The 15 Best-Selling Tequilas in Mexico

8 million cases of Tequila are consumed per year in Mexico.

Tequila is more than a drink, it is part of the county’s heritage.

In this post I present an analysis of the 15 best-selling Tequilas in Mexico.

Jimador Blanco

• Nose: Alcohol, agave, black pepper
• Palate: Alcohol, black pepper, fruity notes, agave
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Cocktails
• Similar to: Hornitos Plata, 1800 Silver

Taste:

Jimador is Mexico’s top-selling Tequila where it’s mainly used in cocktails and mixed with Coke, grapefruit soda, or pineapple juice.

Jimador Blanco (Review) is priced around $260 Mexican pesos, that translate into $13 USD making it appealing to a vast array of consumers south of the border.

The nose has a strong medicinal alcohol note, followed by agave and a heavy peppery hit.

On the palate, Jimador Blanco offers an alcohol and black pepper blast at first, that mellows out into an artificial fruity flavor, along an agave note.

The finish is short and warm, with more alcohol that goes from nose to finish and a dash of black pepper.

Is it good?

Jimador Blanco is harsh, bitey and boozy and something not to drink neat, although ice makes it somewhat better as it tunes-down the heat and some of those pesky peppery notes.

Use it to make cheap Margaritas, Tequila Sunrise, Ranch Water or as a Tequila shooter and you’ll be happy with it, but don’t sip neither neat nor rocks!

Jimador is crafted by Casa Herradura that has been in the agave distilling business since 1870 although it was acquired by U.S.-based Brown-Forman (Jack Daniel’s).

Hornitos Plata

• Nose: Nail polish, alcohol, fruit
• Palate: Alcohol, black pepper, fruit
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Cocktails
• Similar to: Don Julio Blanco, Cazadores Blanco

Taste:

The nose offers a blast of nail polish and alcohol, followed by a sweet fruity aroma.

On the palate, Hornitos Tequila feels hot, with a strong alcohol burn and intense peppery notes. There is an earthy element, along a fake fruity note and citrus. But alcohol and pepper overwhelms the sweetness making it hard to drink.

The finish is brief, warm and peppery leaving an aftertaste of mulch.

Is it good?

Hornitos Plata is bad, so bad that I have included it in my list of bad Tequila.

There is nothing good about it except being 100% agave. It tastes like the product of a combination of chemicals to make something that resembles tequila.

Hornitos Plata is something to drink when you want to get drunk and are absolutely unconcerned about the taste.

Jose Cuervo Silver

• Nose: Mint, pepper, agave, grapefruit
• Palate: Black pepper, grapefruit, agave
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Cocktails
• Similar to: Don Julio Blanco, Patron Silver

Taste:

Jose Cuervo started crafting tequila back in 1795 making it Mexico’s oldest commercial distiller. Currently sells one fifth of the Tequila consumed across the globe making it the undisputed leader.

The nose is pleasant, with a nice minty scent, with moderate agave presence, grapefruit and black pepper.

Flavor is peppery up-front, but as you let it develop grapefruit and agave appear, followed by an earthy and floral note.

The finish is short, with moderate alcohol bite, with a touch of mint, citrus and agave.

Is it good?

Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver can be drunk neat as it has bearable warmth but becomes better when served on the rocks as ice tunes-down the pepper making it easier to drink.

Jose Cuervo Silver is a pleasant surprise, I was not expecting much coming from Jose Cuervo but this Tequila is serviceable making a good mixer to have at home for parties or when drinking on a tight budget.

Gran Centenario Plata

• Nose: Fruit, mint, pepper
• Palate: Vanilla, agave, oak
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Cocktails
• Similar to: 1800 Silver

Taste:

The nose has an aroma that reminds me of a Lifesaver, with a faint rubber note and baking soda.

On the palate, this Tequila is smooth and sweet at first, with vanilla and oak flavors; although it becomes somewhat bitter as you keep drinking it.

It lacks in body as it does not have much of a texture.

The finish is short and unremarkable, with very little warmth, high in vanilla and a tad of black pepper.

Is it good?

Sweet, smooth and easy drinking with no major letdowns providing good value.

Not the bottle you grab to impress your friends but it gets the job done when looking for an inexpensive Tequila.

Don Julio Blanco

• Nose: Agave, alcohol, citrus, earth
• Palate: Agave, black pepper, citrus, alcohol
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Rocks
• Similar to: 1800 Silver, Casamigos Blanco

Taste:

Don Julio Blanco is the Tequila to beat and and the benchmark against which all Blanco Tequilas are compared.

This is Don Julio’s best-selling Tequila and one of the best-selling Tequilas in Mexico so you get an idea of good it is.

On the nose, Don Julio is boozy as it has a high ethanol note making you think that this is a warm tequila.

On the palate, you get a smooth and sweet Tequila, rich in citrus, along an earthy note, minerals, and just a dash of black pepper. There is very little heat to it although lacks a bit in body.

The finish has a decent length, mostly sweet with just a bit of bite that reminds you that you are drinking tequila.

Is it good?

Overall, Don Julio Blanco is solid, approachable to those who are new to Tequila while offering a classic unaged tequila flavor profile that those who are familiar with this agave spirit will enjoy.

Drinks nicely neat or rocks and can be used as a mixer although I’d rather use something more affordable to have Tequila mixed drinks.

Don Ramon Silver

• Nose: Agave, black pepper, alcohol
• Palate: Agave, cinnamon, salt, jalapeño
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Cocktails
• Similar to: Espolon Blanco

Taste:

Don Ramon is a quite popular Tequila in Mexico as it’s super affordable and 100% agave. It not only makes good Palomas but can be used in Cantaritos and most homemade cocktails.

Don Ramon has a smooth aroma of cooked agave and black pepper along a subtle hit of smoke that fades as you let it breathe.

On the palate, this Tequila is smooth, rich in cooked agave flavor, along notes of cinnamon, salt and a spicy touch of jalapeño.

The finish is a bit long, with very little warmth to it and more of that spicy jalapeño note.

Is it good?

Don Ramon pretty much tastes like Tequila should taste. An affordable and unpretentious no frills Tequila made entirely from agave.

1800 Silver

• Nose: Agave, pepper, orange, alcohol
• Palate: Fruity notes, agave, pepper, orange
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Cuervo Silver, Patron Silver

Taste:

1800 Tequila is crafted by Jose Cuervo but there is nothing to fear as 1800 offerings tend to be better tasting and exclusively crafted using agave.

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.

Is it good?

1800 Blanco is an overly smooth and sweet Tequila with a just a bit of black pepper on the tail but nothing off-putting.

Smooth enough to drink it neat or rocks although don’t expect any earth-shattering flavors as this Tequila is quite basic and somewhat dull.

This is the best Tequila for new drinkers looking for an affordable pour for Tequila mixed drinks.

Herradura Silver

• Nose: Olive brine, earth, agave
• Palate: Agave, oak, citrus, black pepper
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Rocks, Cocktails
• Similar to: Patron Silver, Casamigos Blanco

Taste:

Herradura Silver is an unaged spirit offering tequila’s traditional taste.

The nose is subtle, rich in olive brine and agave, with an earthy note to it and a touch of black pepper.

On the palate, Herradura Silver delivers some warmth at first that mellows out into an oaky flavor, along a citrus and earthy note.

The finish is long, pleasantly warm with more of that earthy note that is present from start to finish.

Is it good?

This tequila makes a good mixer as its spice and warmth will add a kick to your Margarita making it more interesting.

Herradura blanco provides a real Blanco tequila experience, not the smoothest tequila as it feels somewhat warm and peppery at first, yet rich in natural sweetness and the traditional tasting notes you expect to find in a real Tequila free of additives.

Maestro Dobel Diamante

• Nose: Lemongrass, vanilla, agave
• Palate: Agave, oak, black pepper
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Rocks
• Similar to: Don Julio 70, 1800 Cristalino

Taste:

Maestro Dobel despite its looks is not a Blanco Tequila but a blend of Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo Tequila filtered before bottling; this type of Tequila is known as Cristalino.

Cristalino Tequila has become increasingly popular due to its smoothness.

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?

Dobel is a good Tequila as it feels smooth yet quite tasty with the right level of warmth making it entirely satisfying while providing great value.

1800 Cristalino

• Nose: Vanilla, anise
• Palate: Cherry, vanilla, oak, black pepper
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Don Julio 70, 1800 Añejo

Taste:

On the nose, 1800 Cristalino is quite smooth with just a bit of vanilla scent and a note that reminds of anise.

On the palate, a strong cherry note hits first, followed by vanilla, subtle oak and just a tad of black pepper.

The finish is short, leaving a sweet aftertaste with a bit of black pepper and no burn.

1800 Cristalino is quite smooth and sweet with a strong hint from the ex-port barrels in which it was aged. It goes down nicely as it has no burn but lacks complexity and agave flavors.

Is it good?

Overall, this is a good, sweet and smooth dram, although it does not taste like Tequila, as it tastes more like a flavored Vodka.

If you privilege smooth and sweet drinks you are going to like it, but If you are fond of Tequila’s agave flavors 1800 Cristalino won’t be much of your liking.

Don Julio 70

• Nose: Floral, vanilla, agave, oak
• Palate: Vanilla, caramel, oak
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Neat, rocks
• Similar to: Don Julio Blanco, Don Julio 1942

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.

Is it good?

This tequila smells and tastes like an Añejo Tequila but looks like a Blanco Tequila. DJ70 is the product of filtering Don Julio Añejo through charcoal before bottling.

Don Julio 70 is dangerously smooth as it gets drained quite fast and is quite 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 70th Anniversary makes a great sipper even for those new to tequila and can easily be drunk straight or rocks. I would not use a mixer due to its price, as a general rule I stick to more affordable options when making cocktails.

Jimador Reposado

• Nose: Agave, wood, alcohol, vanilla
• Palate: Alcohol, pepper, vanilla, agave
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Cocktails
• Similar to: Cuervo Reposado, Jimador Blanco

Taste:

On the nose, Jimador Reposado offers a roasted agave scent at first, followed by oak wood, vanilla and ethanol.

On the palate, the body feels somewhat thin. It provides a blast of alcohol and pepper that slowly mellows out into vanilla and agave flavor with just a bit of oak.

The finish is warm, with a cinnamon note, black pepper and sweet oak.

Is it good?

Definitely not a good sipper as it’s too boozy and peppery, although vanilla and oak sweetness make it bearable.

If you are looking to make oaky margaritas on the cheap this is an affordable reposado that can get the job done.

It’s quite cheap but made entirely from agave so you won’t get a bad Tequila hangover the next day.!

Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado

• Nose: Agave, wood, alcohol, vanilla
• Palate: Alcohol, pepper, vanilla, agave
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Cocktails
• Similar to: 1800 Reposado, Cuervo Silver

Taste:

The nose has a nice hint of cocoa powder, along agave, with a whiff of black pepper and a bit of ethanol.

On the palate, Jose Cuervo Reposado feels a bit warm and peppery at first, but nothing alarming. As you keep drinking you get sweet agave flavor with a tad of oak spice.

The finish has a decent length, has some cinnamon to it and oak and is pleasantly warm.

Is it good?

Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado is a pleasant surprise as it surpassed my expectations; which were too low, TBH. It has agave flavors with the right amount of oak with not much warmth or peppery notes.

This Tequila won’t win any real awards and is not something to drink neat, but it becomes serviceable when served rocks and can deliver a tasty Margarita.

Siete Leguas Blanco

• Nose: Agave, black pepper, earthy, vegetal
• Palate: Agave, citrus, black pepper, mineral
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink? Neat
• Similar to: Fortaleza Blanco, Patron Silver

Taste:

The nose is extremely rich in roasted agave, with hints of black pepper, there are also earthy and vegetal notes making it quite interesting.

On the palate, Siete Leguas Blanco feels buttery, a bit warm at first with a dash of black pepper, followed by a powerful agave note.

The finish is long, with warmth that swiftly fades into rich blue agave sweetness and a tad of black pepper.

Is it good?

Siete Leguas Blanco taste is a pure expression of agave flavor.

This is all agave without harshness or foreign flavors such as additives or artificial sweeteners, just a clean and crisp pour and one of the best Blanco Tequilas.

Casa Dragones Blanco

• Nose: Medicinal alcohol, agave, black pepper, citrus
• Palate: Mint, anise, black pepper
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks
• Similar to: Casamigos

Taste:

The nose has an unpleasant medicinal alcohol aroma at first, that gives way to agave and citrus as you let it breathe.

On the palate, Casa Dragones feels watery lacking in texture.

Flavor has a rich anise note, along mint with a drizzle of black pepper and saccharine.

This tequila has a soft mouthfeel although it produces numbness in the back of the throat.

The finish is short-lived and unremarkable with a hint of black pepper and mint.

Is it good?

Casa Dragones has some odd aromas and flavors that make it I wouldn’t say bad but weird.

Is indeed smooth as advertised but this is something I would not recommend.

The package and the bottle look quite nice making something pretty to add to the cabinet.

But this tequila is made on the cheap as it uses a diffuser to extract the fibers from the agaves; and diffusers do not produce good tasting tequilas.

Gran Malo

• Nose: Agave, tamarind, alcohol
• Palate: Tamarind, lime, agave
• Alcohol content: 60 proof (30% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

Taste:

In the nose I get agave, followed by the spicy smell of tamarind followed by a little alcohol, but nothing alarming.

On the palate, this liqueur lacks body since, due to the low alcohol concentration, it feels watery.

The flavor is smooth and a little spicy but pleasant with flavors of tamarind, lime and a little bit of agave.

It has no aftertaste since it leaves no taste in the mouth but it does not burn at all as it passes through the throat.

Is it good?

Gran Malo is not a Tequila but a Tequila liqueur infused with tamarind.

This beverage is incredibly popular as it is promoted by Luisito Comunica an ultra famous YouTuber south of the border.

Frankly I had very low expectations since most Tequilas promoted by stars and personalities tend to be pretty bad.

But Gran Malo is fine, it’s never going to win a real prize, or be recognized by the so-called experts, but it drinks easy since it doesn’t taste like nail polish and doesn’t burn.

Best-Selling Tequilas in Mexico: Buying Guide

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Tequila	Price
Jimador Silver	$26
Hornitos Plata	$27
Jose Cuervo Silver	$27
Gran Centenario Plata	$29
Don Julio Blanco	$38
Don Ramon Plata	$27
1800 Silver	$28
Herradura Blanco	$43
Maestro Dobel Diamante	$49
1800 Cristalino	$70
Don Julio 70	$75
Jimador Reposado	$24
Jose Cuervo Reposado	$29
Siete Leguas Blanco	$53
Casa Dragones	$52

Which is the Best Tequila in Mexico?

Don Julio

Don Julio is the best Tequila distiller in Mexico in terms of: availability, consistency, brand recognition and price.

Don Julio has a bottle in every category and they all rank high; i’m yet to try a bad Tequila from this brand.

There are several good brands but they do not offer such a wide range of releases.

Availability is important, Don Julio is everywhere to be found across the globe so you can rest assured that when you are drinking from this brand you are drinking a good tequila.

Read my post in which I have selected the best Tequilas to bring back from Mexico’s airport.

What’s the most popular Tequila in Mexico?

Jimador Blanco (Silver)

Jimador Blanco is Mexico’s best selling-tequila. An unpretentious 100% agave and affordable ($12 USD in Wal-Mart Mexico) widely used as a mixer.

This unaged tequila is produced by Casa Herradura which is owned Brown Forman who also holds Jack Daniel’s.

Jimador is to Mexico what the modest Famous Grouse to Scotland.

Are Casamigos and Patron sold in Mexico?

Yes

Casamigos and Patron are sold in Mexico but have limited recognition among consumers.

Patron has invested a lot of money in advertising in Mexico in recent months but most folks I know reject it as they see it as a “gringo tequila” while Casamigos is not as successful as George Clooney is not that famous south of the border as not many folks watched ER.

Other celebrity tequilas have either very limited sales or are not even sold in Mexico, that´s the case of Kendall Jenner’s 818, The Rock’s Teremana, Michael Jordan’s Cincoro, Dos Hombres Mezcal from the Breaking Bad guys or Elon Musk’s Tesla Tequila.

The reasoning down here is “why would I buy a tequila from a basketball player when I can buy it from Don Julio???“… nobody can beat that thinking.

Related article: The 7 Best-Selling Mezcals in Mexico

Mexicans would rather buy drams from local celebrities such as Antonio Aguilar, Vicente Fernandez or Kate del Castillo.

Mexico’s best-selling Tequilas

These best selling tequilas have something in common, except for Don Julio 70 they are quite affordable.

Mexico is a poor country and folks down there are not willing to pay top-dollar for tequila and much less for mezcal.

Mexico’s rich and famous people would rather pony up good money for a bottle of Scotch as it provides a sign of status.

The infamous Joaquin El Chapo Guzman was very fond of drinking Buchanan’s whisky making the pour of choice among wannabe gangstas.