Grab A Lime And The Salt, It’s National Tequila Day!

This may not come as a very big surprise. Tequila is named after a little town in Mexico called Tequila. Big surprise huh? I'd bet you didn't know it's in a valley west of Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico. The spirit was known as mezcal wine about the time the conquistadors came to the continent.

According to The Atlantic, Tequila is a global industry worth more than a billion dollars: 7 out of every 10 liters produced in Mexico are exported abroad. The biggest market is the United States, surprised? The US swallows some 80% of exports.

Making tequila is expensive, it's labor intensive and time-consuming to farm. Plus it takes the plant on average of 7 years to reach maturity, unlike grapes that can be harvested every year.

The next time you order shots in the local watering hole pause a moment and think about what has gone into that shot of Tequila you are about to slam with your friends.

Oh, by the way, if you're not one to do shots try this recipe for a Margarita.

3/4 oz freshly squeezed lime

1 oz Cointreau

1 1/2 Tequila

salt the rim of the glass