Best Tequilas 2022

Choosing a tequila can be a burden but I have done the work for you!

There is a good tequila for every taste and for every budget. This post contains the list of the 12 Best Tequilas to drink in 2022.

You can read the 2023 updated version of this post by visiting: Best Tequila to buy in 2023!

Fortaleza Blanco – Best Blanco

• Nose: Olive, agave, citrus, lime
• Palate: Olive, agave, mint, black pepper
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Ocho Plata, Still Strength

The nose offers rich green olive aroma, with cooked agave, orange and lime.

On the palate, Fortaleza Blanco offers a terrific oily mouthfeel, flavor is rich in olive, blue agave sweetness, ripe fruit, mint, a salty note and just a drizzle of black pepper.

The finish is long, peppery at first, with anise and agave in the background along pleasant warmth.

Fortaleza Blanco tastes like… tequila is supposed to taste, as it delivers a cooked agave blast, along a nice olive hint and the right level of sweetness making it exceptional and the best blanco or silver tequila that you can buy today.

Learn more about this brand by reading my post: Discover the Best Fortaleza Tequila!

Casamigos Blanco – Best Sipper

• Nose: Vanilla, agave, mint
• Palate: Smooth, creamy, agave, vanilla, mint
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Camarena Silver, Lunazul Blanco

The nose is mostly vanilla, with a tad of agave and mint.

On the palate, Casamigos Blanco displays a smooth flavor, rich in vanilla and mint, with a creamy feel to it.

The finish is long and pleasantly warm, leaving trace of vanilla and mint behind.

Casamigos Blanco is sweet, smooth and easy to sip as it has no harshness and does not burn on the way down.

I like it neat but works wonders when served on the rocks although not the best mixer as its high vanilla note does not sit well in most cocktails.

Personally, I am fond of Casamigos as I drink it every now and then when looking for a sweet, mellow and uncomplicated dram. I keep one in the fridge and use it as a little reward after a long day.

Casamigos has gone beyond being a Celebrity Tequila or George Clooney’s Tequila to become a top-shelf-brand!

Learn how Casamigos compares to Patron Silver and Don Julio Blanco.

Espolon Blanco – Best for Margaritas, Cocktails & Shots

• Nose: Agave, black pepper, citrus, alcohol
• Palate: Agave, black pepper, citrus
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Cocktails
• Similar to: Herradura Silver, Don Julio Blanco

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, it has the ideal characteristics for a mixer to make tasty Margaritas, Ranch Water, Batanga or when in the mood for shots.

The Espolon Tequila brand is a champ in terms of value as all its releases are attractively priced and are quite competent.

G4 Reposado – Best Reposado

• Nose: Agave, grapefruit, caramel, black pepper
• Palate: Agave, pepper, butter, citrus, oak
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: G4 Blanco, Fortaleza Repo

The nose brings moderate agave scent, followed by a note of grapefruit, along caramel and a drizzle of black pepper.

On the palate, G4 has a creamy body as it shows a good texture.

Flavor brings agave and black pepper, besides butter, citrus and oak notes.

The finish is long, with very little warmth leaving a lingering cinnamon note.

G4 Reposado is the product of aging G4 Blanco for 6 months in ex-bourbon barrels.

The result is a tequila with less agave flavor, while adding caramel, vanilla and oak notes along some interesting hints such as grapefruit and butter.

Overall, G4 is solid reposado Tequila that preserves agave flavor while adding subtle oak, vanilla and caramel notes.

This one that I will be including in the list of the best reposados you can buy today!

123 Organic (2) – Made exclusively from Organic Agave!

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

This Reposado is the product of aging Blanco for 6 months in white oak barrels.

The result is a sweeter tequila, with caramel and vanilla notes along moderate oak presence.

The nose brings agave at first, followed by vanilla, caramel and a subtle wood note.

On the palate, 123 has a buttery feel as the texture feels thick.

Flavor is rich in agave, along a rich note of baking spice making it notoriously tasty, followed by caramel and just a tad of oak.

The finish is long and pleasantly warm, with nice heat that lingers down your chest.

It drinks beautifully neat, as it does not need neither chaser or ice.

This is a sweet and rewarding tequila, with the right amount of heat making one of the best reposados you can buy today and the only organic release within that list.

Highly recommendable for those who want an easy and tasty sipper.

This is the best release from 123 Tequila!

Siete Leguas Reposado – Personal favorite!

• Nose: Agave, oak, vanilla
• Palate: Agave, oak, vanilla, pepper
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Patron Reposado

This is something I drink every now and then along my better half at our favourite taco joint.

So I’m very fond of this tequila and one that I can’t recommend enough.

Nose is subtle and sweet with a hit of agave, followed by oak, vanilla and caramel.

On the palate, Siete Leguas Reposado is sweet and warming at first, very clean tasting, rich in roasted agave, with fine hints of oak, vanilla and caramel and a whiff of black pepper and cinnamon.

The finish is long and sweet, subtle in oak and vanilla with a slight late burn making it entirely pleasing.

Siete Leguas Reposado is not only good, this is also one of the best reposado tequilas you can buy today.

It drinks almost like a Blanco with a gentle barrel aging providing subtle vanilla and oak notes making it sweet and incredibly satisfying.

When Patron joined the Tequila business its entire lineup was crafted at the Siete Leguas Distillery.

Don Julio 1942- Smoothest Tequila

• Nose: Vanilla, caramel, agave, oak
• Palate: Agave, vanilla, citrus, chocolate
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Clase Azul Repo, 1800 Milenio

Don Julio 1942 starts with a blast of vanilla on the nose, followed by caramel, roasted agave and a bit of oak.

On the palate, this tequila provides a velvety creamy body, with a very smooth taste.

Flavor is rich in caramel notes up-front followed by chocolate, agave flavor and oak.

Nicely balanced, with no burn in a slight smoky flavor that yet provides the kick of tequila.

The finish is long and pleasantly warm, rich in agave, oak and cinnamon.

This is a great dram good for drinkers of all levels and especially for those bourbon aficionados as there are tasting notes that will be familiar.

1942 makes an incredible sipper with no alcohol burn or bad bite. It goes down nicely hence I recommend drinking it neat.

If you want to chill it a bit use large ice cubes avoiding dilution or use a set of whisky stones. Do not use it as a mixer.

This is Don Julio’s best tequila, perhaps the best añejo tequila and one of the best 12 tequilas in existence; so I hope you get an idea of how good 1942 is!

ArteNom 1146 – The Insider Pick

• 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

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.

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.

Palate is not too sweet but has many of Don Julio 1942 tasting notes at an attractive price.

This Tequila makes a great alternative to Don Julio 1942!

Don Julio 70 – Best Cristalino

Nose	Vanilla, oak
Palate	Vanilla, agave, caramel, oak
Alcohol content	80 proof (40% ABV)
How to drink	Rocks
Similar to	Don Julio Blanco

• Nose: Vanilla, oak
• Palate: Vanilla, agave, caramel, oak
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks
• Similar to: Don Julio Blanco

Beautiful nose of bright flowers, honey, blue agave, vanilla.

On the palate, Don Julio 70 is incredibly smooth, rich in vanilla, oak and caramel and a tad of agave.

Finish remains smooth, with vanilla, oak and a bit of black pepper, with very little warmth.

This tequila smells and tastes like an Añejo or Aged Tequila but looks like a Blanco or White Tequila.

Don Julio is the product of filtering Don Julio Añejo through charcoal before bottling.

This process removes hard edges from the spirit making it easier to drink.

This type of tequila is known as Cristalino, and makes a perfect choice for those who want an overly easy yet tasty dram.

Don Julio 70 is dangerously smooth as it gets drained quite fast and yet flavorful with literally no burn or bad bite.

It has most of the tasting notes of an añejo tequila such as vanilla, oak and fine spices although it lost most of the agave flavor in the filtration process.

Don Julio 70 is the best Cristalino or filtered Tequila you can buy today!

Casa Noble Single Barrel Extra Añejo – Best Affordable Extra Añejo

• Nose: Agave, oak, vanilla
• Palate: Agave, oak, chocolate, vanilla, coconut
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks
• Similar to: Casa Noble Añejo

Extra Añejos are expensive as the long aging length consumes resources and real estate.

The good news is that you can buy a top-notch extra añejo for less than $100 USD!

Casa Noble Extra Añejo is delightfully smooth, with vanilla and oak from the French Oak barrel that will resonate among bourbon lovers.

The mouthfeel is soft and full and complex without much in the way of alcohol burn making an outstanding sipper.

My only complaint is the finish which I find a bit too short, lacking warmth. But overall, Casa Noble Extra Añejo is a solid release and the best extra añejo below the $100 USD mark.

Casa Noble is a triple-distilled spirit and aged for 5 years in lightly charred French white oak barrels.

Herradura Seleccion Suprema

• Nose: Caramel, vanilla, oak, agave
• Palate: Vanilla, oak, leather, tobacco, agave, smoke
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks
• Similar to: Herradura Añejo

Herradura Seleccion Suprema is an amazing tequila.

One of the smoothest and most flavorful, deep and complex tequilas I have ever had.

Herradura offers a nice creamy body with a gentle mouthfeel, smooth full of incredible flavors with a long pleasantly warm finish making it my favorite extra añejo tequila.

Seleccion Suprema earned 94 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2014, where it was awarded as the Best Extra Añejo Tequila in the World.

Herradura Tequila is aged for long 49 months in American white oak barrels.

It is crafted by Herradura Tequila one of Mexico’s oldest and most beloved tequila producers; they have been in the agave distilling business since 1870.

Tears of Llorona Extra Añejo – Best Extra Añejo

• Nose: Agave, dark fruit, dark chocolate
• Palate: Agave, faint smoke,chocolate, charred oak
• Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat
• Similar to: Clase Azul Reposado, Don Julio 1942

Its dark color tells that this is no ordinary tequila and its flavor approves.

Tears of Llorona has great depth and layers of complexity from the different barrels in which it was aged.

Tears of Llorona has a light mouthfeel with almost no burn. It offers a smoky and oaky note perfectly balanced with sweet and spicy notes making a great sipping tequila.

The finish is a bit short but the higher proof receives an additional point.

Tears of Llorona was aged for almost 5 years in Scotch, sherry and cognac barrels before blending.

While most tequilas are bottled at 80 proof, this is a nice 86 proof but does not bite.

Best Tequilas Buying Guide (Prices)

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Tequila	Price	Type
Fortaleza Blanco	$49	Blanco
Casamigos Blanco	$50	Blanco
Espolon Blanco	$25	Blanco
G4 Reposado	$57	Reposado
123 Organic 2	$56	Reposado
Siete Leguas Reposado	$53	Reposado
Don Julio 1942	$136	Añejo
ArteNom 1146	$88	Añejo
Don Julio 70	$65	Cristalino
Casa Noble Single Barrel	$99	Extra Añejo
Tears of Llorona	$284	Extra Añejo
Herradura Seleccion Suprema	$370	Extra Añejo

Consider further options by visiting my post containing the best Tequilas under $50 where you will find Blancos, Reposados, Añejos and one Cristalino so you stock your cabinet with fine and affordable options.

What do the Best Tequilas have in common?

These are the things to consider before buying a tequila:

The best Tequilas are easy to sip

Quality is rapidly recognized. A good tequila goes down easy, it does not need sodas, soft drinks or even ice to enjoy it.

Good tequilas are easy to drink although they maintain character when drunk. To get to understand what I am saying you are going to have to experiment with many tequilas or agave spirits and I assure you that you will agree with me.

Top Tequilas have character

Well, you can’t expect a simple answer to this question. If we were looking for a word to describe the perfect tequila, it would be “character”.

For most people, sipping a liquor is an act that goes far beyond taste, but it is also an important part of the process.

The perfect tequila should be able to take you to another place. There are many notes that hit the taste sensors with different types of tequila, and you should be able to travel elsewhere just by trying a good one.

Good tequilas will fill you with satisfaction and leave you wanting another sip. No matter what kind of tequila you’re drinking, if it doesn’t have character, it’s not worth drinking.

Flavor & Taste

We cannot ignore the fact that there are different types of tequilas, and each one is made in a different way.

A good tequila should be able to hit you with a beautiful aroma and enticing taste. It should be an experience that once it touches your mouth, every nerve in your body should be screaming to understand what just happened.

This means that every tequila made the right way and using high-quality and fully-grown agave using the purest water has the potential to be great. However, that does not define its greatness.

Even the highest quality tequila may not be enough if it has a character that has the power to enhance the entire experience.

Complexity & Balance

These two qualities are also very important to find the best tequila. Sometimes it’s hard to achieve the perfect delivery of all these flavors at the same time and yet still feel balanced.

The level of complexity is determined by the agave and what the French call “terroir” (the natural environment in which a particular spirit is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate).

We all want a tequila that tastes great, but all things add up to make tequila a deeper, more pleasurable experience.

Remember, tequila doesn’t have to be expensive to be good. You can still find the perfect tequila for you that can transport you to another dimension without breaking the bank.