Tequila is the national spirit of Mexico and is distilled from the sap of a variety of agave, a cactus-like plant. Tequila is named after a town in which, or near which, distillation takes place. The spirit can be oak-aged (reposado, gold, or anejo) or non-aged (silver) and it is graded according to the length of time spent in cask. Shoot it, slam it or rustle up a Margarita! Mezcal is related to tequila, but can be made from species of agave not grown in the Tequila zone. It undergoes little ageing and often contains the famous worm, to prove that there is sufficient alcohol in the drink to preserve it!