Tequila Worm

[MrAgave]

It is beyond me how so many people still think that there is a worm in Tequila. I guess it would make sense if there was info plastered all over the internet about tequila containing a worm, but there isn't. Every once in awhile you'll see it pop up in a bad news article on Tequila or Mezcal, but I think most of us do a good job on commenting those out.

I went out on a social / work related dinner the other night and we started talking about Tequila. And then that question was blurted out, "Hey, do you eat the worm?"

[wichie13]

I feel your pain Darin, everytime I talk to some one new/new to tequila that always comes up.... "no i won't drink that stuff its gross with the worm in it" There are no worms in my house. Although I do have a scorpion.

[Piña]

Ive gotten that question too. The wierd thing is, even before i was into tequila (about 6 years ago), even then I never even thought there was a worm in tequila..

My close friends dont really drink tequila, but Ive done my part to educate them on the myths vs the facts. The other day I went over one friends house and sitting on her liquor table was a bottle of 100% Agave Milagro blanco. I was so proud of her! She graduated from Cuervo gold!

[bn087]

Yall think you get asked this a lot? Try being in the "younger crowd" of party animals....

I got asked this question last weekend....

Which tequila gets you the most drunk?

So I went on to explain that ALL tequila is generally the same proof. Rather than shedding light on the CRT regulations, I just jumped to explain that you will get the same feeling from 3 shots of Jose Cuervo that you will also get from 3 shots of Patron (it seemed the easiest to converse with)....they just didnt understand that, especially when I started referring to headaches due to the lack of quality in mixto tequilas. They explained to me that Patron gets them more drunk than any tequila ever, and Cuervo Gold makes them feel like they are crazy drunk....I gave up...they need to turn off the radio and do some research.

I also often get asked if I eat the worm. And if I say "no" its usually followed by, well...I heard the worm will make you hallucinate if you eat it? Once again I answer no, not at all...maybe just sick. People dont understand this...its a damn worm in a bottle of nasty tequila...neither of these are recreational drugs and will get you no more drunk than anything else that is 80 proof. I tell them if they are looking to get wasted, get a bottle of Everclear and drink until you hallucinate....or throw up.

[totallytequila]

It's funny how so many amatuer tequila drinkers think that Patron is the "best" they ever had. I can't tell you how many times I hear that during party conversations. It's amazing how powerful advertising can be. Recently at a New Years Eve party I attended at a co-workers house I brought my "traveling margarita bar" with me (just a cooler with fresh assorted juices, premium agave etc.). I mixed a bunch of fresh juiced margaritas during the night and everyone was commenting how tasty they were and how much different they were from what they were used to drinking at big Mexican chain restaurants. As the night went on I had a bunch of sworn vodka drinkers sipping a couple of anejos I had brought. After I showed them the proper way to sip & savor they were amazed at how much better it was. Almost all of them had stories of previous bad encounters with shots, worms, praying to porcelain gods, hangovers, etc! I guess all it takes is a little education from a bunch of tequila nuts like us!

[bn087]

Originally Posted by bn087

People dont understand this...its a damn worm in a bottle of nasty tequila...neither of these are recreational drugs and will get you no more drunk than anything else that is 80 proof. I tell them if they are looking to get wasted, get a bottle of Everclear and drink until you hallucinate....or throw up.

I should probably say....its a worm in a bottle of nasty "agave related" spirit. Nobody would understand that in my demographic though. I dont think I've ever seen anything in a bottle of something quality besides the good juice. I have not tried Scorpion though...

Does anything else good come with something nasty in the bottle?

I recall the Mezcal I tried a long time ago had cinnamin sticks in it. This bottle was from Mexico City therefore I do not know how marketed the brand may be. It wasnt bad, it had a harsh burn but I didnt expect anything great. Anyone know what this may be?

[barrera49ers]

Every time I am asked that question I direct them to Tequila.net

[bn087]

Originally Posted by barrera49ers

Every time I am asked that question I direct them to Tequila.net

That prompted me to change a paragraph in my myspace. Now everyone who thinks there is a worm in a bottle can be redirected to tequila.net.

[MrAgave]

It probably doesn't help that "the worm" is used on Tequila T-Shirts, and the Casta Worm Bottle. Maybe that feeds the idea that the worm could be found in Tequila products.

Do that many people still see that movie "Urban Cowboy"? Curious if you younger guys have seen it. That is my only recollection of a worm in a bottle, and I can't remember if they called it Tequila or Mezcal.

I personally don't see the worm as a deterrent in Mezcal, and would still buy "con gusano" products if they are 100%, and I enjoy Scorpion Mezcal. Sometimes the worm / scorpion breaks apart and makes floaters in the spirit, which is a turnoff for some.

[gsars1]

The only worm in a bottle I have ever seen and was marketed for such, was Monte Alban Mezcal. It was the "Patron" of it's time,I first tried it about 1982 and drank it for a couple of years, it was the 'best' there was at the time, I think you can still buy it. Yes, I did eat the worm and got a 'I ate the worm' t-shirt...', but no, I didn't have any visions... . I feel though, that now that I've paid my dues, I just try to enjoy what I can.

But it is a shame that good tequila and mezcal have to live with this bad rep.