Tequila is currently experiencing an uptrend in the spirits industry. Recent market analysis shows a meteoric rise in tequila sales at pubs and restaurants across the country. It seems to reason, given tequila’s sweet, smooth flavor, that it will be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways, from drinking straight or over ice to being used in a wide variety of delicious cocktails. Trying to figure out how to improve your bar cart but not sure where to begin? Below, you’ll discover a comprehensive guide to the best tequila brands for margaritas, cheap tequila brands in Mexico and along with recommendations from our resident bartenders, mixologists, and master distillers.
Best Tequila Brands
#1. Patrón
When it came out over 25 years ago, Patrón helped define the premium tequila category. Everything from the bottle design to the marketing to the higher price tag was meant to show that it was a higher-end, club-worthy spirit, and it worked. Today, the premium tequila category is thriving, and Patrón (now owned by Bacardi) remains one of the best, with the Roca range at the top.
#2. El Tesoro
El Tesoro is a 1930s Beam Suntory brand. From Blanco to aejo, El Tesoro offers high-quality drinking tequilas with fruity overtones that enhance the agave’s sweetness. For something truly special, try El Tesoro Paradiso, a complex extra añejo tequila aged for five years in French oak ex-cognac barrels that pop on the palate with bursts of vanilla and fruit. El Tesoro claims to be the first tequila brand to use cognac casks for maturation. The Mundial Collection started out with the Laphroaig Edition, a single barrel reposado finished in scotch casks from that Islay distillery that added a subtle smokey layer to the palate. In the fall, Booker’s and Jim Beam chief distiller Fred Noe launched an extra anejo tequila aged for three years in Booker’s 30th Anniversary barrels, which previously housed bourbon for up to 16 years, to mark the company’s 85th anniversary.
#3. Espolòn
Espoln is part of the Campari America family and is a cheap tequila that tastes much more expensive than it is. The pias are cooked in modern autoclaves instead of traditional ovens at the distillery in the Highlands of Jalisco. The tequila is then distilled in both pot and column stills, and the aged expressions use smaller virgin American oak barrels with a lighter No. 2 char.
#4. Tapatío
This is another great tequila made by the Camarena family at their La Altea distillery, where El Tesoro and other brands are also made. But Tapato was the first, and it has been a reliable tequila since its founding in 1940. There are expressions ranging from blanco to extra anejo, as well as a stronger 110 proof blanco.
#5. Don Julio
Don Julio is probably best known for its 1942 expression, a high-priced anejo tequila that is a staple of bottle service at clubs around the world. But the brand has a lot more to offer, including a core lineup of Blanco and aged tequilas, a Cristalino, and a few other luxury bottles.
Best Tequila Brands for Margaritas
#1. Espolòn Blanco
- Region: Jalisco, Mexico;
- Alcohol by Volume: 40%;
- Tasting Notes: Floral, Peppery, Pineapply.
Unlike most tequila brands, just know that you don’t have to spend a lot of money this tequila to make Margaritas, but you can if you want to. Espoln Blanco is both a good tequila and a good value, as the brand is known for its floral, vegetal, and fragrant tastes.
Holguin says, “It’s a delicious tequila with lovely fruity notes. The agave grows high above sea level and is picked when it has a high sugar content, which makes for a tasty juice.”
At the time this was written, a 750 ml bottle cost $27.99.
#2. Olmeca Altos Plata
- Region: Jalisco, Mexico;
- Alcohol by Volume: 40%;
- Tasting Notes: Citrus, Brine, Agave
The plata (literally “silver”) from Olmeca Altos is made from blue Weber agave grown at altitudes of nearly 7000 feet in the Los Altos region of Jalisco. It has clean, classic blanco notes at an affordable price point. Altos is a smooth tequila with bright and integrated notes of citrus, olive brine, and agave. Unlike most cheap tequila brands olmeca altos plata will play nicely with the fresh lime juice when you make Margaritas.
At the time of publication, the price was $14.64.
#3. ElVelo Blanco
- Region: Jalisco, Mexico
- Alcohol Content: 44.5%
- Tasting Notes: Grass, Stone Fruit, Green Peppercorn
Blanco tequila is the go-to for Margaritas. It’s a clear, usually unaged spirit (it can stay in barrels for no more than 60 days) that shows off the pure expression of distilled agave. ElVelo comes in a bottle higher-than-average 44.5 percent, which gives it extra weight and presence in any classic tequila preparation, including Margaritas.
At the time of publication, the price was $31.99.
#4. Tapatio Blanco
- Region: Jalisco, Mexico
- Alcohol by Volume: 40%
- Tasting Notes: Black pepper, mineral, citrus, and earth
With its simple packaging and frozen-in-time label, Tapatio may not be the most eye-catching bottle in the tequila aisle, but the tequila inside is some of the most classic in the category. Tapatio is still made by the Camarena family at the La Altea distillery, which was started by the legendary Don Felipe Camarena over 80 years ago.
At the time of publication, a 750-ml bottle cost $42.99.
#5. Maestro Dobel Diamante
- Region: Jalisco, Mexico
- Alcohol by Volume: 40%
- Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Prickly Pear, Oak
Cristalino tequila is basically old tequila that has been filtered until the color it picked up from the barrel is gone. Some bartenders like it because it has the oak and vanilla flavors of a spirit that has been aged in a barrel but is clear so it won’t change the look of a drink. With Diamante, Maestro Dobel was one of the first to put out a Cristalino. It is a mix of reposado, aejo, and extra aejo tequilas. It is clear, but it still has the tastes that come from aging.
At the time of publication, a 375-ml bottle cost $22.99.
Cheap Tequila Brands
Tequila has gotten a lot of attention in recent years, and the most exclusive bottles are getting more and more expensive. But in all the buzz about the latest extra aejo or celebrity vanity project, it’s easy to forget about the quality budget tequilas that are still great deals.
There are cheap bottle of tequila brands out there for you, whether you like to mix it into Margaritas, serve it on the rocks, or just sip it straight. We talked to some experts from the United States Bartenders’ Guild about their favorite cheap bottles of tequila brands and how to use them in drinks.
#1. Pueblo Viejo Blanco Tequila ($13-$22)
- Region: Mexico
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 40%
- Tasting Notes: White pepper, Agave, Mint
So, our top pick is a name that most people have never heard of? Well, this is our list of “cheap tequila” after all, and it’s hard to think of a cheaper tequila that’s better than Pueblo Viejo. Pueblo Viejo blanco is a secret favorite among expert bartenders. It is made from 100% blue Weber agave that is cooked in stone and brick ovens and crushed with a traditional rolling mill called a tahona. So, the thrifty buyer gets a nose of white pepper and a rustic, forceful taste full of bright agave and fresh mint for his or her small investment. Mix this into a tasty Margarita or drink it on its own to go back in time to when good blanco tequila was cheap and easy to find.
#2. Corazón Blanco Tequila ($16-$25)
- Region: Mexico
- Alcohol Content: 40%
- Tasting Notes: Tangerine, Mineral, Black Pepper
Erin Scala, beverage director at Common House in Virginia, says, “I’m always blown away by the complexity of aromas and flavors in Corazón Blanco.” Carlos Lopez, restaurant manager at Moxy South Beach, agrees, saying, “Try blind tasting this against just about anything else in the $30 and under category, and it will be hard not to recognize the superior quality.” “The same family has grown and picked Corazón Tequila by hand for more than 130 years,” he says. “It’s well made, and you can enjoy it with just one rock.”
#3. Cazadores Reposado Tequila ($17-$22)
- Region: Mexico
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 40%
- Tasting Notes: oak, citrus, vanilla
Reposado tequila is aged for two months to a year in wood barrels. This process softens the spirit’s most assertive agave notes, and the reposado from Cazadores is one of the most drinkable in this category. Clay Tolbert of The Alley Light in Charlottesville, Virginia, says that Cazadores has been aged just long enough to have its rough edges smoothed off. Unlike some cheap tequila brands, Reposado doesn’t have the kind of medicine aftertaste that can sometimes be too much for margaritas or more delicate cocktail ingredients.
#4. Milagro Silver Tequila ($16-$21)
- Region: Mexico
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 40%
- Tasting Notes: vegetal, citrus, peppercorn
“Cheap tequila brands are often very harsh,” says Matthew Sentas, general manager of Precinct Kitchen + Bar in Boston. “However, Milagro is a cheap tequila that tastes like agave and is easy to drink because it is smooth. The silver, reposado, and anejo are all very tasty and cheap. “The silver expression is a great example of how a skillfully made blanco tequila can become your go-to sipper.
#5. Camarena Reposado ($14-$20)
- Region: Mexico
- Alcohol Content: 40%
- Tasting Notes: Agave, Vanilla, and Brown Sugar
Look, if we’re going to recommend a “best budget” tequila in a list of “cheap tequila brands,” that bottle better be a big bargain. Lucky for us, Familia Camarena’s reposado does just that. This reposado is made by a family that has been making tequila since 1860. It has been aged for at least 60 days, which makes it a clean, delicate tequila that’s hard to argue with. Based on 100% blue Weber agave, this smooth repo is great in a well-made Margarita, but it also looks good enough to serve straight to your guests. They won’t know that you probably got the bottle for less than $20.
Best Tequila Brands in Mexico
#1. Jimador Blanco
- Region: Mexico
- The amount of alcohol is 80 proof (40% ABV).
Jimador is one of the most popular Tequila brands in Mexico. It is often mixed with Coke, grapefruit soda, or pineapple juice to make cocktails.
Jimador Blanco, which costs about $300 Mexican pesos (or $17 USD) at WalMart Mexico, is a cheap choice that many people in Mexico like.
Taste: The has a strong note of alcoholic medicine, which is followed by agave and a strong hit of black pepper.
On the tongue, the tequila hits you with a rush of alcohol and black pepper. This is followed by a fruity flavor that tastes fake and a clear note of agave.
The finish is short and warm, with a hint of black pepper and a taste of alcohol that stays in your mouth.
Does it work? Jimador Blanco is harsh and has peppery notes, so it is not best to drink it straight. However, adding ice can help to tone down the heat.
It works better in drinks like cheap Margaritas, Tequila Sunrise, Ranch Water, or as a shot of Tequila.
The brewery Casa Herradura makes Jimador. It has been in business since 1870.
Jack Daniel’s parent company Brown-Forman now owns the name.
#2. Hornitos Plata
- Tasting Notes: Nail polish, booze, and fruit on the nose.
- The amount of alcohol is 80 proof (40% ABV).
Hornitos Plata smells mostly like harsh nail paint, but there is also a hint of fruity sweetness.
The taste has a strong alcohol burn and strong peppery notes, as well as an earthy element and a flavor that tastes like fake fruit.
It is hard to drink because the booze and pepper are so strong that they overpower the sweetness.
The end is short, warm, and spicy, and leaves a mulchy taste in your mouth.
Does it work? Hornitos Plata is often used as a mixer in Mexico, but it doesn’t taste good.
It’s on the list of bad Tequilas, and the only good thing about it is that it’s made from 100% agave.
The way it tastes reminds me of drugs, and it doesn’t taste like real Tequila. Unlike other top tequila brands in mexico, Hornitos Plata is not a good idea to drink unless your only goal is to get drunk, regardless of how it tastes.
#3. Jose Cuervo Silver
- Tasting Notes: Mint, pepper, agave, grapefruit
- The amount of alcohol is 80 proof (40% ABV).
The Jose Cuervo distillery was founded in Mexico in the 18th century and it is the most widely recognized tequila of all brands as it accounts for 20% of global production.
Taste: Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver smells minty with a hint of agave, grapefruit, and black pepper. The taste starts peppery, then grapefruit, agave, earthy, then flowery. The finish is short and has a touch of mint, citrus, and agave, along with a mild alcohol burn.
Does it work? Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver is fine on its own, but on the rocks, the ice softens the pepper and makes it simpler to drink.
Jose Cuervo Silver is a nice treat all around.
Even though it’s not the most complicated Tequila, it does the job and is a good mixer to have around the house for parties or when money is tight.
#5. Don Julio Blanco
- Tasting Notes: Agave, black pepper, lemon, alcohol
- The amount of alcohol is 80 proof (40% ABV).
On the nose, it smells like warm tequila with a heavy ethanol note.
The tequila tastes smooth and sweet with citrus, earthiness, minerals, and black pepper. Even though it doesn’t have much body or heat, it’s not bad.
Taste: The aftertaste is long and sweet, with a hint of bitterness but nothing too strong.
Does it work? Overall, Don Julio Blanco is a good Tequila. Its standard, unaged taste makes it appealing to both new and experienced drinkers.
It tastes great on its own or with ice, and it works well as a mixer, but there are cheaper options for that.
What Is Considered the Best Tequila?
“Delish says that Herradura Silver is the best tequila in general.This tequila packs a punch and doesn’t leave a bad taste in your mouth. It has hints of vanilla and citrus that mix with the distinct taste of sweet agave.
What Tequila Is 100% Tequila?
The Gonzalez Distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, makes this luxury, 100 percent blue agave tequila that has not been aged.
Is Tequila a Liquor or Whiskey?
Tequila is a distilled liquor that is usually clear and hasn’t been aged. It is made from the fermented juice of the Agave tequilana Weber plant, which grows in Mexico. Tequila contains 40–50 percent alcohol (80–100 U.S. proof).
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