10+2 Best Tequilas under $100

Discover the best Tequilas under $100 in every category that you can buy. Prices are up to date!

Casa Noble Single Barrel – Best Extra Añejo under $100

• Taste: Caramel, vanilla, agave, oak
• Palate: Vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, oak
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat
• Similar to: Avion Reserva 44

This Single Barrel release is the best Extra Añejo you’ll find for less than $100 making it a bargain as it goes toe to toe with much pricier releases.

Taste:

The nose is quite good as it hits with caramel at first, followed by vanilla, agave and a touch of toasty oak.

On the mouth, the Single Barrel provides a pleasant mouthfeel as it feels viscous.

Flavor brings notes of vanilla and caramel at first, followed by hazelnut, oak and a bit of coconut.

The finish has a medium to long to length, with very little warmth to it, with caramel and a light touch of oak.

Is it good?

My only complaint is that the glass empties a little too fast.

Overall, Casa Noble Single Barrel is a solid release and the best value Extra Añejo Tequila below the $100 USD mark.

Casa Noble is a triple-distilled spirit and aged for 5 years in lightly charred French white oak barrels. The triple distillation is the secret behind Irish Whiskey proverbial smoothness.

At some point musician Carlos Santana partnered with Casa Noble but he cashed-out when the brand was sold to Constellation Brands, headquartered in the state of New York.

Patron Extra Añejo

• Taste: Agave, oak, honey, tobacco
• Palate: Agave, chocolate, honey, dried fruit
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Patron Añejo

This release offers great value making the best Patron for the money as it is surprisingly affordable given the quality of the pour.

Taste:

Nose kicks-off with agave and oak at first, followed by hints of honey, tobacco and a bit of banana lurking in the back.

On the palate, it offers thick creamy texture providing a good mouthfeel. Flavor hits with agave and sweet oak, giving way to a dark chocolate, dried fruit and caramel note.

The finish is long and pleasantly warm, with caramel and oak hints.

Is it good?

Patron Extra Añejo is packed with whiskey-like flavors making a great alternative to bourbon drinkers willing to join the Tequila bandwagon.

This release is aged for 3 years using a combination of ex-bourbon-barrels and Hungarian oak barrels.

San Matias Gran Reserva

• Taste: Agave, cinnamon, oak, ripe fruit
• Palate: Caramel, vanilla, oak, leather
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Don Julio 1942

This Tequila is a super bargain as it’s priced around $50 making it a steal. I was not expecting much from an Extra Añejo at this price but I was blown away by it.

Taste:

The nose brings agave at first, followed by cinnamon, oak and a bit of ripe fruit coming late as you let it breathe.

On the palate, it has a medium body providing a decent mouthfeel. First sip is sweet and smooth hitting with caramel and vanilla, followed by oak and old leather.

The finish lingers with a bit of black pepper to it but nothing severe and a touch of caramel sweetness.

Is it good?

Surprisingly good given the price. It lacks agave flavor but packed with easy drinking sweet tasting notes making it a great introductory bottle to this type of Tequila.

Fortaleza Añejo

• Taste: Caramel, vanilla, oak, agave
• Palate: Agave, butterscotch, citrus, hazelnuts
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Siete Leguas Añejo

Fortaleza is top brand with every release ranked among the best in their respective categories and this release makes the best Añejo Tequila making something to add to the cabinet.

Taste:

On the nose you get bourbon whiskey-like notes of caramel, vanilla and oak along roasted agave.

On the palate, Fortaleza Añejo feels buttery with an oily texture that coats your mouth in a very soothing way.

Flavor is rich in agave, along vanilla and butterscotch with just a tad of oak spice.

The finish lingers, with nice heat that warms your chest, with more blue agave, a touch of pineapple, caramel and oak.

Is it good?

Anejo doesn’t get much better than this making it one the best Añejo Tequilas in the market.

Pleasant heat but tremendously balanced with an awesome finish.

Fortaleza Añejo is a tequila that bourbon drinkers curious about agave spirits are gonna find particularly attractive as you get vanilla, butterscotch and oak flavors along blue agave sweetness making it incredibly good.

G4 Añejo

• Taste: Vanilla, caramel, citrus
• Palate: Agave, oak, vanilla, black pepper
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Don Julio Añejo

G4 is a brand not nearly as known as the ones you have in mind but I can assure you that every release ranks among the best in their categories.

Taste:

The nose brings a light vanilla hint, followed by caramel and a touch of orange peel.

On the palate, G4 feels buttery and a bit warm on the first sip, but mellows out into rich agave flavor, along vanilla and a drizzle of black pepper.

The finish is long and pleasantly warm, leaving an aftertaste of cinnamon and agave.

Is it good?

G4 Añejo will be welcomed with open arms by those who cherish agave flavor but will be frowned upon by those who prefer the notes of oak aging.

Personally, I’m among those that prefer a lightly oaked Tequila as I don’t like wood to overshadow other flavors; but this is a matter of personal preference.

ArteNom 1146 Añejo

• Nose: Roasted nuts, spiced apple
• Palate: Oak, dried fruit, chocolate, roasted nuts
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Tears of Llorona

ArteNOM offers most of the notes of Don Julio 1942 at an affordable price and is completely legit as it is free of additives making it a no-brainer.

Taste:

This Tequila is unique as it was aged in ex-Cabernet Franc barrels famous for its rich and delicious dried fruit notes.

60% of the batch is first aged in these barrels for 2 years and the remaining 40% for 3 years. They finally get married in ex-bourbon barrels for one year.

Is it good?

ArteNom’s process sounds too complex but the result is a solid sipping Tequila with a deep complexity that only well-traveled aficionados will appreciate.

Volans Reposado Single Barrel

• Nose: Agave, vanilla, earth, ripe fruit
• Palate: Agave, pineapple, caramel, earth
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Volans Blanco

Most Tequilas are made from a blend of barrels but Volans is drawn from a Single Barrel.

In general, spirits drawn from a Single Barrel taste better as distillers ensure using the best barrels for this releases.

Taste:

The nose is light, with a an agave note, followed by vanilla, ripe fruit, an earthy note of wet soil and just a tad of oak.

On the palate, Volans feels creamy providing a great mouthfeel. Flavor hits hard with agave flavor, followed by roasted pineapple, delicate caramel and more of the wet soil note from the nose.

The finish lingers with pleasing warmth on the way down and a touch of dried fruit.

Is it good?

Volans is crafted at El Pandillo by the Camarenas along G4 Tequila so rest assured this is not only good but the best Reposado to buy.

Ocho Reposado Widow Jane

• Nose: Agave, cinnamon, mint
• Palate: Agave, pecans, cinnamon, mint
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Ocho Plata

As the name implies this Tequila was aged in Widow Jane Bourbon barrels.

Taste:

The nose is rich in agave, followed by cinnamon and mint.

On the palate, the Ocho Widow Janes provides an incredible mouthfeel as it feels chewy and smooth. Flavor hits with agave, followed pecans, cinnamon and mint, with an earthy note coming late to the party.

The finish is long, with the level of warmth that you expect from a good Tequila and a good hit of baking spice.

Is it good?

A bit pricey for a Reposado, but the flavor makes up for it entirely providing a great experience.

Herradura Reposado Colección de la Casa Port Cask

• Nose: Agave, caramel baking spice
• Palate: Agave, baking spice, vanilla
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Herradura Seleccion Suprema

This is a double barreled release. First rested for 11 months in medium-char American white oak casks, followed by an additional 2 months in port casks.

The port casks were hand-picked from Portugal and previously used in the aging of port from the Douro Valley.

Taste:

The nose brings some heat at first, followed agave, caramel notes and baking spice.

On the palate, Herradura brings a very nice warming sensation. Flavor is rich in agave, cinnamon, nutmeg, along vanilla and a dash of black pepper.

The finish is long, bringing warm to your chest making a very rewarding sip.

Is it good?

Not an easy find, though, but if you can find it enjoy it while it lasts as this release has been in the market on and off but a great alternative to Don Julio Primavera as it feels more robust and nuanced.

Fortaleza Still Strength

• Nose: Roasted agave, orange peel, green olive
• Palate: Agave, fruity notes, green olive, minerality
• Alcohol content: 92 proof (46% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Fortaleza Blanco

The Still Strength release is the same as Fortaleza Blanco but bottled at a higher proof providing a bolder version.

Taste:

Cooked agave on the nose that you can smell from across the room, followed by orange peel, olive and a tad of ethanol.

The body is incredibly buttery, with a little heat that doesn’t burn.

Flavor hits hard with agave and ripe fruit sweetness along the signature green olive note of Fortaleza and some minerality.

Finish is long, earthy, warming with pleasant alcohol tingle, a dash of black pepper and salty caramel.

Is it good?

Fortaleza Still Strength delivers most of the flavors of Fortaleza Blanco but it comes with more body as it feels remarkably creamy and bolder in flavors making an upgrade over an already great Tequila.

It drinks nicely neat, but add a large ice ball avoiding dilution if you feel the heat. Over time you will accustomed to this nice warmth and will find a hard time to drink conventional Tequilas.

Cascahuin Tahona Blanco

• Nose: Citrus peel, agave, earth
• Palate: Agave, earth, citrus, cinnamon
• Alcohol content: 92 proof (46% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: G4 Blanco

This Tequila is made using a large 2-ton tahona stone to crush the agaves. This artisanal method does a better job than the roller mill at preserving the natural sweetness of agave.

Taste:

The nose hits with a heavy note of orange and lemon peel, followed by agave and earth.

On the palate, Cascahuin Tahona has a buttery feel providing a great mouthfeel. First sip is pleasantly warm, loaded with agave and earth, giving way to orange and cinnamon.

The finish is long, rich in natural agave sweetness and a touch of black pepper.

Is it good?

Cascahuin is one of the best Blancos as it is rich in natural agave sweetness, tasty earthy notes, hints of citrus and most importantly this is a smooth and buttery Tequila.

It provides a great experience from nose to finish making one of the best in its type and something that a true Tequila aficionado should be drinking.

Tapatio Blanco 110

• Nose: Agave, black pepper, grapefruit
• Palate: Agave, pepper, lime, mint, orange
• Alcohol content: 110 proof (55% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks
• Similar to: Cazcanes No. 9

This Tequila is bottled at 110 proof (55% ABV) yet it’s remarkably smooth given the amount of alcohol and a great choice for those who want an additional kick out of their pour.

Taste:

There is alcohol on the nose at first that rapidly gives way to cooked agave, along black pepper and a touch of grapefruit.

On the palate, Tapatio 110 feels creamy providing a great mouthfeel. It hits with pleasing warmth that gives way to natural blue agave sweetness, lime, mint, orange and a subtle mineral and spicy hit.

The finish lingers with more pleasing warmth to it and agave sweetness.

Is it good?

What makes Tapatio 110 special is that despite the high proof it doesn’t feel warm, drinks quite nicely and it’s a great option when in the mood to make overly tasty cocktails.

It’s also good on its own as you can sip it rocks, just make use to use a large ice ball avoiding dilution.

Best Tequilas under $100: Buying Guide

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Tequila	Price
Casa Noble Single Barrel	$100
Patron Extra Añejo	$77
San Matias Gran Reserva	$50
Fortaleza Añejo	$82
G4 Añejo	$75
ArteNOM 1146 Añejo	$100
Volans Reposado Single Barrel	$70
Ocho Reposado Widow Jane	$85
Herradura Reposado Colección de la Casa Port Cask	$100
Fortaleza Still Strength	$56
Cascahuin Tahona Blanco	$75
Tapatio Blanco 110	$63

Where to find these Tequilas?

These Tequilas have been hand-picked and some are not so well known an easy to find.

Visit websites such as Drizly.com, TotalWine.com or OldTownTequila.com and get them delivered to your home.

Final considerations

I updated these prices at the beginning of 2023 but consider that inflation is high so you might find some discrepancies.