Products featured are independently selected by our editorial team and we may earn a commission from purchases made from our links; the retailer may also receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. These days, some of the best tequilas in the world are actually more comparable to a fine bourbon or robust glass of wine than jello shots and beer pong.
Not flaunting rapper-sized bank accounts? You just need to know what to look for. It also tells you which tequila producer it comes from. Types of Tequila: Just like whiskey, there are different types of tequila, that run the spectrum in terms of flavor, color and potency.
Silver tequila is probably the most well-known, and it typically appears perfectly clear in the bottle. It will typically taste sweeter and more refreshing, with a smooth, silky finish. This tequila is complex and full-bodied, and is recommended for sipping, though it works great for tequila-oriented takes on classic drinks like a Moscow Mule or Negroni as well. Reposado tequila is also aged but the aging process can be anywhere from two months to 11 months. It has a smooth, even finish.
These young tequilas are less expensive and typically used in bars and restaurants for making mixed drinks. In fact, many brands add artificial sugars or sweeteners to their tequila, which may taste good at first, but will leave you with a nasty hangover the next day.
While they may be fun for a party or to use in mixed drinks, we recommend skipping these bottles the rest of the time and just drinking tequila straight up. Why mess with a good thing? Aging Process: Just like a fine wine, tequila also goes through an aging process. And just like wine, tequila can be aged in a number of different containers, from oak barrels to steel drums.
The CRT also draws criticism for primarily benefiting the largest tequila producers in Mexico, and standardization has handcuffed small distilleries looking to employ ancestral methods like pit-roasting and hand-maceration.
All tequila collections should include at least one affordable mixer for making margaritas and palomas, or for when a dozen of your friends show up and want to do shots.
From the well-respected Tequila Centinela S. Silver tequilas are both valued as sipping tequilas before a meal and for making cocktails. In the last two decades, master distillers like Carlos Camarena Tapatio, Tequila Ocho , and Fortaleza owner Guillermo Sauza grandson of Javier Sauza, founder of Sauza Tequila have led the way, with semi-artisanal productions, using ovens along with heavy machinery like roller mills.
Today, there are several labels producing high-proof 45 percent ABV and above , ancestral expressions of unaged, silver tequila worthy of the names mezcal de tequila or vino de mezcal. Those bottles are full of sweet agave with a buttery finish, accented by pepper, herbs, and light cinnamon.
This is one of the distilleries to watch for the finest tequilas in Mexico. Legendary master distiller Carlos Camarena never changes the recipe for his 55 percent ABV blanco distilled in a copper still, allowing each production to express the terroir and seasonal variations of this famed highlands label. Reposado tequilas, which have been rested in new, used, or neutral barrels barrels that have been used three times for a minimum of two months and up to just under a year are the ideal sipper for agave lovers who want some complexity from wood.
New, toasted oak barrels from France or America can impart vanilla flavors and smoky notes. Neutral barrels, meanwhile, are great for softening the tequila while maintaining its blue agave profile. The pale-yellow-colored expression is aged a mere three months, making this mint- and citrus-tinged reposado an ideal choice for blanco lovers who prefer that distinct agave flavor.
This also came with investment in the distillery, allowing for a more traditional production for this fruity, grassy reposado, which was previously cooked in an autoclave, an entirely industrial process. It often indicates a user profile. Log out. US Markets Loading H M S In the news. Executive Lifestyle. Meagan Drillinger. You can't go wrong trying a new bottle of tequila, whether you're mixing margaritas or sipping it straight. Tequila experts explain what makes a good bottle and the differences between Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, and Extra Anejo.
Tequila originated in Jalisco, Mexico. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. But first, let's dispel a few tequila misconceptions. But it can't be just any agave. As for tasting tequila, the experience is quite similar to a wine or whiskey tasting.
Don Nacho. La Cava de Don Samuel. Don Fernando. Tres Agaves Anejo. Fortaleza Blanco. Arette Blanco. Siembra Valles Anejo. Siete Leguas Reposado. Calle 23 Blanco. Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Anejo. In order to be considered tequila, the mixture must be distilled at least twice. This is traditionally done using a combination of copper or stainless steel stills.
The final step of the process is the optional maturation. A blanco or silver tequila is bottled and sold immediately — or up to a period of 60 days — after the second distillation when the liquid is clear.
These are best enjoyed on the rocks to draw out all of the unique flavours from the bottle. This is the most common variation of tequila and is often used in cocktails.
Blue Weber: The only type of agave plant allowed to be used in the tequila making process. These are rarer bottles and come at a higher price point due to the ageing process. These tequilas come at a lower price point and the adding of artificial colourings is done to simulate the colour created from aged tequila. Jimador: The name or term given to a farmer who grows and harvests the agave plants for tequila. The role is often passed down through generations and the Jimador is able to tell the precise moment when the agave is ripe and ready for harvesting.
It also comes at a lower price point. These can grow up to the size of a small car. With countless distilleries, ageing categories and flavour profiles, choosing the top 15 brands was no easy process. In order to select the very best for this list, we took into account factors including the authenticity of the distillery, the ageing process of its bottles and the expertise used to create its offerings.
We also looked at expert and popular opinion alongside the aroma and taste combinations produced during the distilling process. One of the best quality tequila brands available on the market is Casa Noble. The best tequila for shots is Milagro Silver Tequila. The best tequila for Margaritas is the Grand Mayan. The brand won awards both for taste and presentation over the last few years and promises an extraordinary, smooth tasting drink served in a beautiful bottle.
No time to read through our entire list? Best budget tequila: El Jimador Silver Tequila 2. Corralejo All tequilas must be distilled twice to officially class as tequila, but Corralejo takes it one step further with a triple distillation method.
This versatile tequila is a great option for almost any occasion. Best value tequila: Corralejo Reposado 3. Best reposado tequila: T1 Tequila Repo Excepcional 5. Grand Mayan Grand Mayan is an exciting tequila that proves that, sometimes, appearances are spot on after all. Each bottle is handmade and hand-painted by Mexican artists. Cazcanes No. Tanteo Cocoa There might be a fairly wide range of flavoured tequilas on the market but by far the best comes from Tanteo.
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