Are Tequila Worms alive? That little worm inside your bottle of tequila is not alive. In fact, if it wasn’t for drowning in booze then that little worm would turn into a beautiful butterfly (or moth rather), as it’s not a worm at all. It’s the larvae of a moth.

Contrary to the popular belief, tequila doesn’t actually contain the worm. Today, tequila does not contain a worm in the bottle (in fact, the Mexican Standards authority prohibits it). But if you do find a bottle, they’re usually in lower-ended mezcal.

So, why is there a worm in mezcal? Larvae began appearing in mezcal bottles in the 1950s, when a mezcal maker discovered a moth larvae in a batch of his liquor and thought the stowaway improved its taste. He started adding “worms” to all his bottles as a marketing strategy.

It’s not actually tequila, but rather a couple brands of mezcal. Unlike the “worm” (which is a larval form of a moth that lives in the agave plant), the scorpion is more of a gimmick. Even their website lists it as a “novelty” that doesn’t add anything to the flavor of the mezcal.

Monte Alban Mezcal

So tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila, and only mezcal has worms. According to Anthony Dias Blue’s Complete Book of Spirits, that “worm” is actually a larva from one of two types of moths, known as maguey worms, that live on the agave plant.

But in none of these mezcals are you likely to find worms. The worms themselves are actually caterpillars — specifically, the larva of a moth called the gusano de maguey.

Here, the best mezcals available.

• Best for a Negroni: Derrumbes San Luis Potosí
• Best for Sipping: Nuestra Soledad Zoquitlán.
• Best Smoky: Del Maguey Vida.
• Best Barril: El Jolgorio.
• Best Organic: Doña Vega Mezcal Espadín.
• Best Value: El Recuerdo de Oaxaca Joven.
• Best for Beginners: Vamonos Riendo Mezcal.

The best way to drink mezcal straight is without ice. Serving mezcal straight at room temperature is the best way to experience its colorful flavors and aromas. Take a sip and swish it around in your mouth. This will open your palate and allow your taste buds to adjust to the initial burning sensation.

The worm at the bottom of mezcal won’t make you hallucinate Despite its reputation, it doesn’t have any hallucinogenic properties. However, it does affect the mezcal’s flavor profile.

6 Expensive Mezcals That Are Worth the Price Tag

• Alipus San Andres Ensamble Mezcal ($75)
• Don Mateo Agave Inaequidens Mezcal ($80)
• Rey Campero Wild Jabalí Mezcal ($115)
• Mezcal Vago Olla de Barro Tobalá ($130)
• Mezcal Koch’s Pulquero ($120)
• El Jolgorio Wild Tepeztate Mezcal ($150)

We wanted to find the best, smoky mezcals to drink this fall, so we connected with experts — asking bartenders to tell us their picks.

• Ilegal Mezcal Joven. Hayden Miller, head bartender at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in Miami.
• Mezcal El Silencio.
• Mezcal Vago Ensamble de Barro.
• Banhez Pechuga.
• Mezcal Vago Tobala.

It’s like a scotch-y margarita! The tart lime juice and sweet agave pair absolutely perfectly with the smoky, rich mezcal. And probably a good place to start either way if you’re new to mezcal. But bottom line — if you love smoky drinks, it’s absolutely worth the try.

The shelf life of mezcal is indefinite, but if mezcal develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, it should be discarded for quality purposes.

For most drinking purposes, you can easily substitute a mezcal for a tequila without really changing the taste of a cocktail. But if you feel like splurging, a pricier tequila or mezcal will generally outperform and provide a better tasting experience, especially if you want to drink it neat.

Flavor Profile: Because of mezcal’s underground, firepit process, the spirit tends to have a more savory, smokier profile than that of tequila. Though bear in mind that the longer either spirit spends aging in barrel, the smoother, more refined of a flavor profile it will have.

There are some major differences between tequila and vodka, though they are both distilled spirits: Tequila is made from the blue agave plant and vodka is made from a starch or sugar rich plant. Tequila is distilled into five different types, while vodka only has one form.

Tequila has numerous health benefits (and is lower in calories than Smirnoff vodka). Agavins, the natural sugar found in tequila, are non-digestible (meaning they act like fiber) and won’t raise your blood sugar levels. Yup, that’s right, tequila can fit in perfectly with a weight loss plan if enjoyed in moderation.

Tequila. Research on mice shows that consuming the agave tequila plant can increase calcium absorption and improve bone health.

“But with agave-based spirits, and the complex sugar that gets produced, called inulin, the complexity allows tequila to remain a stimulant longer than most others,” the 52-year-old Yeager said. “Those other parts of tequila maintain that lively, fun buzz.