7 ways to celebrate National Tequila Day in Las Vegas

Te-te-te, tequila!

Today is National Tequila Day. Why is today National Tequila Day? Beats us, the origins of the observance seem to be as murky as a glass of mixto.

We turned to the website of the Institute of Tequila Studies for assistance, but not only does the institute not address it, it lists no location for its own "state of the art" museum that's open for tours and is "a short drive from the center of town" (which town?). A little too much sipping in the museum, maybe.

At any rate, here are seven places where you can celebrate the day:

Canonita at The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South: Three-glass margarita flights, $10, with choice of classic, pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon or jalapeno.

Hussong's Cantina, The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and Boca Park Fashion Village, 750 S. Rampart Blvd.: Mexi-Mule (Sauza Blue reposado tequila, ginger beer, fresh lime juice and crushed mint), $12 at Mandalay Place, $9.95 at Boca Park. Both locations also will offer $3 shots of Sauza Blue reposado.

Mercadito, Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd.: One free shot of tequila ($10 or less) with the purchase of a margarita, limit one per customer.

On the Border, 5630 Centennial Center Blvd: House margaritas, $2, and Lunazul reposado tequila shots, $2, Friday and Saturday.

STK, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South: Basil'rita (Avion tequila, basil and fresh lime juice), $18; Buenos Dias (Don Julio anejo, Licor 43, espresso), $18; Raspberry Ole tequila-based shot, $12; chilled Patron shot, $8.

Tacos & Tequila at Luxor, 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South: El Jimador tequila flights — pours of Blanco, Reposado and Anejo — $15, and the Chonga, a giant frozen margarita with two 7-ounce Sol beers upended in it, $25.

Tequila Taqueria, Bally's, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South: TacoTini (Patron reposado tequila, Monin spicy mango and pineapple juice), $12; CC Margarita (Patron silver tequila, cucumber-cilantro simple syrup, fresh lime juice and fresh sour), $13; California Rita (1800 silver tequila, Midori melon liqueur, fresh lime juice, avocado and fresh sour), $12; Palo-Mojito (Patron silver tequila, fresh lime juice, mint and agave nectar, topped with San Pellegrino grapefruit), $9; and Tropical Storm (Casamigos blanco tequila, Vita Coco coconut water with tropical fruit and Gosling's ginger beer), $10.

Contact Heidi Knapp Rinella at Hrinella@reviewjournal.com. Find more of her stories at www.reviewjournal.com and bestoflasvegas.com and follow @HKRinella on Twitter.