Which Tequila Is The Smoothest
Here are the best sipping tequilas our experts recommend to drink right now.
- Best Highlands: El Tesoro Reposado.
- Best for Beginners: Casamigos Blanco.
- Best Under $30: Espolòn Reposado.
- Best Under $50: Cazadores Añejo.
- Best Splurge: Don Ramón Limited Edition Extra Añejo.
- Best Gift: Casa Dragones Añejo Barrel Blend.
The Best Blanco Reposado And Aejo Tequilas To Be Savored On Their Own
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LIQUOR / Chloe Jeong
Best Highlands:Tequila Chamucos Reposado at Drizly
Floral on the nose, it has the bittersweet fruitiness and briny undertones to keep you coming back for more.
A is fantastic, but its not the only way to drink tequila. In fact, if you take a deeper dive, you’ll discover tequilas you can enjoy on their own, says Crystal Chasse, beverage director of Talk Story Rooftop in Brooklyn, New York. What she’s describing is what’s called a sipping tequila.
” distinctive nuances that take you on a journey from the front to the back palate, with a finish that makes you come back for another sip, she explains.
According to Morgan Hurley, marketing and beverage director of Mex 1 Coastal Cantina in Charleston, South Carolina, a sipping tequila should be 100% agave and very well-crafted, particularly if its unaged.
Reposados, on the other hand, are barrel-aged for two months to a year, and they should be mellow, he says. “But still have that cooked agave flavor mingling with the honey, toasted oak and vanilla.
Here, the best sipping tequilas our experts recommend to drink right now.
Best Splurge: Don Ramn Limited Edition Extra Aejo
Courtesy of Liquorama.net
Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Cocoa, Dark coffee
Only 5,000 bottles of this limited-edition Don Ramón extra añejo were produced. Made with 100% blue agave from the Tequila Highlands, this expression has been aged for three years in American oak barrels. The tequila provides notes of toasted coconut and vanilla, with some cocoa powder and dark roasted coffee, Hurley notes. But thats only part of the selling point for him.
The tequila is great, but the bottle is whats really gorgeous, he says. The glass is embedded with gold flakes and decorated in wooshing lines composed of Swarovski crystals, which frame the dark amber liquid inside. It makes a showstopping centerpiece for any bar.
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What Is The Smoothest Tequila
Here are the best sipping tequilas our experts recommend to drink right now.
- Best Highlands: El Tesoro Reposado.
- Best for Beginners: Casamigos Blanco.
- Best Under $30: Espolòn Reposado.
- Best Under $50: Cazadores Añejo.
- Best Splurge: Don Ramón Limited Edition Extra Añejo.
- Best Gift: Casa Dragones Añejo Barrel Blend.
How Popular Is Tequila Right Now
Good question. Lets look at the stats, shall we?
Nielsens research shows spirits sales have increased across the board during Spring 2020, with tequila sales growing especially fast. Sales of this spirit have risen by 55% during the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Cinco de Mayo likely played a major factor as well, with alcohol E-commerce platforms like Drizly reporting massive increases in tequila sales. Drizly representatives told SPY that tequila sales on the platform grew by an incredibly 882% over the last few months. Even after Cinco de Mayo, interest remains steady, with the online retailer reporting 546% growth in deliveries during the week of 5/18/2020.
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% Blue Agave Tequila Produced In The Lowlands Of Jalisco Mexico
BLANCO
Rich in aromas and bright tones, Próspero Blanco provides an unparalleled flavor that offers consumers exceptional quality for the price.
REPOSADO
Aged in oak barrels, Próspero Reposado has a distinct golden tone and a flavor with rich round notes of vanilla, white flowers and lingering spice.
AÑEJO
Aged for a minimum of 12 months in oak barrels, Próspero Añejo has flavors of spice, toasted caramel, cacao and roasted fruit.
Stella Anguiano
Tradition, identity and a rich Mexican history has defined the vision of Stella Anguiano, one of Mexicos most distinguished female Master Distillers of 30 years. Stellas passion for each step of the process comes from a respect for family traditions and a desire to create exceptional products with superior characteristics. She remains committed to paying tribute to Mexicos heritage while still pushing boundaries in her craft and excelling as a woman in amale-dominated industry. From Stellas hand, Próspero is a celebration of women a spirit made with all women in mind.
Women are here. We see women in all areas of the industry bringing our knowledge, our desire to succeed, and especially our passion to do things well. Stella Anguiano
Rita Ora
Rita Ora is an international pop singer and multi-talented industry leader across TV, culture and fashion.
And who better to introduce the Próspero RitaRita cocktail than Rita herself! Salud!
The RitaRita recipe:
Classifications Categories & Classes
There are two main classifications of tequila, ‘Mixto’ and ‘100% Agave’. These two categories of tequila are further categorised according to whether or not the tequila has been aged, and if so for how long. They are Blanco, Joven/Gold, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo. Any of these categories can also be flavoured .
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Best Gift: Casa Dragones Aejo Barrel Blend
Courtesy of Casa Dragones
Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Pepper, Nuts, Oak
Our job as bar pros is to be skeptical, but when I took the first sip, I was like, Oh, this is divine, says Chasse. A lot of bottles that people think about for gifting are on the sweeter side, but this one is not super sweet. Instead, the aging program, in both new French and new American oak, lends it complexity and balance.
Chasse finds plenty of peppery spice, nuttiness and a hint of cacao but with a lush mouthfeel that makes Casa Dragones’ tequila feel luxurious. Its sleek, charcoal-colored bottle and turquoise box present the kind of packaging that makes it giftable without wrapping paper.
The Best Tequilas For 2021 Are:
- Best overall G4 Blanco: £40.69, Coolchile.co.uk
- Best for whisky lovers Storywood speyside 14 añejo: £47.99, Storywoodtequila.com
- Best bargain El Jimador blanco: £26.35, Masterofmalt.com
- Best sipping blanco Mijenta Blanco: £49.95, Thewhiskyexchange.com
- Best for richer cocktails Cazcabel Reposado: £26.44, Masterofmalt.com
- Best for T& Ts El Rayo plata: £33.23, Masterofmalt.com
- Best for tequila sceptics 1800 Cristalino tequila: £46.85, Masterofmalt.com
- Best classic reposado Herradura reposado: £43.63, Masterofmalt.com
- Best traditional blanco Tapatio blanco: £25.12,
- Best for sweet tooths Padre Azul añejo: £107.95, Masterofmalt.com
- Best for summery drinking Código rosa: £49.95, Masterofmalt.com
- Best low-key celeb tequila AquaRiva reposado: £28.95, Thewhiskyexchange.com
- Best for Instagramming Vivir blanco: £34.95, Masterofmalt.com
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Mezcal Clase Azul Guerrero
Inspired by the singularity of Guerreros landscapes, art, heritage, gastronomy and the leadership of women, Clase Azul Guerrero portrays Mexican culture at its best. It comes from a rare variety of agave, the papalote agave.
It’s full-bodied, crystal clear in color, with light straw-colored highlights. It tastes like fresh wood, lemon juice, seaweed, pepper or light notes of tobacco.
Accompany it with Serrano ham tapas, steamed fish taco or lemon cake.
Best Under $: El Tequileo Reposado
Courtesy of Total Wine
Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Agave, Baking spice, Vanilla, Pineapple
You can still taste the lovely green and cooked agave amid the baking spice notes and vanilla that come out of the barrel-aging process, says Jamie Gordon, managing partner at Albuquerque, New Mexicos Artichoke Cafe, of this iconic reposado. I get a little pineapple, too, which is one of those flavors youre always happy to find in a spirit.
Gordon also likes El Tequileños story. Founded in 1959 by Don Jorge Salles Cuervo, the brand is now under the watchful eye of third-generation master distiller, Jorge Antonio Salles. It’s the exclusive tequila produced at Jaliscos La Guarreña distillery. It has a history of place, says Gordon, and, most importantly, it’s delicious.
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Cdigo 1530 Rosa Tequila
Drizly
Smooth and delicate, Código 1530s Rosa Tequila makes for perfect after-work sipping, or used in a hand-crafted cocktail. Produced using the tequila-making traditions of the Los Bajos region and its tequilieras, the tequila is meticulously aged inFrench White Oakred wine barrels from Napa Valley. That gives the Rosa a subtle pink hue, and a sweet yet dry finish.
Country singer George Strait is an investor in the brand, and even wrote a song inspired by the tequila off his 2019 album, Honkey Tonk Time Machine.
Blanco Reposado Aejo Or Extra Aejo
The first thing that you should look for on the front label is the type of tequila. Clear, unaged tequila will be labeled blanco, plata, platinum or silver. Reposado means its been aged in oak casks for two months to a year, and añejo tells you its been aged for more than a year. Extra añejo was introduced as a category in 2006 and describes tequilas that are aged for at least three years. Finally, gold and oro tequilas are mixtos with artificial coloring added.
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Why Can Tequila Only Be Made In Mexico
Tequila is fermented and distilled from a single type of agave plant, Agave tequilana Weber blue. Tequila is not smoky because the agave hearts are steamed or kilned during production it can only be produced in Jalisco, and designated areas in four other Mexican states.
100 Percent Agave Tequila List
- Tarantula Azul Tequila. 3.8 out of 5 stars.
- El Padrino Blanco Tequila. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
- Porfidio Tequila Extra Anejo 3 Year Agave. 5 out of 5 stars.
- Agavales Especial Gold 100% Agave. 4.6 out of 5 stars.
- Agavales 100% Agave Reposado. 5 out of 5 stars.
- Cazul 100 Silver.
Jose Cuervo Tradicional Aejo
BEST UNDER $50
Jose Cuervo is a legacy among the best tequila brands, one that has been synonymous with the spirit for over two centuries. That alone warrants its credibility. Its latest release in the Tradicional portfolio, Añejo combines the Cuervo family recipe with a touch of charred American oak to create a remarkably smooth tequila that might be confused for a light whiskey upon first taste. The company matures this blend for 12 months in oak barrels before spending an additional four months in Irish single malt whiskey barrels, adding unique flavors like cinnamon, caramel, and stewed figs to the tequilas already distinctive profile. Priced slightly above the $30 mark, its an amazing value and Fathers Day gift idea thatll warm you and the big guy up any night of the year.
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Regarding This Is All Tequila Made From Agave
Tequila is made from blue agave, but it does not have to be 100% agave. Many tequilas will advertise themselves as 100% Blue Agave, but the legal requirement is 51%. Distillers are allowed to fill out the rest with a neutral spirit made from cane sugar juice, creating what is known as a mixto tequila.
What Is Pure Agave Tequila
In order for it to be pure tequila, it must be produced from the Blue Agave plant, and a plant that has matured for a minimum of six years. After harvesting, the agave undergoes a distilling process and then is aged in barrels, steel or oak, to produce its four different types: Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, and Extra Anejo.
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Ready To Become A Tequila Expert
This tequila guide will cover what makes a tequila a tequila and go over some basic definitions so you can dazzle yourself and others with tequila knowledge. Ill provide some recommendations for tequilas that are widely available so you can begin to stock your home bar and ensure the best tequila experience for your next party or quiet night at home.
Leela Cyd Ross
Sauza Tequila Introduces Sauza Blue 100% Pure Agave Tequilanew Launch Completes Brand Portfolio With 100% Fresh Blue Agave Tequila
Deerfield, IL Sauza® Tequila, a member of the Beam Global Spirits & Wine family, announced the addition of Sauza® Blue to its portfolio, marking the Sauza brands first entry into 100% agave tequila.
Available in both Silver and Reposado, Sauza Blue Tequila features the same crisp, fresh agave flavors that consumers have come to expect from Sauza Tequila, now made from 100% blue agave. Both marques offer their own unique flavor profiles, with Sauza Blue Silver containing a sweet agave and peppery flavor combined with hints of honeysuckle, and Sauza Blue Reposado blending the taste of cooked agave with well-defined wood notes.
Sauza prides itself on delivering the freshest tasting tequila in the industry, and introducing a tequila made from 100% fresh blue agave is a natural next step, says Amy Weisenbach, Senior Director, Tequila, Beam Global Spirits & Wine. Tequila is the second-largest category at Beam Global, and we recognize its huge potential for growth. Adding a pure 100% agave rounds out our portfolio and ensures that we have a tequila for every consumer and every occasion.
Sauza Blue is crafted at the renowned Sauza Distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. The agave plants are put into tequila production within 48 hours of being hand-picked, then milled and steeped prior to cooking in a process called Fresh Pressed Agave, resulting in the freshest, natural, crisp agave flavor.
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The Absolute Best Cheap Tequilas Under $20
Tequila can start a party. It also can end one very quickly. Your focus should stay on those that can star at any gathering. A solid tequila doesnt have to break the bank, either. Also, keep this in mind when looking for quality tequila, affordable or not: Make sure its 100% agave. Those headache-inducing tequilas of your past were more than likely only part agave they just need to be 51%. The additional sugar in those was likely your culprit.
All tequila hails from the Mexican state of Jalisco. All start as Blue Weber Agave and take a wonderful ride to reach their final destination on a drinkers palate. This Mexican spirit has a beautiful, rich history. The excellence of this well-made spirit can be witnessed even in inexpensive versions neat or mixed into a tasty margarita.
Don Julio Blanco Tequila
BEST FOR ROUNDS AT THE BAR
Don Julio is a terrific heritage brand that creates smooth, tasty and not too exorbitantly priced tequilas, which makes Blanco a perfect choice when buying a round for your compadres at the local pub. Blanco has a clean finish that allows it to go down easy, so no one will be wincing. Its blend is also something special, especially for a tequila priced under $50, highlighted by pure agave and notes of citrus like lemon, lime and grapefruit. You can enjoy it regularly on the rocks, while out at dinner or at your favorite bar. And nearly every restaurant and bar has it. Take our advice and pair it with a clam bake or lobster roll.
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Caballito Cerrero Chato Aejo
Caballito Cerrero, founded by Don Alfonso Jiménez Rosales, a co-founder of Tequila Herradura in Amatitán, has rejected the tequila Appellation of Origin so it can make this unique mezcal de tequila, officially labeled destilado de agave, free of the limitations and costs imposed by the powerful bureaucracy. The key to this exquisite añejo is a combination of estate-grown blue agave, water from an uphill spring, and open-air fermentation.
Casa Noble Anejo Tequila
Casa Noble
When anejo tequila is done right, its at once rich and flavorful, smooth yet complex. Thats what you get from Casa Nobles anejo blend, aged in new French oak for two full years with notes of dried fruit, toasted oak, creamy butterscotch, chocolate and spice. An undertone of sweet cooked agave recalls this tequilas fresh Blanco roots.
Like all of Casa Nobles offerings, this one is certified organic, and took home the Best Añejo Tequila prize at the 2017 World Tequila Awards. Best sipped slow for a warm, inviting mouthfeel.
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Corazon Single Estate Aejo
This single-estate tequila was one of the best and least expensive añejos we tasted. Bright gold, with warm aromas of cooked agave, sugar cookie, and caramel, its easy on the palate, then sneaks in for a spicy finish on the sides of the tongue and cheeks. Sip this by a campfire or on the beach. Average price: $36.
Mixto Tequila Verses 100% Agave Tequila
A tequila can be organized into two categories, mixto tequilas and 100% agave tequilas.
Mixto tequilas are made with no less than 51% agave, with the other 49% usually being fermented sugar cane juice. The result is a tequila thats very sweet in both smell and taste. However, the flavor usually stops there.
These mixto tequilas are often harsh in flavor, burn on the way down, and thus are inferior to other tequilas. Golden-colored mixtos are called joven or oro tequilas and have oak flavoring and coloring added. The reason these are made in the first place is because theyre affordable to make for producers and, frankly, they sell well in stores due to their low price point.
Mixtos arent ideal and I generally dont recommend buying them. But if youre planning a big party with a tequila-based punch that has a lot of juices and flavors to help mask the mixto, then a mixto is a practical option.
If a tequila is labeled as 100% agave, this means that the tequila in question was made with only blue agave. Generally, its recommended by most bartenders and tequila enthusiasts that you only buy tequilas which clearly state this on the label, as it will guarantee you a much better product that has a more complex flavor and significantly less burn.
Leela Cyd Ross
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