This stylish luxury boutique hotel is a tranquil sanctuary just outside the touristed town of Tequila and boasts an interesting Canadian connection.

Calgary entrepreneur Wayne Henuset had a long history of working and investing in the wine and spirit industry when he fell in love with the area, and with tequila, after he visited. In 2017, he purchased El Tequileño and the historic La Guarreña distillery, then later had Casa Salles built in 2020. The boutique hotel was originally built as a place to host Wayne and his friends, but he eventually expanded the property to the four-story, 24-room hotel it is today.

Although there are many distilleries in the town, including recognized labels like Cuervo, Sauza and Tequila Fortaleza (Abuelos), Guarreña is unique since it is located away from the Tequila party scene in town while still being connected to Casa Salles, which has been gaining recognition as a quiet alternative.

Street Cred: It’s all about location

You don’t need to love drinking tequila to appreciate the area in and around Tequila. The region is surrounded by millions of blue agave plants that flourish in the rich soil created from the dormant volcano, whose natural springs still supply water to many of the distilleries found there. It’s also a UNESCO-protected area because of the blue agave.

Casa Salles is just a 13-minute walk to the village of Tequila, which is strategically located just 40 miles (65 kms) northwest of Guadalajara — and with all the traffic in the city, it may not be so much longer to make your last stop Tequila before flying out of the international airport in Guadalajara.

Don’t limit yourself to tequila tasting. There are also many day trips you can do from Tequila, all of which can be arranged at the hotel, including hikes at Cascada Los Azules (Blue Waterfalls) about a 1.5-hour drive away, or at Cerro del Totole, which you can walk to.  You can also visit the circular pyramids at Guachimontones, an archaeological site just about a 40-minute drive from the hotel, and the town of  Magdalena, one of the largest opal producers in the world, less than half an hour away.

Who hangs here: Is this hotel for you?

Many guests are solo travelers and couples in late 30s to late 50s who come for a night or two to visit Tequila and learn about the tequila-making process. Business people working in the tequila industry also stay at the hotel, often for several days. Guests are mainly from Canada, the United States and Europe, sharing a desire for a laidback but upscale environment.

The straight goods: What’s in the room?

The hotel has three categories of rooms: the deluxe king room (for two people); a junior suite with two queen beds; and a master or family suite with three adjoining rooms, the middle of which has a murphy bed that can double as a sofa as needed. Some have a garden view (with a small balcony where you can sit and enjoy your coffee) and others offer views of the Sierra Madre mountain range.

Contemporary-style rooms are spacious and done in tones of muted grey, with comfy mattresses and linens. Each room has a Nespresso machine, flat screen TV and strong WiFi.

Bathrooms are also spacious with a rain shower separated from the rest of the bathroom by an open glass wall, and stocked with l’Occitane amenities.

Bragging rights: What else has it got?

Probably the most unique aspect of this “tequila hotel” is its connection to La Guarreña distillery, founded in 1959 by Don Jorge “Salles” Cuervo. The distillery is now overseen by Don Jorge’s grandson Antonio (Tony) Salles, a third generation, master distiller.

La Guarreña produces El Tequileno tequila exclusively, the same label used in all the cocktails at the hotel’s Mango restaurant. You can book various types of tours and tastings, including one that includes an amuse bouche and another that is their “jornalero,” where you go into the fields to learn how the blue agave plants are harvested and enjoy tacos over an open fire.

The hotel also offers lessons in making sangrita (a non-alcoholic drink that often accompanies tequila) and cooking classes, where you can learn to make guacamole and carne en su jugo, a typical Jalisco beef soup. Group cooking and mixology classes are available on demand.

Casa Salles also has an outdoor swimming pool and on-site “Reposado” Spa. The name is a play on “reposado tequila” and being a place to rest and relax. The spa offers 60- and 90-minute relaxation, deep tissue and hot stone massages for reasonable prices and a holistic renewal treatment that begins with a foot scrub, followed by a massage incorporating Reiki, relaxation, reflexology and hot crystals. Group yoga classes are also available on the fourth floor upon request.

Good eats: Cocktails and cuisine

Their ground level restaurant/bar Mango Cocina de Origen serves up innovative tequila-based cocktails and elevated Mexican and international cuisine incorporating local ingredients.

Their menus include international options like Angus beef burgers, a four-cheese pasta, beef tenderloin and special themed evenings, like Thursday Italian nights. But we preferred the innovative take on traditional Mexican dishes, such as their duck carnitas and scallop ceviche and a guacamole — the best I’ve experienced in Mexico. Other standouts were the romesco octopus, tuna aguachile and wild caught salmon. Despite being far from the sea, the restaurant still includes a great variety of fish and seafood options. Breakfasts are also excellent with everything from classic waffles and pancakes to fried eggs with mole and enchiladas.

For drinks, food and beverage manager and mixologist Alberto Ontiveros lovingly crafts cocktails incorporating El Tequileño tequila. For example, the Romito de Violetas (the name of a popular Mexican song) cocktail is made with a fusion of lavender syrup, blueberry liqueur, infused blue matcha and their white tequila. And the famous Mexican Batanga features Mexican cola, salt and lime with the same tequila. Other standout cocktails fuse tequila with other alcoholic drinks, like the Tiki Zombie with red wine and white tequila. A Paper Plane (one of my favorite cocktails) comes with an actual paper plane floating on top.

Also of note is the fact that all proceeds of El Tequileño Rosé Joven (the property’s own rosé tequila) and cocktails with the spirit sold at Casa Salles (like its Pink Floyd) are donated to a charity that benefits women with breast cancer.

A few of our favorite things: What stood out?

Their in-house Mango restaurant is top notch, with an option of al fresco or indoor dining, great service and standout dishes and choice. I also loved the ambience, its laidback vibe, huge gardens and friendly service.

Rates start at MXN4400 per night.

Diana was a guest of the hotel during her stay. The hotel no editorial input for this review.

(Photos courtesy of Casa Salles.)