La Capilla Oldest Bar in Tequila
La Capilla is the oldest bar in Tequila The bar La Capilla in Tequila, Jalisco. It was designated as one of the 50 best bars in the world by the publication Drinks International Magazine, whose list was just released.
In the city of Tequila, Mexico, there is a small, nondescript canteen called La Capilla, which happens to be an important stop on the bucket list for nerds cocktails of the world.
In the first place of the list of the best bars, Artesian, from England, repeats with such a position. By the way, the United Kingdom is the country with the most places in the first 10 places.
The place that occupies the 37 of the list, owned by Mr. Javier Delgado, is more than 70 years old and is the birthplace of the famous “Batangas”, a cocktail of white tequila with lemon juice and cola.
The Chapel (literally “the chapel”) is the home of the batanga, a simple drink created in 1950 by Mr. Javier Delgado Corona, the owner of the bar.
One of the most requested places to visit in Tequila is the Antigua Cantina known as “La Capilla”
Now well into the nineties, Don Javier can still be persuaded to get behind the bar to have a drink or two with the visitors.
Don Javier tells us that many years ago his canteen was located in the portals of the central square but that due to hazards of fate he had to move to his current home.
The oldest canteen in Tequila was on one side of the so-called ¨Capilla de Indios¨, that is, in front of the main church, the ¨Nicer¨ families entered the 12-hour mass and the others served at 11:00 a.m.
The batanga is nothing more than tequila, cola, and the juice of a fresh lemon, served in a tall glass with salt on the edge.
But inside the walls of La Capilla, it acquires an almost magical quality.
I have tried to make the drink at home many times, but as Don Javier will tell you, the secret of its flavor is not in the ingredients that is his big knife, which he uses to mix the cocktails, chop the avocado for guacamole, chiles for your homemade hot sauce, and everything else you might need.
However, it is certainly worth trying to recreate the legendary cocktail to taste at home during the summer months.
To make your own batanga, start with a tall resistant glass.
Cut the top of a lemon and dip the edge of the jaibolero glass with its juice.
Dip the rim of the cup with salt, preferably grain salt as it is nice and somewhat heavy and crystalline, and squeeze the rest of the juice from the lime cut into the glass.
Add a pile of ice, and then fill the glass half full with a good white tequila, and the rest with cola. Stir gently with a large knife, and enjoy.
Parishioners say that the bar is called like that because people come on foot but get out on their knees. However, what distinguishes this bar is the warmth and kind service of Don Javier.
The selection of bars that appear in this list is done through an academy of 230 members (owners, mixologists and businessmen in the field) from different countries, who vote according to three criteria: You must not work or own the place by the one that votes, to have visited the bar for which it is voted in the last two years and that the place is still open.