Among the candles, sugar skulls, and yellow cempasúchil flowers - you will find plenty of traditional dishes decorating ofrendas during the celebration of Día de Muertos.

Food and drink is a significant part of this holiday, from offerings to the dead to refreshments shared with family and friends. And something you can almost always find on the ofrenda is a bottle of tequila or mezcal.

Tequila holds a special significance to this ancestral holiday. Learn more with PaQuí as we explore the deep cultural heritage behind this popular spirit.

Tequila’s History: Día de Muertos

Día de Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a practice that actually originated over 3000 years ago in Aztec cultures, where rituals were performed while honoring the dead. Pulque, a milky liquid made from the fermented juice of the roasted agave and the first iteration of tequila, was sacred in Aztec culture and often linked with feasting and ritual ceremonies.

These ancient traditions evolved into the national holiday that many now partake in. Now, it is a way to celebrate the passage of life, where family members and friends share happy memories of loved ones, while offering deceased ancestors favorite meals, drinks, and other pleasures in life.

And one of the best pleasures? Getting to enjoy tequila! Tequila is closely tied to the ancestral heritage of Mexico, conveying a sense of enjoyment, sociability and fun that Día de Muertos is all about.

Tequila and the Ofrenda

As a symbol of national pride, tequila represents a celebration of Mexico’s rich culture. Embedded deep into the country’s heritage, a celebratory toast of tequila is a staple at a variety of celebrations, from weddings and birthdays, to holidays and even funerals. Día de Muertos is no different.

The ofrenda, or altar de muertos, is a colorfully decorated surface including pictures of loved ones, candles, personal belongings, sugar skulls, flowers, bright colors, foods, and drinks. These offerings are placed as a way to honor the dead, and invite them back home to their family, if only for the day.

And one of the central offerings on the ofrenda is often a bottle of tequila. Whether alive or dead, a celebratory toast of tequila will always be something to bring families and generations together, and provide an inviting and joyous atmosphere.

What To Drink For Día de Muertos

Preparing for the upcoming holiday? Beyond a glass of delicious, luxury tequila worthy of celebration toasts for the living and the dead, here are some common spirits associated with Día de Muertos that you might enjoy: 

• Mezcal - A traditional spirit to serve the spirits of the dead, mezcal is much more earthy, mysterious, and smoky than its counterpart. Unlike tequila, mezcal can be made from dozens of types of agaves that grow wild in mezcal-approved Mexican regions. These wild agaves have very distinct, often mysterious and pungent flavors that give Mezcal its unique flavor.