The 14 Best Tequilas You Can Buy
This ones crazy, Martineau says. Its aged nine years and is a blend of 85 percent liquid aged in American oak and 15 percent aged in French oak. Its super concentrated, and the kind of drink Id need to have with a cigar.
Tasting Notes: Butterscotch, oak and vanilla with a touch of coconut.
Best For Shots: Agavales Blanco Tequila
Courtesy of Drizly
Hope Ray, a bartender at The Holler in Bentonville, Arkansas, reaches for Agavales Blanco because it often runs under $20, so you cant go wrong with this in your home bar. The budget bottle clocks in at a spicy 110 proof, so it’ll add a little heat in each sip. Because it’s on the lower end of the price scale, it’s not as elegant in cocktails as some other options are.
That said, it makes a great margarita and an easy shooter, says Ray. If you want a crowd-pleasing bottle, this is the one. Consider putting it in the freezer before enjoying. By chilling it down, the cold temperatures will balance out the higher-proof burn of making shots with this tequila.
Casa Noble Aejo Tequila
When an Añejo tequila is made well, it is rich and delicious, silky yet complex. That’s what the Casa Noble Añejo blend delivers. It is an exceptionally smooth agave tequila with exceptional flavor and elegance.
This Mexican tequila is produced with a commitment to quality and sustainability, utilizing only the best ingredients.
This best cheap tequila is triple-distilled and aged for two years in fresh French oak barrels procured from the most reputable cooperages. The end result is a delightfully aged tequila with floral, spicy, toasted, and fruit aromas that blend nicely with the agave.
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How Whisky Wine And Wood Influence Tequila
Blancos notwithstanding, tequilas have traditionally been aged in American or French oak barrels. But just as Scotch whiskies, which at one time were only aged in ex-bourbon or sherry casks but are now being finished in different wine or whiskey barrels, tequila has successfully adopted this practice. As noted below, Patróns Extra Añejo 10 Años is aged in a combination of used American oak and hybrid American and French Limousin barrels, while one of their newest limited editionsSherry Cask Aged Añejois aged exclusively in ex-Oloroso sherry barrels. Plus, in our selection, youll find an even newer and rarer Patrón extra añejo that has been aged for eight years in French and American oak casks. And Volcán X.A an ultra-premium trio of reposado, añejo and extra añejo tequilasis aged in proprietary Grace Casks . In addition, Juan Domingo Beckmann, CEO of his familys Casa Cuervo empire, has been aging certain tequilas in Hungarian and Eastern European casks. Youll find Beckmans use of these casksand the reason whyin one of our selections. In addition, there is ongoing experimentation with Irish oak and Japanese Minunara oak, with the possibility of even more interesting tequilas in the future.
Rooster Rojo Blanco Tequila
Best authentic tequila
Tequila from the town of Tequila itself. This bottle comes from the Fabrica de Tequilas Finos distillery, a producer of many fine spirits. Rooster Rojo blanco is the brainchild of esteemed master distiller, Arturo Fuentes Cortes. It’s full of herbaceous and citrus flavours, sparked to life by fiery pepper. Read our full Rooster Rojo blanco tequila review.
Available from:
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Danos Dangerous Tequila Aejo
ReserveBar
One of the most-awarded bottles on our list, Danos Añejo Tequila is aged 18 months in virgin French white oak barrels and produced using 100% agave at a family-owned distillery that dates back to 1840. A small sip reveals aromas of roasted agave with woody notes, before the tequila opens up with hints of caramel, coconut and oak.
Founded in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 2018, Danos Tequila just won Best in Class Añejo at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Danos also won the Gold Medal in the 2019 Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America Tasting Competition, and the Double Gold and Gold in the 2018 SIP Awards.
Think of this as the cognac of tequila best for sipping neat, or with an ice cube.
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.
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Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver Tequila
Best traditional tequila
The ideal cocktail base from the worlds oldest and biggest tequila brand. Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver is a premium offering from this mammoth distillery it’s a slick, 100 per cent agave spirit that has well-balanced smoothness and sweetness. It’s perfect for a . Read our full Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver tequila review.
Available from:
The Top Brands Of Tequila
There are several brands of Tequila. In the reference list of the best Tequilas, you will find the most well-known and renown brands. Some of the most renown brands are, Casa San Matias, Fortaleza or Roca Patron. Before choosing your brand of Tequila, it would be better to choose a Tequila reference according to your tastes and preferences.
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Is Tequila Better For You Than Other Distilled Spirits
How much time do you have? You can lose an entire evening going down the internet rabbit hole regarding wellness claims related to agave spirits . The claim that tequila and mezcal don’t serve up brutal hangovers is best answered by experimentationeverybody responds differently to different inputs, after all. But what we can tell you is that unaged tequila contains lower proportions of congenerssubstances like acetone and tannins, which are potential hangover culpritsthan red wine or aged spirits. Make sure you’re choosing a tequila that’s 100 percent agave, however many of the cheaper tequila brands are classified as mixtos, a category that may include up to 49% non-agave material such as molasses and high-fructose corn syrup.
Is Anejo Better Than Reposado
Despite the fact that it has considerable bite and pleasant warmth, Casamigos Reposado is a more fascinating dram due to its more nuanced and richer taste profile. Plata Blanco Tequila is a sweet and simple to pour tequila that goes down smoothly without any burn or harsh bite, making it an excellent sipping tequila.
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Los Azulejos Tequila Silver
Tequila Los Azulejos, whose name means glazed or polished in Spanish, is made from 100% agave and bottled to maintain the spirits freshness and brilliance during the second distillation process. Los Azulejos Tequila Silver is presented in a stunning bottle crafted from hand-blown artisan glass that highlights the color and vibrancy of this exquisite Tequila.
This silvery tequila has a strong agave taste with hints of pepper, fragrant herbs, and sour-sweet overtones that appear to favor minerality from the moment it enters the mouth. Natural agave and clear flavors dominate the palate. The lack of roast allows smoothness and softness to take over your senses.
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Organic Made Exclusively From Organic Agave
- Nose: Agave with hints of vanilla, oak, butterscotch and fine spices.
- Palate: Strong agave presence, with sweet oak, cinnamon and citrus, everything in a buttery feel and a smoky note.
123 Organic Reposado is creamy, tasty, with nice bright sweetness, and quite smooth that lets you taste the roasted agave sweetness with a delicious smoky flavor.
It goes down nicely with no harshness making an incredible sip that you can enjoy straight or rocks.
I summarize by saying: 123 Organic Reposado is like enjoying dessert on a glass.
This tequila makes a fantastic option for those fond of organic foods as it is made from certified organic agave.
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Whats 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.
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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How Is Tequila Made
While grapes, wheat, or corn can be harvested a few months to a few years later before being processed and distilled into alcohol, the blue agave plants used to make tequila are different. They take about 10 years to grow before theyre ready to be harvested for tequila.
The labor-intensive harvesting is done by hand by agave farmers known as jimadores. Here are the main steps for turning agave into tequila:
- Agave harvesting: When ready to be harvested, the spiny leaves and roots are cut off the main plant body, called the agave heart or piña, which goes to processing.
- Process the agave: The hearts are slowly baked, which can sometimes take days. The slow cooking reduces caramelization and prevents the juices from turning bitter, thus maintaining the flavor of the agave.
- Crush the agave: Afterwards, the cooked hearts are crushed to release their sugary juices. This can be done by a mechanical crusher and grinder, or by the traditional way using a volcanic stone wheel called a tahona. Historically, a mule pulled the tahona, but these days an electric motor does the job. In theory, this slower practice of extracting agave nectar that will be fermented and distilled creates a more robust and complex flavor.
- Ferment the agave into tequila: The extracted juices are then fermented and twice-distilled as dictated by regulations. The distilled alcohol can then be bottled straight away or aged in wooden containers.
Elise Bauer
Q: What Should I Eat With Tequila
You can always keep it traditional with your favorite taco recipe, but also consider how aged and unaged tequilas pair with different types of foods. Blanco tequila acts like white wine here, pairing nicely with fresh, citrusy dishes and seafood double up by dashing some into a ceviche. Meanwhile, añejo tequilas, often dark and smoky, are perfect with red meat and heartier, saucier dishes like enchiladas.
Most Expensive | Most Cheap | Mexican | Silver | Agave
Tequila Brands are Mexican distilled beverages. Tequila is best known for its refreshing and relaxing qualities, and it has many different brands and can be distinguished by their difference in flavour profile and price range. The tequila you buy determines what kind of night you will have: a fun and rejuvenating experience or a regrettable one.
Tequila, a Mexican distilled alcoholic beverage, is named after the city of Tequila in the state of Jalisco. Even though tequila comes from Mexico, it contains no worms. This clear liquid has an alcohol content ranging from 38 to 55 per cent. The word tequila is one of many variations for a small evergreen tree, also known as Agave Tequiliana, or blue agave plant. In its natural form, this plant grows about six feet high and weighs about fifty pounds. When harvested at ten years old, whats been cultivated is called honey because thats when the plant is at its sweetest with the most sugars.
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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.
Del Maguey Vida Mezcal
Del Maguey is the brainchild of Californian artist turned mezcal maestro Ron Cooper, who has been importing this agave spirit since 1995. It has since become the darling spirit of the hipster world. This example shows how different it can taste from tequila, with smoky elements and an earthy undertone.
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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 Cinco de Mayo 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.
What Is The Best Way To Drink Tequila On Its Own
This is entirely a matter of personal preference! However, if you want to try it the way distillers drink it, pour it into a flute-like tequila glass made especially for sipping. And as with any spirit served neat, try adding a few drops of water to open up the aromas and flavor. You can also add one big cube, which will slowly melt, adding luxurious texture and a chill as you sip. The older the tequila, too, the more brandy-like, so you might try sipping añejos and extra añejos out of a snifter.
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How Strong Is A Shot Of Tequila
Tequila is typically 35 to 50 percent ABV, or 76 to 100 proof. A standard tequila shot is 1.5 ounces and, since the only ingredient is tequila, your drink will be 75 to 100 proof. While shots are small and fun and easy to drink, be careful. They can quickly lead to extreme drunkenness or alcohol poisoning if you’re not careful. It’s wise to stick with one of these shots a night and enjoy a lighter drink before and after.
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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When To Use Tequila Blanco Vs Reposado Vs Anejo
Whats the right time to use blanco instead of tequila resposado vs anejo? Which works in cocktails, and which is better sipping neat?
- Tequila blanco has a straightforward flavor thats great in cocktails like or highball cocktails like Ranch Water.
- Tequila reposado is fantastic in cocktails it adds a sophisticated nuance to the flavor of the drink. It makes an incredible Classic Margarita, or use it in classy spins like the Hennessy Margarita, Grand Marnier Margarita or Cadillac Margarita. Reposado adds great flavor notes to a highball drink like Tequila and Ginger Ale.
- Tequila anejo has a dark, rich flavor and is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks. Dont waste it in cocktails!