Maestro Dobel Diamante 40 Percent Tequila 70cl
Infused with notes of grapefruit and pomegranate, this elegant tequila is made from blue agave that grows in the shadow of Tequila Volcano in Jalisco. The leaves are plucked after a minimum of eight years so it really is a labour of love. The result is worth it – a tasty spirit that’s perfect served neat or in a cocktail.
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.
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.
Recommended Reading: Member’s Mark American Vodka
Ultimate Spirits Challenge Best Tequila
The Ultimate Spirits Challenge top two tequilas for 2020 aren’t available in the United States. However, their tied for third finisher, El Tesoro Extra Añejo is, and it receives a 94 point rating. It’s aged for five years in bourbon barrels, and it has notes of coffee, herbs, apricots, and almonds. Expect to pay around $130 for a 750 mL bottle.
Whats The Best Tequila To Drink Straight
The 19 Best Sipping TequilasClase Azul Reposado. reservebar.com. Tears of Llorona No. 3 Extra Añejo Tequila. Casa Dragones Joven. reservebar.com. Patrón Estate Release. reservebar.com. Casamigos Añejo. reservebar.com. Cazadores Añejo Cristalino. reservebar.com. El Tesoro Extra Añejo. reservebar.com. Riazul Tequila Añejo. drizly.com.More itemsMar 22, 2021
You May Like: What Can You Mix With Bacardi Rum
Jose Cuervo Especial Silver Tequila
PRICE: $51.99
Love it or hate it, Jose Cuervo is one of the most successful tequila brands worldwide, and this tequila is a staple go-toreadily available at any bottle shop for a quick mix-in for those taco-and-marg nights. The light peppery and citrus notes in this quintessential tequila blends well with the flavours of your classic margarita. Shop it here.
More of a craft beer person? Check out Australia’s best over here.
Editor’s note: Urban List editors independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. Urban List has affiliate partnerships, so we get revenue from your purchase.
Image credit: supplied
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.
Recommended Reading: What Proof Is Patron Tequila
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.
Best For Margaritas: Casa Dragones Blanco
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Herbaceous, Green peppercorn, Anise
Instead of sipping this high-end tequila, Volfson recommends trying it in a margarita. A margarita is about the relationship of three ingredients: tequila, triple sec, and limes,” she says. This tequila from Maestra Tequilera Bertha González Nieves gives off flavors of soft herbaceousness and grassy garden crispness, green peppercorn and fennel seed, cardamom, anise seed, and a bit of juiciness, which Volfson feels mingle well with the bright cirtus character of the triple sec and lime juice.
“The layers of orange blossom in Casa Dragones, along with the orange in the triple sec, brings together the drinks fruitinessthe recipe doesnt need as much lime juice as others, so it showcases the spirits with each other. Yana Volfson, beverage manager at Cosme and ATLA restaurants in New York
You May Like: Pinnacle Whipped Vodka Shot Recipes
What Is The Best Tequila
Our editors have reviewed dozens of tequila brands over the last year, to come up with some of our favorite bottles, based on taste profile, uniqueness and value. And while there are a number of tequila brands that have launched in recent months , this list runs the gamut from tried-and-true brands, to limited-edition releases that youll be smart to pick up if you see them available online.
Whether you want to sip on something smooth or just want to upgrade your margarita, here are 15 tequilas you can buy online and get delivered to your door in time for your next happy hour, dinner or party.
Best For Sipping: Casa Noble Aejo Tequila
Casa Noble
-
Reasonable price for the quality
-
Certified organic
-
Drinks sweeter than some others
Most añejos are aged between 12 and 18 months. After distilling three times, Casa Noble ages its añejo tequila in new French white oak barrels for a full 24 months, bringing out flavors of toasted oak, butterscotch pudding, roasted agave, and dried fruits.
Its complexity, to say nothing of its smooth finish, won it the gold medal at the SIP Awards in 2017 and the World Spirits Awards in 2016. Its made with 100 percent blue agave and certified organic. Its neither the priciest nor least expensive tequila on this list, but if you should choose to buy it, you will almost certainly enjoy it. This is the bottle that could convert just about anyone into a tequila lover.
Aged: 2 years in new French white oak barrels | TastingNotes: Butterscotch pudding, roasted agave, and dried fruits
-
Very pricey
Youve never had Patrón like this before. Even its everyday tequilas are made with what the brand calls small-batch spirit, covering little details like the agave piñas being hand-chopped before roasting in small brick ovens and all the bottles, corks, and barrels being made at its distilleries.
Aged: Minimum of one year in used American and new French Oak barrels, finished in vintage Bordeaux barrels | TastingNotes: Oak, light agave, vanilla, and raisin
-
High value for the price
-
Sip straight or use for cocktails
-
Best for bourbon drinkers
Don’t Miss: Is Jim Beam Good Whiskey
Olmeca Altos Tequila Reposado
This tequila reposado is aged for six to eight months in white oak casks previously used for maturing bourbon. The barrels give it a woody vanilla flavor with sweet bourbon undertones. The finish is bright and citrusy. On the nose, youll notice a fresh, sweet, and fruity aroma with notes of cooked agave.
This unique combination of flavors and smells won this tequila a gold medal at the World Spirits Competition three times. This reposado was the result of two bartenders who set out to create a versatile tequila perfect for use in cocktails while also easily drinkable when enjoyed neat.
You can use it to whip up your favorite mixed drinks, or enjoy a few shots without guilt its tasty and affordable at the same time.
Best For Beginners: Casamigos Blanco
Courtesy of Wine.com
Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Citrus, Agave
To help guests appreciate the nuances of a great sipping tequila, says Hurley, My job is to get people away from drinking tequila chilled with lime and salt. Casamigos helps. With its sweet, vanilla intensity, its a great entry tequila. Its like vanilla ice cream, Hurley says. Yet, it doesnt completely sacrifice that classic cooked agave flavor, and theres a touch of balancing citrus to it.
Medina enjoys its smoothness, a quality that helps make it friendly for beginners, who might want to drink it on the slightly cool side. If somebody has a wine fridge and wants to bring it down a few degrees from room temperature, Im not opposed to that, says Hurley.
Recommended Reading: Who Is The Owner Of Don Julio Tequila
What Is The Difference Between Blanco And Reposado Tequila
Tequila in all its forms can be used in a variety of cocktails. Blanco is generally used in Margaritas and other light, citrusy drinks. Reposado adds the oak and vanilla from the time it has spent in barrels, so it is better used in heavier cocktails, although it will perform very well in a Margarita as well.
Patrn Estate Release Blanco
If youre going to spend close to $100 on a blanco tequila, youll no-doubt expect a truly special bottle. This limited-edition release is made exclusively from agave grown on the grounds of the Patrón estate. And its more than just a marketing gimmick. This blancos aromas are intense and concentrated, with a nose that starts off spicy before perfumed floral notes enter the fray. The palate is perfectly balanced but not without complex character. Average price: $93.
Also Check: Don Julio Tequila Owner
El Rayo Plata Tequila
Legend has it that tequila was made when lightning struck the leaf of an agave plant and cooked it. El Rayo has taken this tale of folklore and run with it, illustrating the story on the front of every bottle.
Pretty packaging and pretty tasty contents too, this spirit is made inside 105 year old copper stills and bottled straight from it. The smooth notes and flavours of the blended tequila glide over the tongue sip this, it’s wasted as a shot.
For a sweeter and softer version, try the brand’s Reposado, £36.15. This too has been distilled inside the antique copper still and then left to mature in whisky casks for a further seven months. Delicious.
Clase Azul Reposado Tequila
Drizly
If Casamigos is what you serve at your party, Clase Azul is what you break out for the select few invited to stick around after the crowd leaves. This may be one of the priciest options on our list, but this top-shelf tequila is worth the premium price. Clase Azuls tequila comes in this instantly recognizable bottle, which you see on the top shelf of high-end bars and restaurants. At over $100, this is a true premium spirit, with a bottle and flavor profile worthy of its price.
Made from blue agave plants in Mexico, Clase Azul Reposado Tequila features notes of spice, cream soda, apple cider, jasmine, cinnamon and honey. The bottles, meantime, are like a work of art, inspired by traditional Mexican colors and motifs. Each bottle is hand-crafted and hand-painted, so no two are alike, making Clase Azul a great gift idea as well.
Read Also: Svedka Strawberry Lemonade Carbs
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
Jose Cuervo Clasico Blanco Tequila
Its no wonder that Jose Cuervo is one of the most widely known tequila brands on the market. Its a classic, and for good reason. Produced, of course, with blue agave, the blanco tequila is unaged and makes the perfect addition to any cocktail and the dream base of any margarita. Both sweet and strong, with a note of spice, its a crisp tequila that youll always come back to. £29.69. At
Read Also: Is Member’s Mark Vodka Grey Goose
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.
How Do You Make Tequila Margarita
Make a classic margarita. Gather the following ingredients: 1-2 parts 100% agave tequila. Moisten the rim of the glass with lime. Season the rim of the glass with salt. Fill a shaker 2/3 to 3/4 full with ice cubes. Add 1 to 2 parts tequila to a shaker. Pour 1 part Triple Sec into a shaker. Pour some fresh lemon juice into a shaker. Shake vigorously.
Also Check: What To Mix With Absolut
Cdigo 13 Year Old Extra Aejo
This is not only one of the oldest of the new tequilas, it is one of the oldest and most expensive tequilas in the world. Although all of Códigos aged tequilas are matured in red wine casks, after being aged for thirteen years in French white oak Cabernet barrels, this extra- extra añejo is finished for an additional six months in French Cognac casks. The final results are nuances of sweet, aged vanilla typical of barrel-aged tequilas, but closely followed by whiffs of cocoa powder and cinnamon, and then a lingering middle taste of earthy peat and exotic spices. But after spending such a lengthy time in wood, 70% of this precious tequila was lost to the angels share, leaving just enough of this golden elixir to fill 350 decanters, with a few barrels held back for further aging.
The 10 Smoothest Tequilas To Try In 2021
- Next Luxury / Food And Drink by Jono Elderton
Tequila is the market-moving spirit of 2021. Development in ultra-premium tequila rivals seltzer for becoming the largest growth area for spirits. Everyday tequila remains popular, while craft expressions are being distilled under clear direction from the Mexican government to increase quality, depth of flavor, and personality.
How you like to drink tequila often determines the type of spirit you wish to purchase. There are three main types of tequila silver , Reposado , and Anejo .
These core types have expanded in recent times to include Cristalino and Joven . Theres also Mixto tequila, the cheap tequila youll find on supermarket shelves and in frozen batches that can leave you in a sorry state the next day.
Tequila Blanco is the most common expression and the type of bottle bartenders recommend for classic cocktail making, with a clearly agave heavy taste. The other types add other flavor elements during the distillation process to create individual taste and nuance that are perfect for sipping tequila.
You can find smooth-tasting tequila bottles within all tequila types and across a range of prices. The collection of bottles below are fine examples of some of the markets smoothest tequilas to try in 2021, whether you want to make a margarita, fit out a tequila cocktail party, or enjoy a simple tequila shot.
Best Buy
Recommended Reading: What Proof Is Bacardi Rum