Best Cristalino: 1800 Cristalino
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Sweet, Smooth, Peppery
A recent innovation, cristalino is made by stripping the color from aged tequila. Its essentially a way to circumvent the steep pricing of agave due to crop shortages by using what distillers already have in stock. The 1800 Cristalino is a good bottle to uncork when drinking with non-tequila fans. Blended from 16-month-old añejo aged in American and French oak, its rested for an additional six months in former port barrels before double filtering. As youd expect, its sweet on the nose and the palate, with a luscious mouthfeel, but it finishes with some of the pepperiness that bespeaks the agave. Sip this neat or on ice.
Best Tequila For Margaritas: A Quick Guide
We could just give you a big list of great bottles of tequila. Instead, first lets talk about the types of tequila and what to look for when you go to the store .
- Rule of thumb: any mid-priced tequila tastes great in a margarita. Price does indicate quality. Look for 750 ml bottles in the range of $22 to $35. Anything cheaper isnt worth buying.
- Use expensive tequilas for sipping. Very high-end bottles of tequila and tequila añejo are intended for sipping. Dont waste this type of tequila on a mixed drink!
- Tequila reposado makes a smooth, sophisticated margarita. There are two types of tequila to use in your margarita: reposado or blanco. We prefer reposado because of the nuanced flavor it adds.
- Tequila blanco is also ideal for margaritas. It has a straightforward agave-centric flavor and spicy finish. You can choose either! Heres more about the tequila types
Best For Sipping: G4 Tequila Reposado
Courtesy of Drizly.com
Both long-time tequila fans and those who are new to the category will love this reposado from Destileria el Pandillo, where the fourth-generation Camarena family uses a special tahona, or millstone, made from recycled metal parts to break down the agave. Their innovative ways dont stop there they also distill their tequila using a blend of neutral rainwater and mineral-laden spring water for an approachable yet structured spirit.
Aged in both American and French oak, G4 Tequila’s reposado offers buttery, orange flavors but with a mineral-driven backbone and a cinnamon finish. Sip it neat and enjoy the craftsmanship.
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What Mixes Good With Patron Tequila
The 7 Best Mixers for Tequila
- Tequila + Soda. This is the gold standard of two-ingredient tequila cocktailsâbesides the Margarita, it is probably the most popular.
- Tequila + Grapefruit Soda.
. In this regard, what mixes good with patron?
Sprite, Lime with lots of ice and rim of salt. It’s refreshing. Cranberry juice or grapefruit juice. I prefer to drink it with perrier water and lime.
Additionally, what goes good with patron Citronge? Recipes that use Patron Citronge Orange Liqueur
- Patrón Grapefruit.
- Patrón Perfect Cosmo.
- Patrón Pineapple.
- White Dragon.
Besides, how do you drink Patron Tequila?
For your own sangrita recipe, mix two parts freshly squeezed orange juice, one part grenadine, one part fresh lime juice and hot sauce to taste. Serve in a double shot glass and enjoy with your favorite high-quality Patrón Tequila.
What soda goes best with tequila?
Seltzer or club soda can provide a nice base and enhance the flavor, while a lime slice is great at adding complexity to the grapefruit taste. Use grapefruit soda with tequila and it’s called a Paloma. So refreshing!
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.
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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.
Best In A Paloma: Santera Tequila Reposado
Courtesy of Reserve Bar
Aged seven months in American oak, this reposado from Santera Tequila is produced by Casa Maestri Distillery, a woman-owned operation in Tequila, Jalisco. Made from 100% Weber blue agave steam-roasted in a traditional brick oven, its relatively long rest in the barrel gives it a perfumey, citrusy character, which mingles with the salty-sweet agave.
Smooth and velvety, the tequila winds down with a dry and pleasant bitter note, with a touch of vanilla and dark-blonde caramel on the finish. Mixed into a fresh-fruit Paloma, it lends a delicious brûléed quality to the fresh grapefruit juice, while augmenting the zing of the citrus peel.
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Types Of Tequila: Blanco Reposado And Anejo
There are three types of tequila with names that indicate how much they have been aged. Each one has a different flavor profile. The best tequila for margaritas is blanco or reposado. Heres an outline of the types:
- Tequila blanco is not aged. The flavor is agave forward, with notes of pepper and citrus and a spicy finish.
- Tequila reposado is aged 2 to 12 months in oak barrels . It has a smooth flavor and notes of oak, vanilla, and caramel.
- Tequila añejo is aged 1 to 4 years in oak barrels . It tastes richer, with notes of vanilla and cinnamon. Try sipping tequila añejo straight up, and save blanco and reposado for mixing in margaritas.
Should I Mix Blanco Reposado Or Anejo Tequila In My Cocktails
Three types of Tequila you can find out there are based on age and their contact with wood. The wood is usually a Whiskey barrel, but there are all sorts of experiments in the industry so you may see some notation about that on the bottle.All three types of Tequila work differently in cocktails, so depending what drinks you want to mix, choose the one that will fit best:
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The Best Tequila Cocktails
If you love tequila cocktails, then you cant miss these recipes. Were also covering the origins of tequila, the different types, and more!
What is tequila? Is it exquisite nectar blessed to us from the heavens? Or is it a distilled spirit harvested from the blue agave plant?
Our bets are on the latter, however if the tequila gods descended to the Earth and presented to us their finest tequila cocktails to boot, we wouldnt be surprised.
Because if there was anything wed have in common, it would be our love for the precious blue agave plant in all its intoxicating glory!
Smooth Drinking Tequilas For Cocktails Or Sipping Straight
Tequila gets a bad rap. Normally, the disdain for tequila stems from overdoing it on cheap tequila shots in college. That stigma needs to be forever overcome. Cheap versions of liquor stain personal opinions across the board, but none seem to prohibit people from even trying it like the blue agave-based spirit from Jalisco. The truth of the matter? Good tequila is amazing. Consumers are catching on too, as tequila sales grew 31% in 2020. Here are some quality tequilas to start your agave-fueled adventure.
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How Is Tequila Made
Tequila is made from agave, a plant that is native to the Jalisco state in Mexico, home to, you guessed it, the town of Tequila. The blue agave plant produces a bulb which once properly processed, juiced and fermented/distilled produces the spirit we all know and love. The process involves harvesting, distilling, and then, depending on the type of tequila, it will be aged for a period of time to get the right flavour and taste. If youre after a premium tequila, youll want to look out for those that are made from 100 per cent blue agave rather than those that substitute some of the agave for other ingredients . Legislation exists in Mexico to control what can actually be called tequila based on where its produced, the amount of time it has been aged for, what the ingredients are and what the percentage of alcohol is.
Best For Stirred Cocktails: Siembre Valles Reposado
Courtesy of Drizly.com
Especially in fall and winter, Mix likes this tequila from Siembra Valles in boozy, stirred drinks in the Old Fashioned realm. Its quite rich and caramelly, but with plenty of spice bringing almost a confectionary quality, like cinnamon crème brûlée, she says. There are notes of black pepper here, too, because this reposado is from Jalisco Valley, where the agave tastes bolder. Still, its more delicate than other Valley tequilas. It pulls and plays with itself, says Mix.
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Best Tequila Cocktails: Top 10 Tequila Cocktail Recipes
Although top-shelf tequila can certainly be enjoyed neat, its best known as a popular ingredient cocktail. However, with so many options, what do you choose when mixing up something for yourself or guests?
In this guide, you will discover the top 10 best tequila cocktails to make at home:
Best Aejo: Don Julio Aejo Tequila
It’s hard to find faults in the tequilas of Don Julio. They are readily available, super smooth, and richly flavored with the distinct tequila flavors that make the spirit special. The brand’s aged tequilas are particularly impressive and have a reputation that puts them among the best of the best.
Don Julio Añejo is one you wont want to miss. It instantly improves any cocktail it touches and really shines in a shaken margarita with fresh lime. If you are looking to mix up some of the best tequila drinks you can afford, its the tequila to keep in your bar. While its probably too pricey for a shot, its a very smooth sipper enjoyed by many tequila aficionados.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Toasted oak, caramel, baked yam | ABV: 40% | Region: Los Altos, Jalisco
Añejo Tequila is tequila that is aged in oak barrels for at least a year, but not over three years, says Brian Eadie, lead bartender at Geraldines Austin in Texas. It has a sweet, woody aroma with notes of smoke, burnt caramel, and dried fruitsdefinitely a sipping tequila. Añejo is great for making a tequila old-fashioned and substituting the whiskey for añejo tequila, orange bitters for Angostura bitters, and brown sugar for white sugar.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Sweet agave, anise, mineral | ABV: 40% | Region: Los Altos, Jalisco
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What Are Popular Tequila Cocktails
When it comes to classic Tequila cocktails, there are just three you need to know. Master the recipes for the Margarita, the Paloma, and the Tequila Sunrise, and you’ll be welcome at any party. Plus, you can always substitute Tequila for other spirits in favorite cocktails like the or .
Here are some of the best Tequila cocktail recipes:
Best Overall: Siete Leguas Tequila Reposado
Courtesy of Drizly.com
Mix calls this one the bartenders choice. Easy on the wallet and the palate, Siete Leguas’ reposado hits the sweet spot of age, she says. Its not the youngest and not the oldest, but its consistently great for cocktails as well as sipping neat.
Youll taste a marked mineralitysoapstone or whetstonefollowed by orange zest and the subtle flavor of vanilla that the barrel imparts. Theres also clove and other baking spices that tie into the minerality, along with the richness of the agave coming through, says Mix, which is just what you want from a reposado. You should get that agave flavor at the end, like, Oh, yeah, Im drinking tequila.
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Best 100% Agave: Partida Reposado Tequila
Courtesy of Partido
Tequila Partida’s estate-grown crowd-pleaserone of Mixs favoritescomes from the Tequila Valley, where it is distilled from 7- to 10-year-old agave that has matured to full ripeness and complexity. Aged in reclaimed whiskey barrels for up to a year, it offers a floral nose with a caramelly and creamy flavor that resolves into a butter-and-honey smoothness and a spicy agave finish.
Though its lovely to sip with a single, large ice cube, its also dynamite in both summer highballs and strong, wintery drinks. If you like it, you might also try the distillerys new reposado expression, Roble Fino, aged in used sherry casks.
To Make These 9 Cocktails Match The Ingredients With The Right Tequila
courtesy Santera
With so many great brands available on the market right now, theres no better time to be sipping tequila. Good tequila can easily be sipped neat, but because flavor profiles vary, some match best with particular cocktail styles. Whether you love drinking classic agave libations like the Margarita or use aged tequila in place of whiskey in drinks like the Old Fashioned, theres a perfect tequila for your drink.
To make Santera Tequila, agave is harvested from the rich, red volcanic soil of the dormant Volcán de Tequila in Jaliscos northern highlands. After picking the perfectly ripe agave and slow-roasting the piñas for up to 54 hours, theyre crushed and pressed. The agave juice is slowly fermented with fruit yeast to create a smooth, full-bodied tequila, which then undergoes a proprietary filtration process to further round out the flavor. Santera Blanco has a mineral-rich nose that gives way to notes of punchy citrus and light spice, which is why it works so beautifully in a tangy-sweet, classic Margaritaespecially when the glass is rimmed with a spicy jalapeño salt.
courtesy Beam Suntory
Tequila Negroni: Penta Tequila Reposado
El Diablo: El Tesoro Blanco
courtesy Cazadores
Tequila Sour: Tequila Fortaleza Blanco
Siesta: Milagro Silver
Paloma: Cazadores Tequila Reposado
Bloody Maria: Código 1530 Tequila Blanco
courtesy Patron
Tequila Old Fashioned: Roca Patron Añejo
Baja Gold: ElVelo Tequila Reposado
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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What Is The Best Tequila For Margaritas It Depends On The Margarita Each Of Our Top Tequila Brands Has A Unique Flavor Profile For Your Perfect ‘rita
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
When it comes to choosing the best tequila for margaritas, look for one that says 100% de agave or puro de agave. The tequila brands labeled tequila mixto or oro have been cut with an inferior natural cane spirit. Not only will the flavor be less complex, but its probably made with artificial coloring, too. Put your preferred tequila to work in one of our best margarita recipes.
Is Don Julio Better Than Patron
Ok, thats a generalization, but in most categories in their respective lines, Don Julio is better than Patron. Patron is flashier, with shinier bottles and a lot of hype, but for the money, Don Julio Añejo is one of the better sipping tequilas on the market. Make cocktails with Patron, or do shots of it.
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Best From Outside Jalisco: Corralejo Reposado Tequila
Courtesy of Drizly.com
“Its super good, Easterbrook says of this reposado from Corralejo. You get a really great combination of sweet and spicy characteristics. For the price, it has good complexity. At the same-named distillery located in Guanajuato, Mexico, this tequila ages for four months in a curvilinear cellar amid a range of French and American oak barrels, which lend notes of peppercorn and honey to the natural agave flavors. With a nutty aroma resolving in a sweet palate and bitter spice finish, its terrific neat or on the rocks.