21 replies to this topic

[Diane]

A friend of mine had heard about "Mercado Del Mar" at km 29, on the South side of Rosarito. We checked it out last night.

Drove back and forth on the free highway 3 or 4 times before we spotted this little tiny La Tienda with "Mercado Del Mar" in small letters. The Tecate sign on the roof was much bigger. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to get out of the car and check it out because I figured that no way was this going to be anything different.

But we went in anyway. The store itself at first looks like any other store, but then we looked at what was on the shelf. Avocado oil, imported capers, a whole section of aged balsamic vinegars...... okay, not your typical market. But we were looking for something still more unique.

At the back of the store, off to the left, is a concrete block added on room. It looks unfinished, but has probably looked like that for 20 years. There are half empty cartons littering the doorway, but look past and you'll see shelves upon shelves all stocked to the gills with bottles of tequila and other liquors. We were told there were at least 50 varieties of tequila. 50??? Try 500!! The owner chatted awhile and when he figured we were a good audience (all in English, by the way) he started telling us stories about the tequilas. It was like a James Michener novel - tales of intrigue, of grand houses won and lost, the work, commitment and passion that goes into aged tequila. I got a bottle of Don Eduardo Anejo (about $31) and my friend got something else for $55.

Last night we opened the Don Eduardo and had a few shots (I'd been in the ocean most of the day and only had one - was already half asleep). The tequila was smoky and smooth. It was more like sipping a fine brandy with no burn that you often associate with tequila.

Loved it! Now only 499 more tequilas to try! LOL.

Highly recommend this place. I heard there are also a bunch of rums, including Cuban rums that Americans seldom see. But this time we only had eyes for the tequila.

[TJDave]

Nice find!

It's always great to make an unexpected discovery like that... thanks for sharing.

[Ryu]

Nice find!

It's always great to make an unexpected discovery like that... thanks for sharing.

I agree, might need to check this place out.

[Klort]

Hey, I have been there. It's HUGE!

They have a lot of gems covered in dust. We got some Mexican-made absinthe that were okay, but it's a great place to shop!

[otayBill]

They have a lot of gems covered in dust. We got some Mexican-made absinthe that were okay, but it's a great place to shop!

¿Absinthe? Isn´t that a liqour banned in the USA because it contains a psychoactive drug.

[Diane]

I had heard the same thing about absinthe, but not sure.

We went back to Mercado Del Mar to look at the rums today. Came back with a Castillo rum anejo for about $7. Best rum I've ever had in my life. Amazing!

And also had one of those new plastic tops. We've struggled with those before, and finally found out the trick. You guys probably all know this and I'm the slow one in the crowd, but if you get one of those plastic tops and can't figure out how to pour out of it....

Put the cap back on and shake really hard a few times. It will loosen a little plastic disk inside the top and you can then pour freely. The plastic top is a one-way device that is supposed to stop people from putting cheaper liquor inside the bottle.

[Buen Amigo]

^^^^^^^ ........I gotta go check that place out. Might never come out though.....If i have not posted for a week, someone go look for me...

[Klort]

¿Absinthe? Isn´t that a liqour banned in the USA because it contains a psychoactive drug.

Ah, only 10mg of thujone is allowed. Before, it was banned, but now it is legal.

I bought a bottle of absinthe that had a picture of Van Gogh on it. How funny. There's a rumour he cut off his right ear because he went crazy after drinking a bottle of absinthe.

The Mercado del Mar is really big - and they do have some top end liquor. I don't know how they manage to keep track of everything.

[TJDave]

I had heard the same thing about absinthe, but not sure.

We went back to Mercado Del Mar to look at the rums today. Came back with a Castillo rum anejo for about $7. Best rum I've ever had in my life. Amazing!

And also had one of those new plastic tops. We've struggled with those before, and finally found out the trick. You guys probably all know this and I'm the slow one in the crowd, but if you get one of those plastic tops and can't figure out how to pour out of it....

Put the cap back on and shake really hard a few times. It will loosen a little plastic disk inside the top and you can then pour freely. The plastic top is a one-way device that is supposed to stop people from putting cheaper liquor inside the bottle.

Hey Ryu, do you want to share your story?

[Ryu]

Shut up TJDave. And No I don't want to share my story.

[Klort]

That got me really curious...

Pwetty please?

[George Costanza]

Shut up TJDave. And No I don't want to share my story.

TJdave I bet you Ryu still has the bottle and is waiting for that special moment to open it

[TJDave]

TJdave I bet you Ryu still has the bottle and is waiting for that special moment to open it

I wouldn't doubt it...

Ryu, wasn't it 2 bottles?

Andele, suelta la sopa... you know it will come out sooner or later...

[Ryu]

I wouldn't doubt it...

Ryu, wasn't it 2 bottles?

Andele, suelta la sopa... you know it will come out sooner or later...

I will quote an what an ex said several times back,.. "I don't know what you're talking about"

[TJDave]

I will quote an what an ex said several times back,.. "I don't know what you're talking about"

Shall I refresh your memory?

[Rosarito Gary]

A friend of mine had heard about "Mercado Del Mar" at km 29, on the South side of Rosarito. We checked it out last night.

Drove back and forth on the free highway 3 or 4 times before we spotted this little tiny La Tienda with "Mercado Del Mar" in small letters. The Tecate sign on the roof was much bigger. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to get out of the car and check it out because I figured that no way was this going to be anything different.

But we went in anyway. The store itself at first looks like any other store, but then we looked at what was on the shelf. Avocado oil, imported capers, a whole section of aged balsamic vinegars...... okay, not your typical market. But we were looking for something still more unique.

At the back of the store, off to the left, is a concrete block added on room. It looks unfinished, but has probably looked like that for 20 years. There are half empty cartons littering the doorway, but look past and you'll see shelves upon shelves all stocked to the gills with bottles of tequila and other liquors. We were told there were at least 50 varieties of tequila. 50??? Try 500!! The owner chatted awhile and when he figured we were a good audience (all in English, by the way) he started telling us stories about the tequilas. It was like a James Michener novel - tales of intrigue, of grand houses won and lost, the work, commitment and passion that goes into aged tequila. I got a bottle of Don Eduardo Anejo (about $31) and my friend got something else for $55.

Last night we opened the Don Eduardo and had a few shots (I'd been in the ocean most of the day and only had one - was already half asleep). The tequila was smoky and smooth. It was more like sipping a fine brandy with no burn that you often associate with tequila.

Loved it! Now only 499 more tequilas to try! LOL.

Highly recommend this place. I heard there are also a bunch of rums, including Cuban rums that Americans seldom see. But this time we only had eyes for the tequila.

I looked for it yesterday and could not find it....Will try again.

[BajaGringo]

I will quote an what an ex said several times back,.. "I don't know what you're talking about"

Are there pictures to document the story???

[Diane]

I looked for it yesterday and could not find it....Will try again.

It is hard to find! Look for about km 29, east side of the street. We were actually there today, trying out another tequilla.

It's just north of the Don Pisto liquor store (that sign is harder to miss).

The name "Mercado Del Mar" is on a Tecate sign.

Next time I'm down I'll get a pic of the front of the store as a visual clue.

Good luck! LMK what you think.

[Klort]

It really looks like a small shop - not even fancy. You can barely see the Mercado del Mar on it.

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

It's just north of the Don Pisto liquor store (that sign is harder to miss).

The sign with the guy who is carrying his big beer belly with a wheelbarrow in front of him, that sign makes me chuckle every time.