for their children—rather than enjoy with them,' says Caitlin Pfitzinger, a Florida-based travel advisor with Embark Beyond, who plans around 15 theme-park trips for clients each year. 'Whether it's skipping the lines with a VIP guide, securing coveted dining reservations, or crafting a seamless multi-park itinerary, my goal is for parents to actually experience the magic alongside their children.' For me, that magic kicked in when my son Bobby's eyes lit up at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge during an exclusive make-your-own-light-saber experience at Savi's Workshop. And then we geeked out at the Haunted Mansion—Bobby's very first Magic Kingdom ride—with our private guide. 'When an itinerary balances luxury, convenience, and quality,' Pfitzinger explains, 'Disney becomes a shared adventure for all.' A starter at Takumi-Tei, a 'hidden' restaurant inside the park. Universal Epic Universe became the first major theme park to open in the U.S. in 25 years when it debuted last month at Universal Orlando Resort. The state-of-the-art destination has five 'worlds,' including a Super Nintendo–themed area, a new Wizarding World of Harry Potter experience, and Dark Universe, an eerie enclave inspired by classic monsters. Visitors can expect one-of-a-kind rides, cutting-edge entertainment, and on-theme dining, in addition to plush accommodations at the new Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel, which has a sprawling pool, a rooftop bar overlooking the attractions, and a private entrance to the park. —Elizabeth Rhodes The author and her family, with guide Jonathan Herd. Jacqueline Gifford/Travel+Leisure If you're strapped for time or traveling with a large group that has specific needs, it may be worth splurging on a guide from Disney Private VIP Tours, a service affiliated with Walt Disney World Resort. 'These guides are incredibly knowledgeable and can navigate the parks with their eyes closed,' says Stacy Fischer-Rosenthal, the president of Fischer Travel and a member of T+L's advisory board. Here are four benefits of this service, which costs $450–$900 an hour, not including park tickets, for up to 10 people. PICK A PARK, ANY PARK My family chose to focus solely on the Magic Kingdom. Our guide, Jonathan Herd, walked us through seemingly every inch, surprising us with treats such as Tiana's famous beignets and securing a prime viewing spot for the afternoon parade. If we had wanted to move on to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom, we could have: we had a full day of Herd's time. SKIP THE WAIT Clients use the Lightning Lane, a VIP alternative to the regular line, but it's realistic to expect short waits. That said, our longest was 10 minutes—compared to what could have been an hour or more. For a couple of rides, including Pirates of the Caribbean, we got to use a behind-the-scenes entrance that's typically only available to Disney staff. GEEK OUT ON TRIVIA Herd shared interesting factoids throughout the day, noting that the Haunted Mansion is adorned with chess pieces (but no knights); Space Mountain blasts themed music for the holidays; and windows along Main Street, U.S.A. bear the names of influential Disney employees. GET INSIDER MERCH It's easy to spot VIP tour guides by their plaid-accented uniforms. Clients can purchase their own plaid at a special shop on Main Street. —J.G. A version of this story first appeared in the June 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline 'Keys to the Kingdom.'
