Consider Ethics And Sustainability
Aside from whats actually in the tequila, its also important to remember the ethics behind a brand. When it comes to buying a healthy tequila, Id challenge you to dig into how its made by the producer and if theyre ethically and sustainably sound, says bartender, consultant, and drinks writer Tyler Zielinski. If the brand treats their employees well and lists their distillers name on the bottle, has a sound plan for farming their agave and ensure the soil is healthy and agave are able to reach full maturity , and is 100 percent blue weber agave tequila with a NOM on the label , then you can trust that the brand is producing a product worth drinking.
When in doubt, research a tequila distillery or email them to ask about their cultivating and distilling process, says Glasman. If theyre reluctant to answer your questions, then its most likely that theyre hiding something.
Reminder: Your spending power helps can help make an impact, even in its own small way. The brand you choose can shape the industry as a whole, says Fodor. Do you want to drink cheap but overpriced additive-heavy tequila or traditional ones capturing the essence of the agave made by passionate, small, local businesses? By buying these bottles, youre supporting an indie traditional and local tequila producer directly for producing a unique ,authentic tequila.
Theres A Great Tequila For Every Taste And Budget
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Whether you enjoy tequila shots or want to mix up a great , todays tequila market offers many excellent choices. Blanco tequilas are the most versatile and often preferred because they cost less, while the aged tequilasreposado and añejoare a nice upgrade worthy of the occasional splurge. For most styles, the best tequilas include the words 100 percent Blue Weber Agave on the label, and you will pay a little extra for premium brands, but the majority of these are relatively affordable.
That means theres no need to hesitate about mixing any of these best tequilas into your favorite cocktails.
Casamigos Tequila is a perfect introduction to premium tequilas. The portfolio follows the basic grading system for tequilas, which is standard for most brands and includes a blanco, reposado, and añejo tequila.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, citrus, cream | ABV: 40% | Region: Jalisco
Corazon Buffalo Trace Old 22 Aejo
This is a whiskey lovers tequila. Its aged at least 22 months in barrels that once held Buffalo Trace whiskey, and it has notes of vanilla, oak, and bread, followed by a creamy finish. Its yellow-green hue reminded some of our tasters of Sauvignon Blanc, and it is similarly silky and acidic. Average price: $89.
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Best Value: Patrn Silver
ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Pineapple, yellow stone fruit, vanilla
Smooth and clean, Patrón’s tequilas are some of the best quality-to-price spirits in this category. Patrón Silver is produced from hand-picked blue agave and is distilled in copper-lined stills. The resulting tequila is nuanced, aromatic, and loaded with flavors of pineapple, yellow stone fruit and vanilla. Sip neat, add some rocks or use as a premium base for making cocktails at home.
ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Citrus, fresh herbs, sweet agave
Clase Azul Plata Tequila is produced from 100% organic Weber blue agave, pot-distilled and stored in a unique decanter bottlemaking it the perfect gift for tequila lovers. Smooth flavors of citrus, fresh-cut herbs and sweet agave ooze from the premium spirits balanced, harmonious and pleasantly sweet palate.
Clase Azul 15th Anniversary Edition
The Brand: Clase Azul is a special brand with a long-lasting history in making quality tequila. It is distilled to preserve its taste and flavour. It is aged for no less than one year in white oak barrels. Clase Azuls 15th Anniversary Edition is masterfully blended using selected tequilas aged over fifteen years to celebrate the brands anniversary.
To Know: This blend can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks. it cost $30,000 per bottle. It is a perfect choice for those looking to buy tequila with the perfect taste and smoothness that gently rolls on your lips.
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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.
What Is The Best 100 Agave Tequila
4.4/5Browse the top-ranked list of 100 Percent Agave Tequila List below along with associated reviews and opinions.
- Don Julio Blanco Tequila. 5.0 / 5 stars
- El Padrino Blanco Tequila.
100 Blue Agave Tequila
- Cazul 100 Anejo. Mexico- 100% blue agave Anejo Tequila aged in oak barrels for 24 months.
- Cazul 100 Silver.
- Agavales Especial Silver100% Agave.
- Agavales Especial Gold 100% Agave.
Likewise, is 100 agave tequila better? 100% agave means no other sugar was used during fermentation to create the alcohol, so it has more body, more flavour, and a stronger agave aroma. 100% agave can make even a strong blanco tequila into a respectable drink, with a peppery bite and a powerful agave-sharp tang.
People also ask, what is the highest quality tequila?
Here are the tequilas we love most.
- Best Blanco Tequila: Don Julio Blanco. Don Julio offers up bright aromas of fresh agave along with lemon and grapefruit.
- Best Reposado Tequila: ArteNOM Selección de 1414 Reposado.
- Best Añejo Tequila: Grand Mayan Ultra Aged Añejo.
- Best Cheap Tequila: Milagro Silver.
What is the smoothest tequila on the market?
Here are five of the best sipping tequilas on the market:
- Casa Dragones. Casa Dragones is actually labeled as sipping tequila. Imbibers are encouraged to savor this treasure, made from the estate-grown blue agave in Tequila, Mexico.
- Casa Herradura Seleccion Suprema.
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Best Tequila Brands In 2022
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.
The naming of tequila is a Hispanicization of the Nahuatl word tecpill. It referred to a ceremonial drink containing pulque. It was brought out in celebrations in place of alcohol in some old cultures in Mesoamerica, mainly among people living in and around Tequila Volcano in parts of whats now known as Mexico State.
Best For Paloma: Olmeca Altos Plata
Image Source / ReserveBar
Region: Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Citrus, Brine, Agave
This is great quality and affordable tequila that stands out really well with various cocktails, says Danilo Bozovic of rooftop bar and restaurant Sugar in Miami. The Olmeca Altos blanco, which is crafted from blue Weber agave grown at elevations of nearly 7000 feet in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, works particularly well in a Palomaa mix of tequila, lime juice and grapefruit soda.
With an unrivaled smoothness at this price point, this tequila can be enjoyed straight or mixed in a cocktail. Jonathan Cunningham, bar manager, Husk Barbeque, Greenville, S.C.
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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
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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.
Tequila Is The Cognac Of Mezcals
Wait, what? Yes, it is true. Think about it. Cognac is a form of brandy that has such restrictive requirements that it makes it a superior product that happens to cost significantly more than other brandies.
Tequila follows the same trajectory. It is a mezcal but must be made from a specific, rare plant and in a small region. There are very few budget offerings of tequila, as you can see in our chart below, because of these legal restrictions on what is considered tequila.
While tequila is often pictured as a spirit consumed in hot, sweaty desert locations or as a simple additive to the sugary margarita, it is actually quite a premium spirit. Many brands, like Patron, have focused their marketing on raising the level of perceived quality of tequila.
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Does Patron Have 100% Agave
This plant grows in hot, dry areas of Mexico, where it is harvested year round. Antonio Rodriguez, Production Director for Patron Tequila, explains, Tequila Patron consists of only 100% blue agave, the Weber Blue Agave, making it uniquely different. Agave should provide the tequilas primary flavors..
Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario
The Brand: This is a complex tequila with a rich history. The brand has gained enormous popularity because of the legend of its owner Don Jose Antonio de Cuervo, who believed in providing high-quality liquor to his customers. This beverage has an excellent flavour profile made from the best agaves grown in the Highlands region. This tequila is very smooth and mixes well with any mixer you want to taste it with. This unique luxury cost $2849/bottle.
To Know: Due to its long maturation process, this tequila tastes smoother than other kinds on the market. It is worth trying if you are looking for a fine quality drink that can easily mix your daiquiris, margaritas or other cocktails.
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Get out the salt and limes its time for tequila.
Not only on Cinco de Mayo, but any time there is a celebration, tequila is one of the best things to have on hand , adding some life to any party.
Fun fact: tequila is one of the only alcoholic drinks that is known for being more of an upper as opposed to a depressant, leading us to believe why it may be so widely consumed at fun fiestas. Plus, the spirit is delicious by itself, on the rocks or blended into beloved beverages like margaritas, Palomas and more.
There are also different types of tequila, depending on how the drink is made, including the main three blanco, reposado and añejo. Blanco, or silver tequila, has not been aged at all, resulting in a clear color. Reposado is the middle child, so to speak, and is typically aged between two to 12 months in an oak barrel that gives off a darker color. Finally, añejo is aged the longest, between one and four years for a richer color and depth of flavor.
No matter which you choose to cheers with, we have a tequila brand for you. Read on for a list of the classics like Patrón and more recent trendy tequilas like Kendall Jenners 818 and the pink colored Calirosa. Plus, they can all be delivered right to your door with Drizly, ReserveBar, Minibar Delivery and more.
Best Under $: Espoln Blanco
ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Tropical fruit, ginger, grilled pineapple
Who says that great tequila needs to cost a fortune? Espolòn’s 100% blue agave blanco is an excellent value. Notes of tropical fruit, citrus zest, ginger and grilled pineapples lead to an elegant, spice-laden finish. At less than $30 a pop, you wont feel bad mixing this into a cocktail, though the quality is good enough to sip on its own.
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Best Overall: Fuenteseca Cosecha 2018
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 45.7% | Tasting Notes: Cinnamon, Olive, Brine
This tequila is a cult favorite among experts, as Yana Volfson, the beverage manager at Cosme and ATLA restaurants in New York, calls it beautiful. Enrique Fuenteseca, the farmer and distiller behind the bottle, chooses the ripest agave in his own estate, subjects the piñas to the autoclave-and-roller mill treatment, and lets the pot-distilled spirit rest in stainless steel tanks afterward for three years. The resulting blanco, says Grover Sanschagrin, is super heavy on the cinnamon, olive, and brine notesits just amazing. Perfect for tequila aficionados, the limited-production Fuenteseca Cosecha 2013 is a worthy collectible.
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T1 Tequila Uno Selecto Tears Of Llorona
Liquor.com / Laura Sant
Before there was Patrón, there was Chinaco, ostensibly the first premium tequila to enter the U.S. market. The man behind it was master distiller Germán González. Hes since gone on to produce a pair of his own beautifully crafted brands with t1 Tequila Uno and Tears of Llorona. Both spirits start with the same high-quality highland agave, cooked in the same fashion, but its his distilling and aging processes that distinguish them from each other.
While the t1 line consists primarily of 80-proof tequilas, Gonzalezs Selecto 86-proof expression is where he finds the best balance of agave flavor and alcohol. Selecto is more like my memory of old-fashioned Mexican tequila, says Gonzalez. I sort of created it for myself, because that is the way I like my tequila. Its beautifully light-on-its-feet with a scent of buttery almond and vanilla that turns to creamy, sweet agave and a hint of citrus when it hits your tongue.
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Best Bartenders Choice: Fortaleza Blanco Tequila
Courtesy of ReserveBar
ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Pepper, earth, smoke
Theres a reason why bartenders across the country cant get enough of Fortaleza Blanco Tequila its got history, its got taste, and its produced as traditionally as possible. Fortaleza was first brought to the United States over 150 years ago, and in terms of production, not much has changed since then. The family uses only estate-grown agave and traditional tahonas to create this high-quality product, with additives never used. Expect flavors of pepper, smoke, and a hint of sweetness to lead to a savory, lingering finish.
Fortaleza Tequila is one of my favorites, says Tanner Johnson, Director of Bars & Beverage at the new Thompson San Antonio Riverwalk. Their blanco is a pure expression of an agave spirit. It is spicy, earthy, slightly vegetal with a touch of sweetness. Master Mixologist Deke Dunne agrees. For sipping, I suggest Fortaleza Blanco, he says, describing the bottle as definitely one of favorite tequilas.
How Are The Different Types Of Tequila Different
Mixto tequila must first be mixed with sugar or molasses before fermentation begins. Then, depending on the subsequent process, the tequila will become one of the following five types. 1. Gold Tequila Most gold tequilas get their color from the caramel coloring added to the tequila before fermentation.
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You Can Still Take Tequila Shots
Traditionally, many Americans prefer their tequila in a shot glass with some salt and a lime, which is OK. There is no wrong way to drink tequila, Koerner says. Shooting spirits has always been a means to achieve the effect of imbibing spirits while minimizing the consumers experience with the flavors of poorly made and often alarmingly cheap spirits. If you do decide to take a shot of tequilaagain, no judgment heresome of our favorite chasers are fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, orange slices sprinkled with cinnamon or spiced salt, or a fresh slice of lime. And try to avoid bottom shelf brands when taking shots. If you shoot something nice, you wont regret it the next day, Hermosillo adds. If you shoot something bad, you will definitely regret it the next day.
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