La Señorita Mexican Restaurants

Top five bits of useless information that will impress your amigos

• There's no worm in Tequila. That's Mezcal, a spirit that can be made from any type or combination of agave. Tequila must come from one type of agave, the blue agave.
• The blue agave isn't a cactus. It''s actually a spiky-leafed member of the lily family.
• It's one grande plant. Mature plants are 7-12 feet in diameter with leaves that are 5-8 feet tall. And the blue agave takes 8-10 years to mature.
• Heavy to the core, some agave plants can weigh up to 200 pounds (that's alot tequila).
• Not only was tequila the first distilled drink and first commercially produced spirit in North America, but Americans import and consume the most tequila (now that's something to be proud of).

Picking the right tequila is as easy as one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor

Silver or Blanco (BLAWN-ko) is unaged tequila in its purest form, with no more than 60 days in stainless steel tanks. This clear tequila has a distinct flavor with hints of citrus and a crisp finish.

Joven (HO-ven) or Gold is an unaged tequila colored and blended with caramel. Some can be aged up to 2 months in oak barrels. This is a good tequila with a mellow agave flavor with a well-balanced finish.

Reposado (ree-poh-SAH-doh) is aged for a minimum of two months but no more than a year in oak casks. They have a pale golden color and a smooth, almost peppery flavor, with a warm finish.

Añejo (on-YAY-ho) is the smoothest tequila available and aged for one to four years. This is the Cognac of tequilas. They have an amber color and a rich woody flavor with a long, silky finish.