Tequila. A drink that either incites fear or excitement - for Team ELLE it is definitely the latter. The beloved Mexican pick me up always conjures images of sombreros, salt-rimmed margaritas by the pool, mariachi bands and (occasionally) that 'one-too-many-slammers' face. But for the most part, Tequila is the our shot de jour and here is why: 

Fun Facts: 

1.Tequila is actually an upper. Unlike it's spirit sister, 'sobbing Gin', Tequila is a perk-you-upper and as such is a very good jet-lag cure. 

2.Tequila is plant based, it is made from the blue agave plant. So basically it counts as one of your five a day. Right?

3.Tequila is primarily made in the area surrounding the city of Tequila – who knew about this magical city? And when can we visit?

4.Over 50 million litres of Tequila are consumed in America every year. Bravo, America, bravo. 

5.Scientist have actually found a way to turn tequila into diamonds. However they are very tiny diamonds and are really only used for industrial purposes, shame. 

Team ELLE on Tequila (literally)*

1. As a family of tequila drinkers, our dalliance with the stuff knows no bounds; silver to darkened hues and Patron to Don Julio, we love it all. From switching up your bitter lemons for some sweet nectarines or chasing it with a shot of pineapple juice, we have several different ways in which we ceremoniously get drunk.

2. My husband downed the mezcal worm and ended up sitting in the shower with water running, fully clothed, requesting ‘extra Texas’ (yer, what?) for a good hour. Those little buggers pack a punch and then some. 

3. If I was to ever write a book I'd call it, The Tequila Diaries. During my late teens I would tell friends I was immune and often challenged bar staff to tequila offs on the promise of free shots if I could out-tequila them. Every celebration since 18 has been marked with a shot of golden patron with a wedge of lemon and plenty of salt. If it's too early for shots, margaritas are acceptable from 11am. Served on the rocks with a salty rim. Nowhere does them better than the pool bar at the Chateaux Marmont in LA.

4. There is one really great Tequila bar in Leeds that not only serves every kind of Tequila but also looks a lot like the Coyote Ugly Bar. So after sampling pretty much everything they had an offer, I decided it was time to mount the bar and attempt the Coyote cowboy routine. Safe to say, I did not nail it. 

5. After being challenged that I was too much of a princess to do a 'Tequila Suicide' (snort the salt, down the shot, and squirt the lemon in your eye) I decided to squash the haters and take on the challenge. The salt was hideous, the Tequila was cheap and the lemon split my contact lens. Lesson learnt: stick to the slammers. 

*Identities have been kept anonymous to protect the guilty.