Some people go to Bordeaux to gape at the grape, others to Bavaria to drain the grain; I went on a search for a cactus. Okay, hands up, I don’t actually like tequila that much. In fact, even writing the name makes me cringe, but when you’re in the Jalisco region of Mexico, a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.

Okay, hands up, I don’t actually like tequila that much, but when you’re in the Jalisco region of Mexico, a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.

So, driven by my curiosity to discover how you get that fire juice out of a cactus, I headed to Guadalajara. Nestled between Tequila (now you know how the drink got its name) and Arandas, Guadalajara is one of the biggest cities in Mexico. This means you have plenty of places to rest your poorly head.

Once you’ve got settled (I stayed in the very comfortable Hotel Morales), head to the hills surrounding the small town of Tequila. Here you’ll find fields of blue agave, the plant from which the sacred brew is made. And where there is agave there are distilleries. They’re all here including Jose Cuervo, the brand that gave me my first shocking tequila hangover.

To find out how they make the crazy juice, you can go on a Cuervo distillery tour. Not only will you learn the science, you’ll get to sample a whole range of different types. Turns out some are ranker than others. If by this stage your head’s hurting, there is an unexpected cure at the end. An art gallery.

After such a tough day you’re bound to want a drink, and what better place to drink tequila than in Tequila. For service with a smile and an outstanding selection of firewater, try El Tejeban de Don Cuco.

But don’t stay there too long. Otherwise, you might find yourself slumped over the bar witnessing a head banging Tequila sunrise.