By Amy Wolf, Sunset travel editor

I tried to play it cool. I mean, I didn't want to look like a gluttonous, freeloading American when faced with the prospect of free booze. But it's hard not to get excited about a tequila shop that offers samples. All the samples you want! For free!

We were in Bucerias (a great little town, very un-touristy, north of Puerto Vallarta) when we discovered Las Gaviotas, a shop just off the main drag (where the street market crowds the streets daily) devoted to nothing but tequila. Forget the pareos and hats and hammocks being hawked at the market: let's buy some tequila!

At first we demurred when offered a sample of the Don Abraham. But then... what the heck? Sure, and I'll also taste the Miramontes Anejo (made in the state of Nayarit).

And the coffee-flavored tequila too. And why not, the chocolate-flavored one. (Who knew?)

Days later, in Sayulita, at the Hotel Hafa (which is where you should stay next time you visit this oh-so-popular surfing town), we came upon a tray of tequila and other hooch free for the taking up on the rooftop lounge. To be honest, it's actually an honor-bar system.

But don't you just love that Mexico sets out honor bars with real booze? I've never seen such a thing in the U.S. Have you?

My husband hadn't quite filled his quota of tequila purchases at the end of our trip, so we used our short layover in Guadalajara to buy just a splash more. (We had to use our last pesos anyway). Turns out they set out free samples in the airports too. I grabbed one for the road. My husband bought three more bottles. I stifled an impulse to grab one last sample. I didn't want to be like one of those gluttonous, freeloading Americans, after all.