Admit it: when you think about tequila, you picture body shots, a lime wedge, and sticky salt all on your hand. Fair enough, but tequila is a far more versatile and complex drink than college frat parties would have you believe. The best tequila can be as cultured as the finest wine or as sophisticated as a premium cognac. 

Much like champagne only comes from the Champagne region in France, authentic, premium tequila is made in only a few Mexican states: Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Guanajuato, and certain parts of Tamaulipas. It’s distilled exclusively from blue Weber agave, a succulent plant that grows in those regions. 

Tequila is not to be confused with mezcal. Mezcal refers to any distillate from any variety of agave plants, resulting in lots of different styles and flavors. 

You can also buy mixto, a less expensive tequila category that blends 51% tequila with additives and sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup, molasses, or lightly processed cane sugar. But don’t be fooled. None of these are authentic blue agave tequila. Check the label to see if the tequila you’re buying is made from 100% agave. 

As with whisky, there are many different types of tequila, depending on flavor, color, and potency. Clear tequila is referred to as tequila blanco. It’s either bottled immediately after the fermentation process or aged for a few months. The lack of maturation means the tequila doesn’t have time to develop any color or flavor characteristics during the aging process, making them a sweeter version of this spirit. Blanco is great for shots or as an ingredient in mixed cocktails.

Añejo and reposado tequilas are amber or caramel in color. Reposados are aged 2–11 months, while añejos tequila is aged 1–3 years, traditionally using oak casks. The barrels infuse the tequila with some of the flavor characteristics of the wood, giving them a more complex flavor than a blanco. Extra añejo tequilas are aged longer, 7–11 years. They’re sometimes referred to as reserva and are considered some of the best tequilas in the world. 

Whichever you choose, these fuller-bodied tequilas are delicious to sip, or mixed into tequila-forward drinks, like a Mexican take on a Moscow Mule or Negroni.

Now that you know what makes a great tequila, are you ready to take your shot at becoming a tequila connoisseur? For our money, these are some of the best-tasting tequilas you can find, with flavor profiles that run from fresh grapefruit to rich vanilla to sweet butterscotch. Leave the salt shaker at home and enjoy.

1. Espolon Blanco Tequila 750ml (80 Proof)

Margaritas, Palomas, Mexican Mules, Tequila Sunrises — you’ll never run out of tequila cocktail ideas with Espolon Blanco Tequila. Crafted using 100% blue Weber agave in a state-of-the-art distillery, this crystal clear tequila blends the delicate aromas of sweet agave with tropical fruit, citrus, and hints of pepper.

$27.99

2. Patron Silver Tequila 750ml (80 Proof)

This handcrafted, small-batch tequila is a crystal clear, pure ultra-premium liquor that strikes a delicate balance between sweet beginnings and a briny finish. It’s a light, fresh tequila favored by connoisseurs worldwide. It’s one of the best tequilas for shots, margaritas, or mixed cocktails.

$49.99

3. Miagave Blanco Tequila 750ml (80 Proof)

From award-winning Master Distiller Agustin Sanchez, this rich, non-aged, 100% blue agave tequila is perfect for sipping. On your first sip, the silky sweet liquor coats the mouth with a smooth, crisp taste and slight citrus notes, then finishes with a subtle light vanilla aftertaste.

$49.89

4. Cabo Wabo Reposado Tequila 750ml

This tequila rocks! Cabo Wabo hits the glass with a deep golden color and a bright citrus aroma. A true reposado, it spends 4–6 months in American oak barrels, developing bold, crisp flavors of citrus, herbs, and mint. Cabo Wabo delivers a smooth, spicy finish, delicious on its own or blended into a cool cocktail. 

$45.99

5. Sauza Silver Tequila 750ml (80 Proof)

Fresh and crisp, Sauza Silver is the perfect complement to your fruit-based cocktails. Its brisk palate of citrus, agave, and pepper blend together to craft a medium body tequila that begins with a subtle whiff of malty notes and finishes with an inkling of bitter orange flavor. 

$27.99

6. Blue Nectar Anejo Founder's Blend Tequila 750ml (80 Proof)

Founder’s Blend is double distilled and aged for 1–2 years in charred American oak barrels before it’s blended with extra añejo tequilas under the watchful eye of a maestro tequilero. The result is a deliciously warm and complex palate of agave, toffee, vanilla, and smoke that comes to a medium-dry finish. 

$44.99

7. Exotico Blanco Tequila 750ml (80 Proof)

This is handcrafted using the traditional techniques of three generations of master distillers from 100% agave tequila from the hills of Jalisco, Mexico. Exotico Blanco bursts onto the tongue with the robust, fresh flavor of agave combined with hints of pepper and herbal notes for a balanced and piquant finish. 

$18.99

8. Don Julio 1942 Anejo Tequila 750ml (80 Proof)

Don Julio 1942 Añejo Tequila is handcrafted in tribute to the year that Don Julio González began his tequila-making journey. Warm oak, vanilla, and roasted agave flavors lead into a lingering oak and rich vanilla finish for a luxurious tequila recognized by connoisseurs around the globe.

$174.99

9. Casamigos Blanco Tequila 750ml (80 Proof)

You know George Clooney founded Casamigos, but did you know it’s a double gold medal winner at the San Francisco Spirits Competition? Casamigos combines the flavor of honey, apples, pepper, and floral notes into a smooth drinking tequila that adds a bit of substance to the Hollywood flash. 

$49.99

10. Milagro Silver Tequila 750ml (80 Proof)

Welcome to a brighter side of tequila, where the sun always shines, and fresh is best. Milagro Silver is a 100% blue agave tequila renowned for its bright, crisp agave flavor and exceptional smoothness. Perfect with salt and a wedge of lime or blended into a refreshing cocktail.

$28.99

11. Jose Cuervo Especial Silver Tequila 750ml (80 proof)

This is the epitome of smooth tequila. Master La Rojeña distillers have given their creation a uniquely balanced flavor profile of agave, caramel, and freshly cut herbs. Especial Silver Tequila begins dry and transitions to a smooth, warm finish.

$22.99

12. Gran Centenario Anejo 750ml (80 Proof)

Gran Centenario Añejo is aged in American white oak barrels for a minimum of 16 months to develop its rich amber hue. It has a smooth yet complex flavor profile of toasted oak, chocolate, caramel, and honeyed almonds. It’s no wonder Gran Centenario is Mexico’s #1 tequila brand.

$44.99

13. Casa Dragones Anejo Tequila 750ml (80 proof)

This distinctive sipping tequila achieves its unique flavor by combining liquor matured in either American or French oak barrels. After 8–12 years, the resulting tequilas are blended to create a unique, smooth, agave-forward tequila that boasts a long, round finish.

$179.99

14. Solento Organic Blanco Tequila 750ml

Made from 100% organic blue agave in small batches from a single estate, Solento Organic Blanco is a citrus-forward tequila complemented by sweeter notes of vanilla. It finishes light and clean, with a delicious hint of lemon peel. Its smooth and easy sip is a celebration of slow.

$74.99

FAQ

What’s the #1 tequila?

Bartenders agree: The world’s number one selling tequila brand is Don Julio. The distillery was founded by Don Julio González in 1942 when he was just 17. Don Julio’s unrelenting passion for excellence inspired the creation of the world’s first luxury tequilas.

Don Julio’s jimadors harvest blue agave in the highlands of Jalisco, hand-cutting the piñas (heart) of the agave before simmering them in traditional steam-powered masonry ovens. The cooking process takes three days to release the sweet agave nectar, converting 8 pounds of blue agave into enough juice to craft a single bottle of tequila.The agave nectar is then fermented in white oak barrels to create a variety of tequilas, including Don Julio Blanco, Don Julio Reposado, Don Julio Añejo, and the premium Don Julio 1942. 

Which is the smoothest tequila?

There’s a lot of variety within tequila. If you’re looking for a bright, vibrant flavor that goes down quickly and easily, you want to go with an unaged blanco (the best tequila for shots). If you’re looking for something to sip, like a whiskey or a cognac, your best bet is an aged tequila — a reposado or an añejo. Of these varietals, the smoothest tequila is an extra añejo like Casa Dragones Añejo Tequila, which has been aged 8–12 years. 

What is the best tequila for no hangover?

For most people, the answer to “What’s a good tequila?” involves its flavor or age. For others, it’s whether they’ll wake up with a killer hangover after a night of overindulgence.

The best way to avoid the morning after blues is to drink premium tequila made with 100% agave. If you drink a mixto, you’re ingesting refined sugars or artificial sweeteners, which contribute to cottonmouth and a sense of regret when you wake up. You can also reduce the ill effects of too much tequila by drinking an aged variety like a reposado, but the improvement is minimal. 

Regardless of the quality of your tequila, if you go overboard, you’ll regain consciousness the morning after with a thousand elephants tap-dancing on your temples. It won’t be pretty. Your only hope of recovery is a lot of water, some vitamin C, and some very dark sunglasses. But hey — think of the stories you’ll have if you remember them.