on your taste buds ! I buy the cheap stuff (tescos) for mixes & even drink it as a shot (neck it for effect !) but anything with the words 'reposada' or 'anejo' on the label are well distilled well cared for tequilas. the industry is closely regulated by the mexican goverment so any decent tequila will bear a 'nom' followed by a number, That's the distilleries registered number.

'Reposada' means rested at least 3 months usually in old oak whisky barrels.

'Anejo' means aged usually between 18 months to 3 years in old whisky barrels, But the older the better.

The ageng process is being shortened by modern distilling methods so if you can find an old distillery that sticks with the old methods it MAY be that it's a better tequila.

Mezcal ? AHH ! YUK ! It is tequila but distilled in a different way, The agave hearts (pinas) are baked first before crushing to extract the juice thus giving it (to me) a burnt taste, Mayan legend has it the first tequila was created when a bolt of lightening struck an agave plant & the ensueing outflowing of juice was a gift from the gods ! The worm/maggot ? A gimmick reputedely to add flavour to the mezcal, Yeh right !

Good/nice tequilas --- Porfidio (any) 30 -30 - Sauza - Cuervo (dearer ones not tescos) - El jimador - Patron - Correlejo - Herrandura - Revelucion - Don Julio - Herencia - Casa Noble to name a few ! YEP we've had em all ! disgusting aint we LOL ! Most are no more than £30 - £45 a bottle & are good sipping tequilas.

Just cos a tequila is dark in colour doesn't mean it's aged, The Jose Cuervo gold in Tescos is gold in colour by adding caramel to it.

AND as a footnote a 'Jimador' is the guy who trims the pinas (hearts) of the blue agave, A true tequila can only be called tequila if it comes from specified areas of Mexico, IE the 'tequila' district there is an actual town called Tequila, AND ! I have the centre of the mexican flag tattooed on me left breast !! HOWS THAT !!