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"Good" olive oil will "burn" your throat when you swallow it.

As OO ages, the quality drops, so the fresher, the better. If you get OO from Europe and it took forever to get here and sat on a store shelf forever, but you managed to get some from California or somewhere more local, there's a good chance that the local stuff will be better. I assume that flavor potentially is independent or at least not fully 1:1 dependent on age and quality.

And there's a HUGE counterfeit OO market. They have found stuff being sold as EVOO that's actually vegetable oil with some green coloring and flavoring, but little to no actual OO.

The burning sensation from extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a positive sign of a high-quality, fresh oil, caused by the natural compound oleocanthal which stimulates a specific throat receptor. This pungency indicates the oil is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, similar to ibuprofen. The sensation is felt at the back of the throat because the specific flavor-sensing molecule, TRPA1, is located there.
What Causes the Burn?

Oleocanthal:

This is a naturally occurring phenolic compound found in high-quality EVOO.
TRPA1 Receptor:

The oleocanthal molecules attach to a specific sensor molecule, TRPA1, which is found in the throat but not the mouth.
Anti-inflammatory Properties:

This compound is similar in its anti-inflammatory action to ibuprofen, making the burn a marker of beneficial health properties.

What Does This Mean for the Olive Oil Quality?

A Good Sign: A strong, peppery, or stinging sensation is actually a positive indicator.

Freshness & Purity: It shows the olive oil is fresh, pure, and not adulterated with other oils.
Antioxidant Content: It means the oil is packed with natural antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols.

How to Recognize a High-Quality EVOO
To test your EVOO for these qualities, you can try the "5-second trick":

Pour: Put a small amount of oil into a shot glass or small bowl.
Swirl & Sniff: Swirl and sniff the oil like you would a wine to appreciate its aroma.
Sip: Take a small sip and hold it in your mouth, then draw air across your tongue to send the oil to the back of your throat.

If it produces a peppery, pungent, or tingling sensation, you likely have a fresh, high-quality, and antioxidant-rich EVOO