No need to spend top dollar in a Tequila for shots. These are the best cheap Tequilas to use as shooters and have fun.
Drink responsibly!
Affordable Tequilas are better for shots
This video clearly illustrates why a cheap tequila is better suited for shots:
Cimarron Blanco
- Nose: Alcohol, agave, pepper, cinnamon
- Palate: Agave, baking spice, earth, orange
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Cocktails
- Similar to: Tres Agaves Blanco
Cimarron Blanco is the top Blanco Tequila you can buy for less than $30.
It not only has a good taste and better than what its price suggests, it’s also free of additives and chemicals providing a legit experience.
The nose kicks-off with a high alcohol note that might be frightening, but gives way to a rich agave note, followed by pepper and cinnamon.
On the palate, Cimarron feels full-bodied providing a good mouthfeel.
The first sip is rich in baking spice, followed by agave, an earthy note and a touch of orange.
The finish is long, with pleasing warmth on the way down and a touch of black pepper.
It lacks the rich agave notes of the top Blanco Tequilas but provides a very enjoyable pour at a price hard to beat.
Tres Agaves Blanco
- Nose: Agave, orange, floral
- Palate: Agave, lemon, orange, pepper
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Rocks, cocktails
- Similar to: 3 Amigos Blanco
The nose is quite good as it hits with agave at first, followed by a rich orange note and the smell of bright flowers.
On the palate, Tres Agaves Blanco feels viscous providing a good texture.
Flavor brings agave, that gives way to a pleasing lemon and orange taste, with just a bit of black pepper spice but nothing severe.
The finish lacks a bit in length, with very little warmth to it, leaving a sweet touch behind.
This is another value play as Tres Agaves goes toe to toe with Tequilas offered at twice its price.
Espolon Blanco
- Nose: Agave, black pepper, citrus, alcohol
- Palate: Agave, black pepper, citrus
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Cocktails
- Similar to: Cuervo Silver
The nose is light displaying an earthy aroma, with a dash of black pepper and a bit of ethanol.
On the palate, Espolon Blanco is a bit warm at first, but as you let it develop it becomes somewhat sweet with some fruity notes and vanilla.
The finish has a medium-length, with citrus and a peppery and warming note.
In summary, Espolon Blanco offers a good taste, moderate sweetness, although a bit warm and peppery but nothing terrible or off-putting.
In fact, this is the ideal Blanco Tequila for shots, it also works incredibly well in cocktails such as Margaritas, Ranch Water, Tequila & Coke and in any mixed drink you know!
The bottle looks cool making a nice decoration piece!
Dulce Vida Blanco
- Nose: Apple, agave, alcohol
- Palate: Agave, pepper, apple, olive
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Rocks, cocktails
- Similar to: JAJA Tequila
The nose hits hard with the scent of green apples, followed by agave and just a whiff of alcohol that fades away shortly.
Flavor brings a rich agave note, along pepper spice in moderation, with more of that green apple note and a touch of olive that reminds me of Fortaleza Blanco.
The finish lingers with a bit of warmth and pepper spice but well balanced with agave sweetness making a good sip that gets better when drunk rocks or homemade cocktail.
Dulce Vida Blanco is another great value Tequila well considering when drinking since it doesn’t have the let down you expect at this price point.
818 Blanco – Sweetest & Smoothest Tequila for Shots!
- Nose: Cream soda, vanilla, agave
- Palate: Cream soda, vanilla, black pepper, ethanol
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Rocks
- Similar to: Jenni Rivera Tequila, Eva Longoria Tequila
If you are new to Tequila or to liquors in general, and looking for something smooth and overly sweet Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila is good.
I can bet this Tequila has been artificially sweetened to be appealing to new consumers so if you are in this category you are likely to enjoy it.
On the nose you get a blast of cream soda, followed by vanilla and a very faint agave note.
On the palate, 818 Blanco has a creamy texture with a strong cream soda and sweet vanilla at first followed by black pepper and a touch of ethanol.
The finish is short and sweet with a bit of black pepper on the tail.
Read my post: Discover the Best Celebrity Tequila so you consider further options!
Olmeca Altos Plata
- Nose: Agave, earth, orange, mint
- Palate: Agave, black pepper, citrus, brine
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Cocktails
- Similar to: Jimador Silver, Hornitos Plata
The nose is quite earthy and vegetal, with hints of agave, orange and a tad of mint.
On the palate, Olmeca Altos displays strong herbal taste, then it gets spicy rounded out with agave sweetness.
The finish is pleasantly warm, with a bit of a burn, salty and has a peppercorn hint.
Altos Plata is a more complex pour than Espolon, with a rich vegetal and earthy note that tastes like the agave plant and its surroundings making it a challenging sipper.
Its peppery and vegetal notes shine in cocktails and especially in Tequila & Pineapple Juice or Tequila & Sprite.
This Tequila was developed by two British bartenders the late Henry Besant and Dre Masso, along master distiller Jesus Hernandez and two engineers from Kentucky looking for the perfect Tequila for mixed drinks.
1800 Silver
- Nose: Agave, pepper, orange, alcohol
- Palate: Fruity notes, agave, pepper, orange
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Cocktails
- Similar to: Avion Silver, Herradura Silver
The nose kicks-off with a smooth agave aroma, followed by black pepper, citrus and an alcoholic note that fades as you let it breathe.
On the palate, 1800 Silver is soft, with a sweet taste, some agave flavor, a touch of orange and a dash of black pepper.
1800 Silver is an overly smooth and sweet super basic Tequila with a just a bit of black pepper on the tail but nothing off-putting.
Is not interesting enough to sip straight although it makes a solid mixing tequila for your homemade cocktails.
1800 Tequila is not going to win any real awards, there is nothing remarkable about it, or will blow you away with memorable tasting notes.
But will reward you with a good Tequila shot without spending much and as it is made entirely from agave it won’t give you a hangover.
Maestro Dobel
- Nose: Lemongrass, vanilla, agave
- Palate: Agave, oak, black pepper
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Cocktails
- Similar to: Don Julio 70, 1800 Cristalino
On the nose, I get a pleasant scent of lemongrass, along vanilla, agave, oak and just a whiff of alcohol.
On the palate, Maestro Dobel has a nice mouthfeel as it feels overly smooth yet tasty.
Flavor is rich in agave, along hints of vanilla and oak with a bit of black pepper.
The finish is medium to long, pleasantly warm, sweet, with with oak and a bit of black pepper.
It goes down nicely and even though you can easily drink it neat it gets better when served rocks.
I would not use it as a mixer in a market where you can find several blanco tequilas at better prices.
Overall, Maestro Dobel is a solid option, offering great value for the money, is one of the best Cristalino Tequilas with a nice smooth taste making a great sipping tequila.
This might well be one of the best tequilas ever created by… Jose Cuervo!
Teremana Blanco
- Nose: Agave, citrus, ethanol
- Palate: Agave, green peppers, citrus
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Cocktails
- Similar to: Teremana Repo
There is a rich agave note of agave on the nose, followed by citrus and ethanol.
On the palate, Teremana tastes warm at first, followed by agave sweetness, green peppers with an earthy and mineral note.
The finish is long, warm and a bit bitter, with some black pepper and agave aftertaste.
I’m pleasantly surprised with Teremana as it smells and tastes completely legit.
I don’t detect any additives or foreign flavors! It tastes like Tequila used to taste before being Americanized and artificially sweetened.
Teremana is good, not the smoothest but it drinks quite nicely with a large ice cube.
It’s also a good tequila to make margaritas or ranch water as the ethanol note and the peppery flavors sit well in cocktails.
It offers good value for the money making it a good pour.
Jimador Silver
- Nose: Alcohol, agave, black pepper
- Palate: Alcohol, black pepper, fruity notes, agave
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Cocktails
- Similar to: Sauza Silver, Cazadores Blanco
The nose has a strong medicinal alcohol scent followed by agave and a heavy peppery note.
On the palate, Jimador Blanco offers an alcohol and black pepper blast at first, that mellow out into an artificial vanilla and agave flavor.
The finish is short and warm, with more alcohol that goes from nose to finish and a dash of black pepper.
Jimador is harsh, with a bad bite and lots of alcoholic notes and something not to drink neat, although ice makes it a tad better as it tunes-down the heat and some of the peppery notes.
Jimador Blanco is Mexico’s top-selling Tequila where it’s mainly used in cocktails and mixed with Beer, Coke, grapefruit soda or lime soda.
Best Tequilas for Shots Price Chart
| Tequila | Price |
| Cimarron Blanco | $30 |
| Espolon Blanco | $28 |
| 818 Blanco | $46 |
| Olmeca Altos Plata | $29 |
| Jimador Silver | $22 |
| Teremana Blanco | $33 |
| Maestro Dobel | $46 |
| 1800 Silver | $24 |
| Dulce Vida Blanco | $24 |
| Tres Agaves Blanco | $25 |
Which is the Best Cheap Tequila for Shots?
Espolon Blanco is my Tequila to go when in the mood for shots.
This Tequila is attractively prices, 100% agave which is important to prevent headaches and delivers pleasing warmth a peppery profile than will add a nice kick to you shots.
100% agave Tequila is better for shots
There are even more affordable options that you can buy but those Tequilas are not 100% agave.
I strongly suggest you to stick to 100% agave Tequilas, these spirits offer a unique sugar composition that won’t give you a headache the following morning.
Gold and mixto tequilas combine agave and sugar cane or grains promising a bad headcahe the following day to the mixing of sugar sources.
Also these tequilas have additives, flavorings and colorants that are not healthy.
What’s the Best type of Tequila for shots?
Blanco also known as Silver tequilas make the best tequila shooters.
Blanco Tequilas are cheaper than reposados and añejos that spent months or years aging in a wooden barrel.
Reposados and añejos are more expensive and better suited for sipping neat, hence not the best option for shots.
Expensive Tequilas are not for shots
There is no point in buying a Casamigos, Patron or Don Julio for shots as some websites promote.
Those are pricey Tequilas better suited to drink neat or or rocks.
Don’t waste your hard-earned money in expensive Tequilas when looking to make shots.
Hi there, welcome to my blog! I am J Highland.
I am a bar and liquor shop owner in Oaxaca, Mexico. On this site I share my opinions on Mexican liquors and tips on how to enjoy them.