Aldez Organic Tequila Reposado
Named as one of the best Reposados on the market by The Spruce Eats, Aldez Organic Tequila Reposados unique character, superb quality, and enticing flavors make it an excellent sipping tequila for your home bar. Aldez ages the spirit in old bourbon casks for eight months, resulting in wonderfully warm, gorgeously aromatic notes of vanilla, cooked agave, and salted caramel, with just the right amount of earthiness for balance. All of the ingredients that go into each bottle are organic, while the bottles themselves are made using recycled materials.
Cdigo 1530 Rosa Blanco
This rosé tequila is a notable outlier but by no means is it gimmicky. It gains a striking pink color via a one-month resting period in barrels that previously held Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Delivering all the fresh vibrancy of blanco tequila, the oak finishing adds an extra layer of floral and berry notes. So good are the results that this expression begs the question of why other producers are not experimenting with similar red-wine-kissed releases. Average price: $65.
What Exactly Is Mezcal
Real tequila is made from blue agave and only in specific regions of Mexico. When it comes to mezcal, these guidelines are not followed. Mezcal has a smoky and much harsher taste than tequila because it is made from the more common maguey plant.
Now back to tequila. It takes about a decade for agave to mature. And once mature, the heart of the agave is full of the good stuff fermentable fructose. The juice is squeezed from the heart of the agave before being fermented, distilled, and, in the case of añejo varieties of tequila, aged.
The aging process allows the wood to come into play with the flavors of the agave, as well as the mysterious influence of the desert itself. Exactly how this works is the domain of master tequila makers. Its the kind of secret passed down within families for centuries.
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What’s The Difference Between Tequila And Mezcal
You may have heard the rumor that the spirit known as mezcal is simply a smoky version of tequila. In fact, the truth is closer to the reverse of that: the term “mezcal” refers broadly to any distillate of the agave plant produced in Mexico, so the spirit called tequila is simply one specific type of mezcal. While government regulations allow for the production of mezcal in nine different Mexican states, tequila may only be produced in five states: Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Guanajuato, and certain parts of Tamaulipas. Addionally, while mezcal may be produced from dozens of different agave varietiesresulting in numerous distinct styles and flavor profilestequila may only be produced from the blue Weber agave.
The 10 Best Tequilas Under $100
In taking a step up from the below $50 tequilas to the under-$100 price range, the focus narrows but the quality only increases. Where the former selection encapsulates a broad range of styles and expressions, the latter hones in on the many ways in which oak maturation can subtly manipulate the agave distillate.
The following releases highlight the numerous approaches to aging tequila. While balance and precision are always the prized end goal, some producers choose to showcase the many gifts oak can bestow on the spirit while others seek to ensure the distinct profile of agave shines brightest. Each individual interpretation succeeds in its own way and offers an elevated drinking experience worthy of the elevated price point.
Here are the 10 best tequilas under $100, tasted and ranked.
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Who Should Buy It
This tequila glass is perfect for people who want a more straightforward glass that is high quality at the same time. It would also make a wonderful gift for friends or family.
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How To Choose The Best Tequila For You
The name tequila is protected, so all brands and types come from Mexico. The spirit is mostly produced in the area surrounding the actual city of Tequila, and in the highlands of the central-western Mexican state of Jalisco. Here, the blue agave plant needs at least eight years to mature, after which harvesters extract the piña from the plants core, stripping it of its leaves before distilling it.
What types of tequila are there?
There are four main types:
Blanco a white-coloured spirit, bottled or stored straight after distillation or aged less than two months in stainless steel or oak barrels.
Reposado literally, a rested tequila, which has been aged in oak barrels for between two and 12 months.
Añejo is aged tequila. This stays in the barrels for longer generally between one and three years and the barrels themselves are smaller, which adds to the flavour.
Extra añejo tequilas that remain in the barrel for at least three years.
The different tastes are quite distinctive. With blanco, the agave flavours tend to be more intense, while reposado or añejo are usually smoother, mellower and more complex and just like other spirits aged in casks, they can take on the flavours of the wood.
How do I know it’s tequila?
Look for 100% agave tequila printed on the bottle label. This designation is only allowed to appear on bottles containing tequila that have no added sugars. When sugar get added to the fermentation tank, the tequila style is called a mixto.
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El Rayo Reposado: Best Mild Reposado Tequila
Price: £37 | Buy now from Master of Malt
This reposado tequila is just the ticket for anyone who wants a wonderfully smooth and equally mild drinking experience. El Rayo Reposado has a very subtle sweetness when first sipped, which quickly turns into a mild spiciness on the finish. Its made from 100% Blue Weber Agave and is distilled in 105-year-old copper stills, before being matured for seven months in whisky casks.
This shorter maturing process is what gives this tequila its lovely mildness, but it does mean the flavour is somewhat lost when used in cocktails. This one shines brightest on its own. So if you want something that packs a bit more punch, we suggest choosing an añejo tequila instead.
Key specs Alcohol content: 40% Bottle size: 70cl Type: Reposado
Best Overall: Tequila Ocho Plata
Courtesy of Drizly.com
Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Pepper, Citrus, Grass, Stone fruit
The beautiful story and unique process behind this tequila really help it shine, says Chasse. The family that makes Tequila Ocho Plata has been distilling for generations. They use traditional brick ovens to slow-roast extremely ripe agave, which is chosen from specific fields each year, so that the nuances of the terroir and weather come out, especially in the blanco.
It changes depending on the field and year, says Chasse, but in general, it offers crisp, clean peppery notes, bright citrus and grassy flavors, along with the fruitiness of the extra-ripe agave. The finish also offers a nice balance between floral and earthy notes.
Good to Know: How should you drink a sipping tequila? Hurley and Chasse suggest trying it neat in a tequila glass . Add a few drops of water to open up the flavor. Medina prefers to sip his aged tequila in a snifter with one large cube of ice, which melts slowly, keeping the spirit cool but not diluting it.
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El Tesoro Single Barrel Reposado
El Tesoro master distiller Carlos Camarena holds many titles and distinctions. Hes a fifth generation tequila maker, a third generation master distiller, and also the CEO of El Tesoro. His liquid is incredible, and perhaps none is so great as the Single Barrel Reposado. Camarena picks a few select barrels of reposado tequila that shine above their peers for this line, meaning theyre both unique and exceptional. El Tesoros tequila, which boasts minerality and green nuances on its own, ages in ex-bourbon casks for nine to 11 months before it heads to your hands. Its perfectly balanced, and should be consumed neatand with respect.
Which Is Better Silver Or Gold Tequila
When it comes down to it, silver tequila is better for margaritas than gold tequila. They are aged differently, with silver tequila boasting a stronger, purer taste while being clear in color. Its simplicity makes it the perfect companion to mixed drinks, as it matches beautifully with other flavor profiles.
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What Kind Of Glass Do You Sip Tequila With
If you want to enjoy your tequila by sipping, the best glass you can use is something on the larger side, especially tulip-shaped ones. The aromatic compounds of the drink can gather in the expansive middle, and the narrow opening will concentrate the aroma of the tequila.
Make sure the glass you use is sturdy enough to avoid any incidents o breaking while enjoying the drink.
Gran Centenario Aejo Tequila
Añejo tequilas are aged for one to three years, which takes a significant amount of time and money. This makes it more costly than other types of tequilas. However, the Gran Centenario brand continues to deliver its excellent añejo at a price that won’t break the bank.
Gran Centenario Añejo is made from carefully chosen blue agave and aged in fresh American oak barrels before being blended. They utilize the unique Selección Suave technique, mixing the richest and smoothest tequilas to provide a smooth, nuanced flavor profile. It has a slight hint of sweetness and flavors of cooked agave, toasted almonds, cloves, and vanilla.
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El Tesoro Blanco Tequila
El Tesoro is among the few known tequilas that still entirely adhere to the traditional tequila-making method, making it unique. When making this spirit, El Tesoro pays homage to the man behind La Alteña Distillery in 1937, Don Felipe Camarena, who founded the distillery.
El Tesoro Blanco is unaged and bottled right after distillation to capture the essence of highland blue weber agave. In this classic, agave-forward tequila, the minerality of the soil and water shows through. There are aromas of fresh agave blended with honey and a hint of green olive. The agave, spice, and mild green undertones balance the sweet flavors.
Don Julio Ultima Reserva
If youre looking for a truly luxurious sipping tequila, Ultima Reserva is a delectable spirit that will keep you coming back for more. Its made from agave harvested from the last field that Don Julio and his family planted, in 2006, and aged using the solera method. This means that tequilas of different ages were blended together, resulting in an extra anejo tequila aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Madeira wine casks. Stone fruit and dried apricot explode on the palate, with notes of smoldering oak and crème brûlée on the nose.
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What Is The Cost Of Sipping Tequilas
Typically, tequilas to sip are not inexpensive because they are higher quality than your average silver tequila. It is wise to savor each sip and slowly drink them with good company, as was intended.
There is a wide range of tequila to sip, which you can find at many different price points. We dont recommend finding the cheapest one out there if you plan to sip on it.
Our reposado is one of the best tequilas for sipping to add to your bar cart for a tequila lover that likes to sip regularly.
With Casa Mexico Reposado Tequila, you will enjoy top-shelf quality without breaking the bank compared to top-shelf brand tequilas like Mijenta Tequila Reposado or a Weber Blue agave tequila like Roca Patrón Reposado or Clase Azul Reposado that can all cost $100+ for a bottle. Those add up after a while!
You can buy Casa Mexico Tequila through our retail linkshere.
What Is The Best Sipping Tequila: The Best Smooth Tequila
Are you team tequila? If so, youâve come to the right place to discover the best sipping tequila. While a classic margarita is perfectly enjoyable, itâs not the only way to drink different types of tequila.
Tequila is one of the more underrated types of alcohol known for sipping. However, with a standard pour in a cocktail glass, itâs easy to sit back, sip, and relax.
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El Bandido Yankee Tequila
El Bandido Yankee
A new entry into the tequila market, El Bandido Yankee launched in 2021 by former NFL player Jim Bob Morris and restaurateur and NHL Hall of Fame Hockey Player Chris Chelios. The idea: to create an ultra premium, ultra-smooth tequila at an accessible price point. This is an all-around crowd-pleasing tequila, too, with a wonderfully distinct flavor profile thats at once rich and complex. Notes of pepper and vanilla balance the buttery profile along with hints of citrus. The Reposado expression is also aged in stripped and recharred American Oak bourbon barrels, which gives it a deliciously herbaceous toasted flavor.
Though we prefer El Bandido Yankee as a sipping tequila , the flavor has enough bite to make for some beautiful cocktails, too. Everything is made in with 100% blue weber agave and is confirmed all-natural and additive-free for a tequila that goes down smooth and silky. We like what the brand is doing with the no-for-profit S.A.C.R.E.D too, which re-invests 100% of proceeds from merchandise and a portion of tequila sales back into the local Mexican communities where agave spirits are made to identify and support vital needs.
What Is The Best Sipping Tequila
How smooth is the best the smoothest tequila? One of the smoothest tequilas on the market is commonly regarded as Ocho A*ejo, a brand that is also the first brand in history to be known as a Tequila vintage. Rich and vegetal, this A*ejo is aged in whiskey barrels that were previously used for aging American whiskey.
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Cazcabel Coconut Tequila Liqueur: Best Tequila Liqueur
Price: £25 |
If you’re looking for the perfect liqueur for those fruity cocktails, this coconut delight from Cazcabel is a delicious alternative to classic tequila. Coconut fans are guaranteed to love this, as it has an incredibly strong coconut flavour and a smooth, easy-drinking finish. It makes a fantastic frozen coconut margarita and, as there’s a touch of sweetness there, also tastes great on its own with ice. It’s made with tequila blanco that’s been distilled for a short time, for a clean and authentic taste.
We’re also big fans of Cazcabel’s coffee tequila liqueur, which is incredibly sweet and coffee-heavy. Fantastic over ice in a creamy espresso-martini style cocktail.
Key specs Alcohol content: 34% Bottle size: 70cl Type: Blanco
Why Is Tequila The Healthiest Alcohol
Out of all alcoholic drinks, tequila has been proven to be the healthiest as it can promote weight loss. For starters, the sugar in the agave plant, which tequila is from, is called agavins. This has been noted to help lower blood sugar.
Moreover, agavins can make you feel like youre full. Thats why you tend to eat less, which will result in weight loss. Thats something to keep in mind when youre planning to trim down some fats.
Tequila can also improve your digestion. Agave contains high insulin levels, which grow good bacteria. Thus, it can aid your digestion, and it can also boost your metabolism.
If you have trouble sleeping, tequila can also help you. It calms your nerves, and it helps relax your body. Tequila can also serve as a painkiller. When you take in tequila, it dilates your blood vessels and aids in transporting your blood to all parts of your body, minimizing the pain.
However, it is not advisable to depend on tequila to achieve these health benefits. You should also consider the essential guide to drinking alcohol to consume tequila properly.
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The Best Affordable Sipping Tequila
A cheaper price does not always imply a cheaper taste. When youâre ready to settle on a sipping tequila but hope to booze on a budget, weâve got you covered.
There are plenty of affordable tequila brands for sipping. To help you pick just one, try the Camarena Reposado. The Camarena Reposado ages for 60 days to offer a soft and tender blend of toasted agave, vanilla, and caramel.
What makes this tequila even better? It wonât bust your budget. You can find a bottle of Camarena Reposado for under $30.
Tequila Mandala Extra Aejo
Obviously, you shouldnt judge or buy a tequila on the virtue of its packaging, but equally, theres no denying that Tequila Mandala Extra Añejo looks the business if youre looking for something to gift a friend, this makes the perfect choice. Fortunately, the award-winning tequila inside tastes even better than the outside looks. A balanced, refined tequila with subtle, individual notes of oak and vanilla, its a deep, satisfying treat that deserves a place on every tequila lovers wish list.
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Is Clear Or Dark Tequila Better
When it comes down to it, silver tequila is better for margaritas than gold tequila. They are aged differently, with silver tequila boasting a stronger, purer taste while being clear in color. … It is aged in barrels for months or years, resulting in a range of light to dark amber and caramel colors.
Types Of Sipping Tequilas:
Any high-quality tequila can be a sipping tequila, but aged spirits are often preferred for this kind of drinking because they are richer in style. Neutral tequilas, with fewer individual flavor components, are often better in mixed cocktails for this very reason. Blanco tequila is aged with or without wood, for a maximum of 59 days, says advanced sommelier and CEO of marketing and communications for OMvino Jennifer Estevez. From there, tequilas are aged longer: A minimum of 60 days in oak for reposado one year in oak for añejo, and three years for extra añejo.
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