Best Tequila

Unveiling the Hottest and Best Tequila Picks: Elevate Your Tasting Game Across All Categories and Price Ranges!

Fuenteseca Cosecha 2018 – Best Blanco

• Nose: Agave, earth, brine, pepper
• Palate: Agave, brine, green olives, mango, papaya
• Alcohol content: 89.6 proof (44.8% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat
• Similar to: Fuenteseca Reserva

Fuenteseca Cosecha 2018 is not your typical Tequila as it is quite different to anything you have tasted making a very special pour.

Taste:

The nose offers a blast of cooked agave, along with an earthy note, brine, and a drizzle of black pepper.

On the palate, Fuenteseca feels full-bodied and oily, providing a great mouthfeel.

The first sip hits with agave flavor, along with a rich mineral note and green olives.

There is a fruity note that comes through, bringing hints of mango and papaya.

The finish is long with very little heat, despite the high 90 proof, and has a soft touch of vanilla and black pepper.

Is it good?

Fuenteseca will change the way you understand Tequila, as it hits with an incredibly rich flavor and yet is quite smooth and easy to drink.

This is something you should be drinking, even though I know paying more than $100 for a blanco Tequila sounds excessive; but Fuenteseca is worth every penny and the best Silver Tequila.

Fortaleza Blanco – Best Blanco under $50

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

Taste:

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 and just a touch of black pepper.

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

Is it good?

Fortaleza Blanco tastes like… real and legit additive-free Tequila! as it delivers a cooked agave punch, along a nice olive hint and the right level of sweetness making it exceptional.

This Tequila is an old-school dram crafted with methods that are proven to deliver Tequilas of the highest quality and still under $50 delivering great value.

Cimarron Blanco – Best Blanco under $30

• Nose: Alcohol, agave, pepper, cinnamon
• Palate: Agave, baking spice, earth, orange
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks, cocktails
• Similar to: Don Fulano Blanco

Taste:

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.

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.

Volans Reposado Single Barrel – Best Reposado

• 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

The vast majority of 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 Tequila.

Suerte Reposado – Best Reposado under $50

• Nose: Agave, vanilla, oak, earth
• Palate: Agave, oak, caramel, cinnamon
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks
• Similar to: Herradura Reposado

Suerte (Luck) is a Reposado aged for 7 months in Jack Daniel’s barrels.

Taste:

Nose hits with agave at first, followed by vanilla, light oak, caramel, along a soft earthy note.

On the palate, Suerte Reposado displays a thick body providing a good mouthfeel.

Flavor is rich in agave, easy on the oak, along caramel and cinnamon notes with just a dash of black pepper.

The finish has a solid length, with very little warmth to it, rich in baking spice making it quite good.

Is it good?

Suerte seems to be a legit Reposado Tequila as I don’t detect any artificial flavors making me think that this is an additive-free Reposado.

This is a great sip, the best Reposado under $50, providing great value for the money as it goes toe to toe with elite bottles.

Tequileño Reposado – Best Reposado under $30

• Nose: Agave, oak, vanilla, apple
• Palate: Agave, oak, cinnamon, clove, apple
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat or rocks
• Similar to: Casamigos Reposado

Taste:

On the nose, you get a rich agave scent, followed by apple, oak and vanilla and a bit of alcohol.

Flavor is rich in agave, with more of the apple you get on the nose, along cinnamon, clove and just a bit of oak spice.

Finish is long and pleasantly warm, with a rich citrus note and subtle oak.

Is it good?

You’re unlikely to find a better entry level Reposado!

Rich in agave flavor, with just a touch of vanilla and oak and free of additives and artificial sweeteners. 

Tequileño Reposado is completely legit making it the best affordable Reposado.

Delivers bang on the buck making it a champ in terms of value and the best reposado for the money, one of the best cheap Tequilas to buy.

Fortaleza Añejo – Best Añejo

• Nose: Caramel, vanilla, oak, agave
• Palate: Agave, butterscotch, citrus, hazelnuts
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Don Julio 1942

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 for bourbon drinkers curious about agave spirits.

Rich in bourbon-like vanilla, butterscotch and oak flavors along blue agave sweetness making it incredibly good and another successful pour from Fortaleza which I consider to be the best Tequila brand.

T1 Estelar Añejo – Best Añejo under $50

• Nose: Scotch, agave, oak, vanilla
• Palate: Agave, Scotch, oak, chocolate
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks
• Similar to: ArteNOM 1146

This is a super smooth Tequila aged in Scotch barrels providing some unique aromas and flavors. It must be noted that this is an Añejo free of additives ticking a box that is becoming increasingly important.

Taste:

Nose hits with a Scotch-like aroma, followed by agave, vanilla and light oak.

On the palate, T1 Estellar has more of that Scotch whisky note, along agave, oak and a light chocolate note.

The finish has a decent length with agave, oak and a dash of pepper.

Is it good?

T1 Estellar Añejo is the best Añejo Tequila you can buy under $50.

Add a big Cuban cigar to it and enjoy this bargain that goes toe to toe with Tequilas that double it in price.

El Mayor Añejo – Best Cheap Añejo

• Nose: Caramel, oak, raisin, vanilla
• Palate: Ripe fruit, vanilla, caramel, oak
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks
• Similar to: Herradura Añejo

Taste:

The nose brings bourbon-style notes of light caramel at first, followed by oak, vanilla and a touch of raisins.

On the palate, you get a fruity note up-front followed, by vanilla, caramel and a tad of toasted oak.

The finish has a decent length, brings a nice peppery hit, with no alcohol flavor or bad burn making it an enjoyable easy drinker at a price hard to beat.

Is it good?

The best Old Fashioneds are typically made using Rye Whiskey as the spicy note of rye grain makes the cocktail more punchy.

El Mayor hits with a nice peppery hint along blue agave sweetness promising a nice Tequila Old Fashioned or a Margarita.

Incredibly good give the price yet this is the best cheap Añejo and one well adding to the cabinet.

Don Julio 70 – Best Cristalino

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

Taste:

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 Tequila but looks like a Blanco Tequila.

Is it good?

Don Julio 70 was the first Cristalino and remains the best.

DJ 70 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 is quite yet flavorful with literally no burn or bad bite.

Maestro Dobel Diamante – Best Affordable Cristalino

• Nose: Lemongrass, vanilla, agave
• Palate: Agave, oak, black pepper
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Neat or rocks
• Similar to: Patron Silver

Taste:

Maestro Dobel provides great value for the money, making a great alternative to Don Julio 70.

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.

Is it good?

Maestro Dobel is nicely rounded, as it strikes a good balance between the sweet agave notes of tequila, along vanilla with oak and pepper.

Another plus is that it tastes legit as I don’t get any artificial flavors or sweeteners.

This Tequila is so smooth that you can easily drink it neat.

But I have found that the best way of drinking it is rocks.

Somehow, ice finds a way to tune-down the light peppery notes it has making it a tad sweeter delivering a nicer drinking experience.

Tears of Llorona – Best Extra Añejo

• Taste: 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

Taste:

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.

Is it good?

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.

This is not only the best Extra Añejo but one of the Best Tequilas you can buy today!

San Matias Gran Reserva – Best Affordable Extra Añejo

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

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 as I was expecting San Matias to be rubbish, TBH.

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

Best Tequila: Buying Guide

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Tequila	Price
Fuenteseca Cosecha 2018	$140
Fortaleza Blanco	$49
Cimarron Blanco	$27
Volans Single Barrel	$75
Suerte Reposado	$37
Tequileño Reposado	$25
Fortaleza Añejo	$82
T1 Estelar Añejo	$50
El Mayor Añejo	$34
Don Julio 70	$70
Maestro Dobel	$44
Tears of Llorona	$270
San Matias Gran Reserva	$49

How the best Tequilas where chosen?

At Marcas de Tequila I take Tequila recommendations seriously.

These Tequilas have been tested, gathering feedback from customers and patrons to select the top Tequilas in each category and price range.

This is an independent source of recommendations, not sponsored or influenced by any commercial pressures.

This selection is solely based on the feedback and reviews I receive from my experience and from those in the know.

Testing process is rigorous and extensive, ensuring that only the best make it to the top picks list.

I believe that my dedication to finding the best spirits, free from commercial bias, sets Marcas de Tequila apart from other sources.

So, whether you’re a Tequila connoisseur or a newcomer to the spirit, you can trust my recommendations to guide you towards the perfect bottle for your taste and budget.