Latest news with #CasaDragones
Forbes
4 days ago
- 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.'
