The “Roca” range of spirits refers to those that have been produced in smaller batches with even greater attention to detail. Given the bottle, it shouldn’t be hard to spot on the top shelf. Average price: $32. The family recipe is renowned for being a success and has paved the way to put Herradura at the front of many tequila fans’ minds. It’s rested for eight months before being bottled and offers a light agave aroma with hints of butterscotch and wood. Country singer George Strait is an investor in the brand, and even wrote a song inspired by the tequila (aptly named “Codigo”) off his 2019 album, “Honkey Tonk Time Machine.”.
Made from 100% pure Weber Blue Agave harvested after 7 to 10 years of growing, this tequila is clean and crisp, and perfect for making margaritas and other mixed drinks. Average price: $41. This tequila is produced in the lowlands of the Jalisco region, so it won’t exhibit the same sweetness or fruit-forward flavors as some of the other picks on our list.
Average price: $53. For example, in the United States, the minimum strength allowed is 40%, while across Europe it’s 37.5%.
Añejo tequila can often be recognized by its rich, caramel color, and it must be aged for at least one year (though most are aged three years) to bear the “Añejo” name. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. After cooking, the Piña is shredded to release the juice, which is then made into alcohol using yeast. Average price: $28. Piña: The name of the middle of the agave plant, which typically looks very similar to a pineapple. You just need to know what to look for. This tequila doubles down on that, spending six years in French Oak barrels that previously housed Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. That gives the Rosa a subtle pink hue, and a sweet yet dry finish. Azunia’s Tequila Reposado is filled to the brim with authentic flavour. These are often referred to as a “Mixto,” where colors and flavors are added prior to bottling. Spritz your way through the most enchanting fragrances. The palate enters well rounded and full-bodied, before a tingling spice lingers on its lengthy finish. Silver tequila is great to drink on its own, but it’s great for mixed drinks as well. The liquid inside is equally precious. Herradura’s Reposado Tequila Colección de la Casa Port is fermented naturally with wild yeast before being matured in hand-selected vintage Port casks from the Douro Valley in Portugal for two additional months. T1 is produced by Master Distiller Germán González, great grandson of General Manuel González, former President of México between 1880 – 1884. Reposado: Reposado translates to “rested” and refers to tequila that’s left to age between two months to a year. We Asked 10 Drinks Pros: Which Mezcal Gives You the Best Bang for the Buck? There’s a wonderful depth to the nose of this tequila, which has layers of floral, spicy, fruity, and vegetal aromas. Patrón, one of most well-known tequila brands in the world, actually offers a diverse portfolio of authentic tequilas that you won’t find in nightclubs or seedy bars. The Reposado features notes of sweet vanilla, oak, mushrooms, ginger, caramel and citrus, which gives it that perfect balance of earthiness, sweetness and spiciness with an easy finish and no lingering aftertaste. By law, extra añejo must age for a minimum of three years before release. There’s barely a hint of oak in its aromas, either, though dried fruits, vanilla, and cedar arrive on the palate. There’s a light caramel profile to the palate, making it an approachable option for those who mix their Margaritas on the sweeter side. This añejo tequila spends 18 months in American white oak casks before it’s charcoal-filtered to remove the color. El Tesoro Añejo pours honey gold, with a perfumed nose. Expect a combination of floral, sweet and citrus notes on the nose with a hint of candy cane to round it off. Añejos at this price point typically share two things in common: They look artificially colored and taste overwhelmingly sweet. The palate is full-bodied, velvet- smooth, and seasoned with a crack of black pepper. Despite being one of the cheaper brands on the market, El Jimador uses 100% agave in all of its tequilas. The name, Johnson explains, was inspired by his Polynesian background. Jimador: The name or term given to a farmer who grows and harvests the agave plants for tequila. It’s pricey, but this is one of the best blancos on the market. Despite its low price point, it’s an enjoyable tequila that goes down easily and acts as a perfect staple in the liquor cabinet. It has the first triple-distilled silver tequila and avoids the use of off-site bottlers, preferring to do everything from scratch itself. That spice continues to lead the palate, but is kept in check by dried fruits and a hint of honey. Its unflavored blanco expression doesn’t break that mold (at least in spirit), with a nose that opens like a jar of spicy pickled cactus. The palate is also remarkably vegetal, making this a tequila for true aficionados. If you try this tequila neat, you’ll notice notes of maple, vanilla and caramel, balanced with pepper and floral tones. 100% Agave: Tequila comes from the agave plant, but not all tequilas are made with 100% agave sugar. Spirit of the Earth,” he says.
But Casa Noble’s Joven tequila bucks the trend with a full and well-balanced mouthfeel, with notes of earthy cooked agave paired with fruits and florals. Extra Añejo: This term was only introduced in 2006 and refers to tequilas that have been aged for a minimum of three years in oak barrels. Bartenders love Cenote in a Paloma too, and the company responded by introducing the first-ever “World Paloma Day” last May.
The Tequila Blanco is one of the smoothest silvers on the market, offering semi-sweet agave notes with a hint of pepper throughout.
It also comes at a lower price point. In order to do such a thing, Dos Lunas takes a lot of care over the production of its spirits. Its ultra-premium, small-batch tequila comes in a numbered and hand-signed bottle. Each bottle is handmade and hand-painted by Mexican artists. While we may be used to drinking clear tequila, many expensive tequilas are more caramel in color, due to being aged in wooden barrels. With an almost-maple hue, this reposado is darker than most on the market. Silver tequila is probably the most well-known, and it typically appears perfectly clear in the bottle. Everything Fortaleza does is done with quality in mind, even down to the individually blown glass bottles. All tequilas must be distilled twice to officially class as tequila, but Corralejo takes it one step further with a triple distillation method. It’s a premium brand that offers a unique tasting experience due to the ageing process used, particularly its Reposado offering. The secret to Cenote’s smoothness? Añejo: Tequila that has been aged for at least a year, usually in ex-bourbon casks. Average price: $35 for 750-milliliters. This tequila is great on its own or with a splash of soda. It promises its agave to be from herbicide and pesticide-free fields and its tequila to be free from glycerin and calcium chloride, commonly found in other brands. If you want further explore the world of Don Julio, we have an entire story on Don Julio’s premium tequila collection, the interesting history of the brand, and the best cocktails to mix it up with. Read our earnings disclaimer to learn more. For those looking to stock up on booze now — or ever — tequila offers a broad range of options. Each batch is distilled for a minimum of two months in stainless steel barrels, and delivers a nice mix of sweet agave, light citrus and just a hint of vanilla. Its No. These can grow up to the size of a small car. Corralejo. The harvested Piñas – the heart of the plant used to produce tequila – from the agave are steam-baked to bring out the sugar, which can then be fermented to produce alcohol. This bottle is perfect for sipping neat or adding an extra dimension to (baller) Margaritas. Its neutral flavour works well in a wide range of tequila-based cocktails. There are a handful of smooth, premium-tasting tequilas you can get for under $100 too. Think of this as the “cognac of tequila” — best for sipping neat, or with an ice cube. Discover the best minimalist sneakers of the year. Clase Azul raises expectations with its attention to detail on the outside and these expectations are fulfilled when it comes to sipping the rested tequila, too. This is nuanced, thought-provoking añejo at its finest. Aged for upwards of 18 months in French Limousin oak barrels (best associated with Cognac production) this tequila’s aromas could well be those of a blanco or reposado.
Average price: $40. © 2014 - 2020 VinePair Inc. — Made In NYC, Next Round Live: What's Happening in the Drinks Industry Now. The palate is fiery (read: spice not booze) with a pleasant undertone of oaky sweetness. There’s vegetal-accented blancos, lightly aged reposados, and luscious, complex añejos. Patrón is a popular tequila, and you can find a bottle of Patrón Silver in almost any bar or liquor store you walk into. And just like wine, tequila can be aged in a number of different containers, from oak barrels to steel drums. It’s a great option for a cocktail base and has won awards across the world for its versatility and popularity.
The primary aromas are mostly sweet, but a further taste will reveal coffee, citrus and black pepper. There are more than a thousand registered brands on the market, making it a tough call to source the best tequila brands to sample in 2020. These days, some of the best tequilas in the world are actually more comparable to a fine bourbon or robust glass of wine than jello shots and beer pong. A certified organic tequila, this bottle was named Best Joven Tequila at the 2017 World Tequila Awards and Double-Gold award winner at the 2016 World Spirits Awards.