A restaurant has broken the Guinness World Record for the largest tequila collection on the planet – and it's not in Mexico.
Meximodo, which opened last November in Metuchen, New Jersey, boasts the largest collection of agave spirits in the world. A Guinness World Records judge certified the world record during a celebration on July 24.
The restaurant serves more than 1,000 different types of agave-derived spirits. In December, LeMalt Hospitality Group Senior Vice President TJ Pingitore spoke to Fox News Digital about the restaurant's opening.
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The Pingitore team was inspired to break a world record after Metuchen earned national awards, including the recent 2023 Great American Main Street Award.
The central New Jersey city was also named the birthplace of 2023 American Girl Doll of the Year, Kavi Sharma.
From left, Guinness World Records team members Callie Smith and MacKenzie Berry with Meximodo owner Saurabh Abrol, Guinness adjudicator Andy Glass and TJ Pingitore. (Mexico)
“Being in the square, [with] “The anchor business is about to open here…we wanted to do something really special, not only for the community here, but for tequila enthusiasts across the United States,” Pingitore said.
“And we decided to break the world record for the most tequila. [and] mezcal that can be served by law throughout the world.”
In December, Mayor Jonathan Busch praised Meximodo's opening to Fox News Digital.
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“The opening of Meximodo is another exciting investment in what has become one of the culinary capitals of Central New Jersey,” said the Mayor. “We are very excited to welcome Meximodo to our award-winning downtown.”
Customers can walk into the Metuchen restaurant and find a tequila that fits their flavor profile. Agave spirits can have a spicy or smoky flavor, Pingitore said.
Customers can walk into Meximodo in central New Jersey and find an agave spirit suited to their particular flavor profile. (Meximodo by LeMalt Hospitality Group/Designs by Celano Group)
“When you look at the tequila library, you're looking at flavor profiles like smoky [and] “Mild,” he said.
“You're looking at whether it's a tequila, a mezcal, or some other kind of derivative of that in the agave spirits world.”
“All of our bartenders are trained to suggest the flavor profile that exists,” he also said.
“There are a good 20 or 25 [liquors] that are spicier or have a spicy touch like jalapeño or habanero. [tequilas] that you already know, and also some small batch spirits that you don't know. And those are just as interesting, so we invite everyone to come and discover them.”
Among the more than 1,000 bottles of tequila and mezcal in the Meximodo library, Pingitore said his favorites are El Tesoro and Tequila Ocho.
The top executive also told Fox News Digital that neither of Meximodo's two competitors for the world record are in Mexico.
The two establishments are located in Las Vegas and London.
The world record was “around 600 unique bottles, and we have over 1,000 bottles,” Pingitore said. “So we've broken that record.”
“Chicken with mole is amazing. It's our chicken.”
Meximodo also has an extensive menu with foods developed from the team's visits to various Mexican towns.
Many of the tequilas pair well with the dishes on the menu.
Meximodo founder Saurabh Abrol (left) and team members in Mexico. (Meximodo by LeMalt Hospitality Group/Designs by Celano Group)
“The chicken mole is amazing. It's our chicken. The mole goes really, really well with our milder flavor, some of our milder flavor profile skills that can have a little bit of smoke really pair well,” Pingitore said.
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“And then we have our barbecue, which is delicious and served two different ways.”
One of the most popular dishes at Meximodo is chicken with mole, which pairs well with tequila, Pingitore said. (Meximodo by LeMalt Hospitality Group/Designs by Celano Group)
“Any way you get it, whether it's in a taco or in the main dish, you can get it with a smokier tequila,” he added.
“We would say something about the smoke. [side] or even a mezcal.”
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The restaurant's unique tequila library has caught the attention of local media, even earning it the title of “most colorful new restaurant” by NJ.com.
Members of the Meximodo team traveled to Mexico while developing the restaurant's menu. (Meximodo by LeMalt Hospitality Group/Designs by Celano Group)
“My new favorite Mexican place!” wrote one reviewer on Google.
“Everything is beautifully decorated from the moment you walk in, and we can tell a lot of love was put into this place.”
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The same reviewer said, “I'm not normally a fan of guacamole, but the pineapple and mango guacamole here is fantastic, and we especially enjoyed the street-style corn and creative cocktails. I'll definitely be back to try the rest of the menu!”
