La Cava Del Tequila is a specialty bar located in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot. This location opened in late 2009 to fantastic reviews due to their high quality fresh margaritas. Flash forward to the present and much of the original charm is replaced with quantity versus quality. The hand-made margaritas of the first few years of operation have been replaced by premixed jugs of their specialty list. These, of course, are easier to pour, serve, and get guests going on with their day. The margaritas are still good, but certainly pricey for something not being constructed when ordered. Take into consideration Nomad Lounge where drinks take numerous steps to create and are cheaper than many of the margaritas on the menu here.
With that little rant out of the way, we can really talk about some of the sparkle left in La Cava. They really do know tequila well, especially more elusive and pricey brands. This isn’t just saying one or two of the Cast members understand the spirit, but everyone working the bar has an in-depth knowledge of their expansive tequila selection. If you’ve ever been interested in learning more about tequila besides a margarita, we recommend chatting with the bartenders or managers. Everyone is very eager to share their knowledge about this unique Mexican heritage.
Beyond margaritas, La Cava has taken numerous specialty drinks under their wing. Most people come in looking for a margarita and miss this really amazing list. We stopped in to check out the unique #LaCavaNegroni, a menu item that really is a hashtag. Beyond that, the description actively asks you to search for the hashtag on Twitter and Instagram to find out more information. We learned this is batch number 13 of the #LaCavaNegroni, proudly displayed on their menu inside of the bar.
So, what exactly does it mean when they say “aged in a Tequila Avion 44 Barrel”? Well, exactly that. Shown on Instagram and Twitter, there’s a legitimate tequila barrel they are using to age the negroni.
A tequila negroni can be described with three main ingredients: Tequila, Campari, and Vermouth. Aging the cocktail in a tequila barrel gives the mixture plenty of time to mature and mellow with additional flavor benefits.
So, how is it? Otherworldly. This is quite possibly the most unique, fantastic, and overall amazing cocktail we’ve had in years at Epcot. Albeit a bit expensive at $17, we feel that the time and dedication put into making the cocktail validates the price. It’s incredibly smooth, more than it has any right to be, and leaves a mellow, bitter taste in the mouth. The jalapeño frozen in the large ice cube makes for a fancy and good show, and a very unexpected and fun twist to make this cocktail a perfect fit for the Mexico pavilion. We hope that La Cava continues to make batches of this amazing drink and continues to experiment with different and unique takes on classic cocktails. Bravo!