Best Reposado: Olmeca Tezn Reposado Tequila
Los Altos is a region of Jalisco, Mexico thats known for producing some amazing tequilas. Its home to the Olmeca Distillery, the makers of Tequila Tezòn. While all of the tequilas are very enjoyable, the brands reposado is superb.
Reposado tequilas are aged for three to nine months, so theyre gently rested and pick up a perfect amount of oak flavors. Tezòn also uses a tahona wheel to extract the juice from the agave, which is an old-fashioned approach that leads to a truer taste. The result is one of the best reposado tequilas on the market and one that anyone will enjoy drinking in any way they please.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Roasted agave, leather, pickles | ABV: 40% | Region: Jalisco
Reposado tequila is a great middle-ground for cocktails. The mellow aged flavor can make them a fantastic choice for palomas, tequila sodas, or on the rocks. Blaze LaRoe, Beverage Director at Chikatana
Before the tequila boom of the last couple of decades, gold tequila was almost the only choice at many liquor stores. This category is a mixto meaning that its distilled from agave plant varietals other than the famous blue Weber. While gold tequilas are not as popular as they once were, theres something appealing about their caramel taste and low price. Youll want to be smart about which to drink, and Two Fingers Gold Tequila is one of the best in this category.
The Agave Harvesting Process
In addition to increasingly limited supply, harvesting and preparing agave is still a very manual process. Many spirits have seen a mechanization and automation of this part of the process, with the advent of modern farming methods. Tequila making, specifically harvesting blue agave, continues to be a human-driven task.
The process of harvesting agave is still passed down generationally, rather than via a manual or online training modules. Tending to agave is arduous, as the plants require constant monitoring and pruning . Only those who work the agave fields know when it is ready to be harvested, as there are no obvious indicators for those lacking experience.
Harvesting agave is not as simple as observing that a plant looks mature and ready to be turned into a fermented product called wort. The jimadores are experts, with vast experience, in knowing when the agave plant has just enough carbohydrates and just enough sugar to ferment properly.
As you can imagine, with so much experience and manual labor required, a product like agave can be quite expensive. Thus, the labor intensive and specialized harvesting process alone can drive the cost of tequila.
Best Cheap: Sauza Silver Tequila
Budget tequilas are tricky, and it is very easy to get burned when you buy the wrong one. Sauza Silver is one that wont let you down or leave your mouth on fire. It may not be as smooth as top-shelf tequilas, but it is one of the best affordable options, and its in nearly every liquor store.
Sauza is distilled in the town of Tequila and right across the street from Jose Cuervo. While both brands are famous for their cheap gold tequilas, Sauzas 100 percent blue Weber agave silver tequila is a smoother option for tequila shots when you want to save money. It makes a nice margarita as well, particularly when blended with fruits like strawberry and pineapple.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Fresh agave, fiber, pepper | ABV: 40% |Region: Los Valles, Jalisco
Silver tequilas are unaged and the most affordable of any brands lineup. Tequila Herradura offers a brilliant example that should be almost anywhere you look. It is premium, but not priced out of reach for the average drinker, and it always produces a great tequila cocktail.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Cooked agave, citrus, black pepper | ABV: 40% | Region: Tequila Valley, Jalisco
Recommended Reading: Who Is The Owner Of Don Julio Tequila
What About The Worm
Remember the worm we talked about in the opening section? As it turns out, worms have nothing to do with tequila. The worm in the bottle trick is often used by mezcal producers as a gimmick of sorts to draw attention to their product. In fact, the law says that tequila may not contain a worm or scorpion.
If a bottle is con gusano , then it is likely a mezcal and not a very good one at that. The worm is actually the larva of a moth that infests agave plants. An infested plant is the sign of a bad agave product. Proceed with caution.
Comparing Brands And Their Pricing
So why is a Patron considered a Premium tequila by our standards, while a popular brand like 1800 comes out as a Standard offering? Lets compare some of the brands on our list and look at what might make one more expensive than another.
Patron tequila is often seen in night clubs and is considered an ultra premium brand in the marketplace. Easily identified by its uniquely designed bottle, Patron is one of the higher priced tequilas available on the shelf.
One major reason Patron is seen as a premium brand, and is more expensive, is because of their unique agave handling process. Rather than simply using agave grown on their property, Patron selects from an array of blue agave producers around the region. This ensures that only the perfect blue agave make it into their tequila.
Most would argue that Patron is worth the price as this is one of those tequilas that can be enjoyed sans salt and lime wedge.
On another note, Patron is incredibly environmentally conscious for a major tequila producer. They compost all the agave hearts after use and utilize natural gas to reduce carbon emissions.
Don Julio joins Patron as a Premium tequila on our list. It is also considered a super premium brand by the market, as well.
Jose Cuervo falls into the Standard category by price point, however, that does not mean it is significantly less quality. It has long been one of, if not the best selling tequilas world wide.
Don’t Miss: What Do You Mix With Reposado Tequila
Can You Buy Alcohol At The Cancun Airport
on arrival. Prices are slightly more than major stores in Cancun such as Sams, Costco, Walmart,but if you are going to a resort, spend the dollar or more at the airport duty free. Our state of Quintana Roo is designated a duty free state, so prices of liquor , perfumes, etc are attractive.
Best Overall: Casamigos Blanco Tequila
Casamigos Tequila is a perfect introduction to premium tequilas. The portfolio follows the basic grading system for tequilas, which is standard for most brands and includes a blanco, reposado, and añejo tequila.
The beautiful thing about Casamigos is that it doesnt have a bold tequila taste. Instead, these tequilas are smooth and subtle. They appeal to drinkers who typically prefer vodka or rum, though tequila lovers appreciate them as well. Any bottle is a fantastic option for shots and margaritas, and theyre reasonably priced. You might even recognize it as the brand co-founded by George Clooney. While you have a bottle, its only appropriate to mix up a Danny Ocean cocktail, a sort of grapefruit, cherry-kissed margarita. It’s also quite nice in a spicy paloma and the fun crouching tiger shooter.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, citrus, cream | ABV: 40% | Region: Jalisco
Raúl Rizo, the bar supervisor at The Cape in Los Cabos, Mexico, notes, As soon as tequila blanco is distilled, it is stored in a bottle or rested in barrels of encino or oak for no more than two months. It is the teenager of tequilasyoung, impetuous, and fearless with hints of citrus, menthol, and herbal senses from agave Weber azul.
Read Also: What Can You Mix With Tito’s Vodka
California Residents: Tap Here For Proposition 65 Warning
| WARNING: Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol |
| WARNING: Many food and beverage cans have linings containing bisphenol A , a chemical known to cause harm to the female reproductive system. Jar lids and bottle caps may also contain BPA. You can be exposed to BPA when you consume foods or beverages packaged in these containers. For more information, go to: www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/BPA |
What Is The Best Tequila To Drink Straight
Here are the best sipping tequilas our experts recommend to drink right now.
- Best Overall: Tequila Ocho Plata.
- Best Blanco: Don Fulano Blanco.
- Best Reposado: Siete Leguas Reposado.
- Best Añejo: Don Julio Añejo.
- Best Extra Añejo: Gran Patrón Burdeos.
- Best Valley: Fortaleza Blanco.
- Best Highlands: El Tesoro Reposado.
Also Check: Does Whole Foods Sell Vodka
Jose Cuervo Prices List
|
Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia |
750ml |
Sauza
Sauza tequila is actually very similar in price to Jose Cuervo, but Jose Cuervo is slightly more expensive. Theyve also been in the tequila distilling game for a similar amount of years. Sauzas cheapest bottle, the Sauza Signature Blue Silver retails between $13.99 – $19.99, which is comparable to Jose Cuervos Especial Silver that runs between $13.99 – $16.99. All in all, Jose Cuervo offers more products than Sauza, offering a bit more variety and tequila that is aged for much longer.
Milagro
Milagro is a tequila brand that is very comparable to Jose Cuervo. Most of their tequila products run within the same ranges, and they offer a wide selection that can rival Jose Cuervos selection. A standard 750ml bottle of Milagro Silver can retail between $21.99 – $27.99, which is the same price range as Jose Cuervos Especial Silver .
DeLeon
DeLeon is a premium tequila brand, and this reflects in both their tequilas quality and price. In comparison to Jose Cuervo, whose tequila products are reasonably priced, DeLeon is significantly more expensive. Their cheapest bottle, the DeLeon Platinum can be bought from retailers from anywhere between $27.99 – $29.99. This is a similar price range to Jose Cuervos 1.75L Especial Silver. Overall, DeLeon is a much pricier brand.
Patron
Leyenda Del Milagro Tequila Reposado
750 mL bottle | LCBO#: 603191
This pale straw-coloured reposado is estate grown, made from 100% blue agave and aged for a minimum of three months in American oak barrels. Forward aromas and flavours of fresh agave, caramel, toast and a delicate note of spice that leads to a lengthy and clean finish.
Read Also: Most Expensive Patron
Percent Blue Weber Agave
When shopping for tequila, look for these words on the bottle. It is easier than ever to find them because almost every tequila brand has realized that this is what drinkers really want.
Blue Weber is known as the most elegant expression of tequila. While tequila falls under the mezcal category, several distillers around the town of Tequila began distilling a superior form of mezcal. They used the whole heart of blue agave, which is indigenous to the region, describes Brian Olson, the founder and owner of Café Intermezzo.
Luxury Latin America Blog
Milagro means miracle in Spanish and its a miracle if you havent run into this tequila brand while browsing the duty free store at nearly any airport in North America. Its also a minor miracle that a brand founded in just 1998 has become one of the most recognized, despite competing with the international conglomerates that own brands like Cuervo, Sauza, and Don Julio.
I first tried Milagro Tequila on one of my first trips to Mexico nearly 20 years ago, when the brand was just starting to pop up in airport shops throughout Latin America. I found it odd that I wouldnt see their bottles in a regular supermarket store in Mexico-just in the U.S. or in airports-and I hadnt seen an ad or read a review anywhere.
At the end of the 00s when I first covered the tequila here, Milagros Flash-built website maintained an air of mysteryall images and no explanation. The contact page listed only a single e-mail address, with no phone number or physical location. At the time I wondered, Is Dr. No running this enterprise, or is it the front business for a drug cartel? Now you can learn more about them on their much-improved site.
Recommended Reading: Mid Priced Tequila
The Blue Agave Problem
Tequila is a member of the larger family of spirits – mezcal. Mezcal is produced from any agave plant, however, tequila has a strict ingredient requirement: it must be made from blue agave. Obviously, this limits the availability of ingredients, which in turn drives the cost.
The limited availability of blue agave combined with an increasing demand for the popular spirit has created a significant supply issue for tequila producers.This lack of supply has allowed the increase in cost of the plant, to the tune of six times what is cost just a couple of years ago. As you can imagine, this cost is passed on to the consumer down the line.
Can I Bring Alcohol From Mexico To Us
U.S. Customs and Border Protection allows you to bring up to one liter of alcohol into the country duty-free as long as youre 21 years or older. TSA regulations allow for up to 5 liters of 48 to 140 proof alcohol to ride in your checked baggage as long as its in its original retail packaging and unopened.
Also Check: Where To Buy Chattanooga Whiskey
How Many Tequila Bottles Can I Bring From Mexico To California
Note: There is no federal limit on the amount of alcohol someone may import into the U.S. for personal use, however, large quantities might raise the suspicion that the importation is for commercial purposes, and a Customs and Border Protection officer could require you to obtain a federal import license before
Tequila Is The Cognac Of Mezcals
Wait, what? Yes, it is true. Think about it. Cognac is a form of brandy that has such restrictive requirements that it makes it a superior product that happens to cost significantly more than other brandies.
Tequila follows the same trajectory. It is a mezcal but must be made from a specific, rare plant and in a small region. There are very few budget offerings of tequila, as you can see in our chart below, because of these legal restrictions on what is considered tequila.
While tequila is often pictured as a spirit consumed in hot, sweaty desert locations or as a simple additive to the sugary margarita, it is actually quite a premium spirit. Many brands, like Patron, have focused their marketing on raising the level of perceived quality of tequila.
Also Check: What Proof Is Bacardi Rum
Tequila Costs In Cancun
Just wondering how much a good bottle of Tequila cost in downtown Cancun.
These are some of the Tequilas I like or have access to where I live:
Hornitos
They are very close on price, I would not buy anything in the Hotel Zone.
Sams has good deals, the only problem now is having to check your bottles in your luggage..
For me is not worth the hassle, specially if you can get it here in the
15 days for Tequila worms..
are you asking about the prices of these that you listed, or are you looking for prices on other brands?
There are so many different types of tequilas. The younger they are the less costly, the older, the more costly. Prices can range from a few dollas to over $100 per bottle.
Looking for prices of the Tequilas that are posted. But if anyone can recommend a good local Respado for a good price that would be sweet!
I’m staying at the Barcelo Tucancun and from what I hear the booze there is bottom shelf gut-rott. I’ll just stick to the beer and I’m looking to buy a bottle or two to sip on while I’m down there and mabye if the prices are right I’ll take a few home.
Thanks,
Shot prices are around $7.00. Never found anything local I liked. Enjoy!
And why do you care?
I don’t normally buy what I’d call everyday tequila while I’m in cancun, but I’d venture a guess that Don Julio is about $35 USD.
Some others that I think are good for shots or margaritas are Chinaco Blanco, Milagro Silver or Sublime Joven. These are probably about $20 USD a bottle .
What Is The Difference Between Reposado And Aejo Tequila
Reposado Tequila is lighter in color and flavor than an because it is not aged as long. Reposado is aged between two months and just under a year, while Añejo is aged for one to three years. Another distinction is that Añejo Tequila must be aged in an oak barrel no larger than 600 liters. By contrast, Reposado can mature in any size oak container. Spending more time in a smaller oak container gives Añejo a deeper color and more flavor.
You May Like: Does Whole Foods Sell Vodka
Which Is The Smoothest Tequila
What is the smoothest tequila? The smoothest tequila is often regarded to be Ocho Añejo, an estate-grown spirit brand that also bears the title of the first ever Tequila vintage. The Añejo is rich and vegetal with notes of vanilla and caramel and is aged in ex-American whiskey barrels for one year.