Tequila is a religion.
Mezcal ( or mescal ) ( [ mɛs ` kæl ] ) is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave plant native to Mexico . Tequila . Although tequila is similar to mezcal , modern tequila differs somewhat in the method of its production , in the use of only blue agave plants , as well as in its regional specificity . Tequila is commonly served neat in Mexico and as a shot with salt and lime across the rest of the world . Per U.S law , tequila must contain at least 40 % alcohol ( 80 U.S. proof ) to be sold in the United States .