Prepare the salt and lime: Lick the back of your hand and sprinkle a pinch of kosher salt on it. Hold a lime wedge in your other hand.

Pour the tequila: Fill the shot glass with your preferred tequila. Consider starting with blanco tequila for a smoother taste, reposado for complexity, or añejo for a richer, smokier flavor.

Lick the salt: Lick the salt from your hand to reduce the tequila's burn. Alternatively, sprinkle salt on the shot glass rim and lick it off.

Shoot the tequila: Hold the lime wedge in your mouth, gulp the tequila, then suck on the lime to balance the flavor and cleanse your palate. Experiment with holding the lime between fingers or in your mouth.

Chase it with a drink: Follow up with a chaser (pineapple juice, orange juice, grenadine, or add a few drops of hot sauce for a spicy kick) to wash away the salt and tequila taste.