With a chuckle, Sandra Pedregal recalls taking her first taste of tequila when she was about 5 years old. As the elders in her family gathered in a tasting area at a fair in Tecate, Mexico, she wiggled between them to grab one of the little clay pots filled with the liquor and began sipping from it.

“My dad was really pissed off,” she says, “and I never had it again until I was in graduate school.”

Pedregal, who runs the Adventurous Gourmet and the Gay Adventurous Gourmet, has since developed a discerning taste for the iconic drink of Mexico, made from the sap of a succulent plant known as agave. Having grown up in Tijuana, her approach to drinking tequila is far removed from the shot-slamming rituals seen in party bars on both sides of the Mexican border.

In her upcoming tequila tasting classes presented through the Learning Annex, she will shed light on the history of the drink, discuss how it is aged and outline the different types of tequila available in commercial markets. The classes will be held from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., Oct. 1 and Nov. 5, in the Proprietor’s Reserve room at Rosie O’Grady’s, located at 3204 Adams Ave.

Participants will be introduced to the four varietals of tequila: silver, reposado, anejo and mixto – each distinguished by the length of time they are aged, as well as by their colors and flavors. She will also provide tutelage on how to properly drink tequila, which was “originally enjoyed as an aperitif meant for sipping, and not slugging,” she says.

“People who drink too much tequila in one sitting are giving the drink a bad rap,” she adds. “In discos throughout Baja and Mexico, customers have a waiter put your head back as they pour tequila into your mouth. Then they shake your head. My nephew went through that in Tijuana and ended up in the hospital for alcohol poisoning.”

Pedregal sees a whole different side to the consumption of tequila, particularly when she escorts groups south of the border to fine-dining establishments through her Adventurous Gourmet outings. As a digestive, she believes tequila is best when sipped “before, during and after a good meal.” Or when mixing it into cocktails, she recommends choosing those made with 100 percent agave, such as silver or reposado. “Those are better aged and contain less sugar than the cheaper mixto brands.”

Among her favorite labels is Herradura Anejo, a tequila known for its smooth, strong agave flavor that will be “special ordered” for the upcoming classes. Pedregal is also a fan of Jose Cuervo Private Reserve, which can exceed $200 a bottle. But she admits that many experts don’t consider it “real tequila” because it’s aged in French cognac barrels and carries only a faint flavor of agave. Classic tequilas, she says, are aged in Kentucky oak barrels.

Aside from the palate-pleasing properties that fine tequilas offer, Pedregal has taken solace in the high-powered spirit ever since she began experiencing acid reflux in the ’90s. “I had a shot of Sauza Hornitos when I first started getting stomach problems, and then I burped like I hadn’t done in a long time and felt fine. It still does the trick for me as long as I don’t drink tremendous amounts of it.”

Socially, she savors tequila at dinner parties or when entertaining friends at home. Yet a little tequila goes a long way in mustering up the nerve to sing from a karaoke stage. Recently, she admits to drinking it before taking the microphone for karaoke at the Auld Sod. “I had a double shot and then got up and sang ‘All That Jazz.’”

Pedregal’s tequila classes cost $29.99 apiece, plus $10 for materials. To register, call (619) 544-9700 or visit the Learning Annex Web site at www.learninganex.com. For more information on the Adventurous Gourmet and the Gay Adventurous Gourmet, call (619) 521-9595.

Pedregal will offer group tours to Tijuana’s annual Expo Tequila, taking place Oct. 12-16 at Avenida Revolucion and Seventh Street. The event showcases hundreds of tequilas for sale and tasting. Call the Adventurous Gourmet number above for more information.