Okay, I have to address the elephant in the room—or the worm in the bottle. There is no worm in tequila. That’s a marketing gimmick from mezcal producers in the 1950s. The worm (actually a moth larva) lives in low-end mezcal bottles to “prove” the alcohol is strong enough to preserve it. Real tequila lovers roll their eyes at this. If you find a worm in your tequila, you are not drinking tequila—you are drinking a prank.
Fermentation to Distillation... Steps to make Tequila
Another myth? That all tequila gives you a killer hangover. That’s only true if you drink cheap mixto tequila (the stuff with less than 100% agave). Pure 100% agave tequila, sipped responsibly, is remarkably clean. Your headache the next day is from the three shots you chased with questionable decisions, not the plant.
Why you should care (or at least pretend to)
Look, I’m not saying you need to become a tequila snob. But the next time someone slams a shot and yells “IT’S CACTUS!” you can smile, lean in, and say, “Actually, it’s a succulent.” They will either think you’re brilliant or insufferable. Either way, you win. And if they ask you to prove it, just buy them a bottle of 100% Blue Weber Agave reposado. Let the taste do the talking.
So tequila is made out of a giant roasted agave heart, not a cactus, not a potato, and definitely not magic (though it might feel like it after a few sips). Now go forth, impress your friends at the bar, and maybe—just maybe—skip the worm.
