A Stroll Through Salón España

The Salón España, a cantina located at the corner of Argentina and Luis González Obregón in Mexico City, is more than just a place to drink; it's a repository of art and a haven for tequila aficionados. Its walls are a vibrant tapestry of paintings, photographs, watercolors, caricatures, and lithographs, creating a unique visual experience for patrons.

At the heart of the Salón España's appeal is its impressive tequila menu, boasting nearly two hundred different brands. While the list is extensive, the author confesses a personal preference for just three main types: Herradura, Siete Leguas, and Tapatío. Among the Tapatío selections, the author particularly recommends the Tapatío Blanco, with its 47% alcohol content, and the potent Tapatío 110, which stands at 55% alcohol, describing them as "purified fire" and "pristine alcohol."

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This tequila is a pleasure; purified fire.

The cantina's atmosphere is a blend of the refined and the desperate. Well-dressed gentlemen savoring a quiet drink share the space with those drinking heavily, as if to drown their sorrows. The bartender, José, serves with an imperturbable demeanor, catering to all patrons. The author's recommendation of Tapatío tequila to a friend emphasizes its non-industrialized nature, produced by the Camarena Hernández family in Arandas, Jalisco, since 1937.

Adding to the cantina's character are the artworks by Rafael Guízar, a multi-talented artist described as a watercolorist, painter-chronicler, architect, and muralist. One notable watercolor serves as a map, detailing the locations of now-defunct cantinas in the former Barrio Universitario, depicting their facades in the style of 17th-century maps. Another Guízar watercolor captures the exterior of the Salón España itself, showcasing the artist's architectural precision.

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It is a non-industrialized tequila, made by the Camarena Hernández family since 1937, in Arandas, in the Los Altos de Jalisco region.