Top Tequila Picks for 2024
Top Tequila
Picks 2024
Taster’s Club’s Top 10 Best Tequila Picks for 2024
Written by Emma C | Updated April 2024
Tequila is as festive and celebratory as the people that make it. Tequila is a one-way ticket to the lowlands and highlands of Mexico, showcasing the craftsmanship and liquid from the finest NOMs. With over 3000 brands and 200 distilleries to choose from, picking the best tequila can be a real head-scratcher.
But fear not! Taster's Club has taken the liberty to help out by curating a list of the top 10 tequilas, ensuring you have access to the top 10 tequila brands that cater to every palate. Our expert curators have sampled thousands of options, meticulously crafting the ultimate guide to the best tequilas available, considering factors such as expression, price, and versatility. Whether you are looking for diversity or the best bottle of Extra Añejo, we have something for you - all available in the Taster's Club Bottle Shop.
What Are the Different Types of Best Tequila?
Tequila comes in several distinct types, each with unique characteristics and flavor profiles. Each type of tequila provides a distinct tasting experience, making it essential to explore them all to find your favorite! The main categories of the best tequila include:
- Blanco (Silver): Clear and unaged, it offers the purest agave flavor, perfect for cocktails or sipping
- Reposado: Aged in oak barrels for 2 to 12 months, reposado tequila has a smooth finish with hints of wood and vanilla.
- Añejo: Aged for 1 to 3 years, añejo tequila features complex flavors, often with rich caramel and spice notes.
- Extra Añejo: Aged for over 3 years, this type offers deep flavors and a luxurious mouthfeel, making it ideal for sipping.
- Joven (Gold): A blend of blanco and aged tequilas, joven is often sweeter and more approachable, commonly used in cocktails.
What Makes the Best Tequila?
Quality and authenticity are essential when searching for the best tequila. True tequila is "Hecho en Mexico," meaning it’s made in Mexico, where strict regulations govern its production. To ensure you’re getting a genuine product, look for the CRT (Consejo Regulador del Tequila) seal, which certifies that the tequila has met all necessary standards for quality and authenticity.
Another essential factor is the four-digit “NOM” (Norma Oficial Mexicana) number, which indicates the distillery where the tequila was produced. This transparency helps consumers identify reputable brands among the top 10 tequila brands available on the market.
In addition to these authentications, you'll find a range of styles, from the crisp notes of blanco to the complex flavors of añejo, when exploring the best tequila brands. What makes the best tequila lies in several key factors, including the quality of the agave, the distillation process, and the aging conditions. The best tequilas are crafted with care, often highlighting the natural sweetness of 100% blue agave and the nuances imparted by aging in oak barrels.
Taster’s Club’s Selection Criteria for the Best Tequilas
Taster's Club employs several key criteria in selecting the best tequilas, emphasizing quality, authenticity, and craftsmanship. Here’s a more detailed look at our selection process:
- 100% Blue Agave: The best tequilas are made from 100% blue agave, a plant known for its unique sweetness and complex flavor. This ensures authenticity and superior quality, setting it apart from mixto tequilas, which can include other sugars and additives. The purity of blue agave not only contributes to the overall taste but is also essential for producing premium spirits that meet the highest standards of tequila production.
- Artisanal Production Methods: The production methods significantly impact the quality of tequila. Traditional techniques, such as the tahona method (where agave hearts are crushed using a stone wheel), enhance the flavor by allowing for better extraction of the agave’s natural oils and sugars. Small-batch distillation often results in greater attention to detail, ensuring that each bottle reflects the craftsmanship of the distiller.
- Flavor Profiles: The best tequilas exhibit a range of tasting notes, including notes such as sweetness from caramel and vanilla, spiciness from oak and pepper, or earthy undertones from the agave itself. This complexity arises from the careful balance of flavors, where the sweetness of the agave interacts with other components like oak and spices
- Aging Process: For tequilas labeled as reposado, añejo, or extra añejo, the aging process plays a vital role in flavor development. Aging in oak barrels infuses the spirit with additional flavors, such as vanilla, caramel, and spice, smoothing out the overall profile. The duration of aging and the type of barrels used can greatly influence the character of the tequila, with longer aging typically resulting in a richer, more complex spirit. For aged varieties, such as reposado and añejo, the interaction with oak barrels introduces deeper flavors and a smoother finish.
The Top 10 Best Tequilas for 2024
This year's list of the top 10 best tequila brands showcases exceptional choices that exemplify quality, flavor, and craftsmanship, featuring some of the most renowned brands in the industry. Whether you're a seasoned aficionado or new to the world of tequila, exploring these selections can lead you to discover the best tequilas that elevate your sipping experience. Let’s take a look at Taster Club’s 2024 top 10 best tequila brands:
1. Curator's Pick of the Best Tequila
ArteNOM Selección 1146 Añejo
ArteNOM Selección 1146 Añejo 750ML is Taster's Club's topbest tequila pick for 2024. This tequila embodies excellence with its superb taste, quality, and consistent satisfaction for tequila enthusiasts. Crafted by Enrique Fonseca, El Arquitecto, this añejo showcases oak without overshadowing agave, aged initially in Cabernet Franc wine barrels from France and then in American white oak from Canadian or Tennessee whiskey. Its rich amber color, complemented by notes of butterscotch, citrus, toffee, and dark chocolate, reflects Fonseca's mastery and dedication to creating a balanced and flavorful tequila experience.
2. Best Tequila Blanco
LALO Blanco
Introducing Taster's Club's premier Blanco selection, the LALO Blanco. Crafted with meticulous care, each bottle boasts 100% pure agave distilled only twice, retaining the agave's integrity and essence. Free from added flavors or additives, LALO highlights the natural harmony of agave, yeast, and water. This commitment to purity and quality distinguishes LALO as a standout choice among tequila aficionados worldwide.
3. Best Tequila Reposado
Siete Leguas Reposado
Taster's Club proudly presents our top Reposado pick, Siete Leguas. Aged 8 months in American oak, it bursts with flavors of sweet cooked agave, herbal notes, and woody undertones. Produced at NOM 1120 by Tequila Siete Leguas in Atotonilco el Alto Jalisco, this 80-proof gem is an industry and staff favorite. With a rich history spanning seven generations and a reputation for excellence in Mexico and the United States, Siete Leguas is a trailblazer in the tequila world. Master Tequilero Don Ignacio Gonzalez Vargas's traditional craftsmanship shines through every sip, making Siete Leguas a must-try for tequila enthusiasts.
4. Best Tequila Añejo
Don Fulano Añejo
Our top Añejo pick, Don Fulano Añejo, stands out for its unique qualities. Unlike many others, it isn't overly sweet or dominated by wood flavors and contains no added sugars, colors, or preservatives. It achieves a harmonious balance of agave notes, spice, and terroir character, reflecting the soil where the agave was grown. A blend of tequilas aged for at least two and a half years in new and used French limousine oak, with some aging up to five years.
5. Best Extra Añejo Tequila
Volans Extra Añejo
Indulge in Taster's Club's top Extra Añejo pick, Volans Extra Añejo. A limited edition tequila aged over 3 1/2 years in seasoned American White Oak barrels, it redefines luxury with its lighter hue and rich complexity of flavors, from cooked agave and vanilla to butterscotch and pepper.
6. Best Tequila Cristalino
Maestro Dobel Tequila Diamante
We chose this tequila as our top Cristalino pick for its exceptional quality and unique process. Made with 100% pure agave and a blend of Extra-Añejo, Añejo, and Reposado tequilas, it undergoes a proprietary filtration method after aging to selectively remove color while retaining complexity and smoothness. This results in a tequila that's visually stunning and rich in flavor and texture, making it a standout choice for those seeking a refined and delightful tequila experience.
7. Best Tequila For Gifts
Tears of Llorona
Taster's Club highlights Tears of Llorona as its top gift choice, showcasing a 100% Agave tequila aged for five years in a blend of scotch, sherry, and brandy barrels, crafted by Master Tequilero Germán Gonzalez and verified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker. This collector's treasure is produced in very small batches at NOM 1146, Tequileña, Tequila, Jalisco, and bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV).
8. Best Tequila that’s Splurge-Worthy
El Tequileño Reposado Rare
Taster's Club's most splurge-worthy bottle is the world’s first and only Reposado Rare. This exclusive limited-release tequila combines the most coveted 100% Blue Agave from the Highlands of Jalisco with mineral-rich water from El Volcan de Tequila. Fermented with natural yeast influenced by 150-year-old mango trees, distilled in Copper Pot Stills, and matured for 6 years in a large American Oak barrel called a Pipón, it offers aromas of vanilla, honey, and black pepper, with a taste of marzipan, sweet agave, and oak. This tequila is best enjoyed neatly in a specialized tequila glass, and it promises an exquisite and memorable experience.
9. Best Tequila with Still Strength
Wild Common Still Strength Blanco
Taster's Club proudly presents its top pick for the best still strength tequila: Wild Common Still Strength Tequila Blanco. With nothing to hide, this tequila offers a clean and bold expression of agave. Bright citrus, cinnamon, and anise flavors delight the palate, complemented by a velvety mouthfeel. At 50% Alc./Vol., this tequila is 2x distilled to proof, showcasing the expertise of Master Distiller Salvador Rosales Trejo, also known as “Chava”. Wild Common is an essential choice for agave purists, offering a long, warm, and complex flavor that meets the highest standards of quality.
10. Best Tequila Value
Tequila Arette Blanco
Discover the hidden gem of value tequilas with Taster's Club's top pick, Arette Blanco. Crafted by "EL LLANO," one of the oldest distilleries in Tequila and run by the respected Orendain Brothers, Arette reflects the strength and spirit of its namesake, an Olympic gold-winning horse. Made from 100% Estate Agave, it prioritizes quality through artisanal practices rather than mass production. This tequila features inviting notes of baked agave, floral accents, honey sweetness, and a hint of black pepper, delivering a robust opening followed by a clean finish. Arette Blanco is a crisp and versatile choice, making it perfect for any occasion.
Cocktail Ideas Using the Top 10 Best Tequilas Brands
Elevate your tequila cocktail game with these creative ideas using the top 10 best tequilas! Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or a casual home bartender, mastering the art of tequila cocktails begins with selecting the right spirits. Here are some cocktail ideas using the top 10 best tequila brands:
1. Old Town Fashioned with ArteNOM Selección 1146 Añejo
The Old Town Fashioned showcases the rich complexity of ArteNOM Selección 1146 Añejo, a tequila known for its depth and character. This twist on the classic Old Fashioned highlights notes of oak, caramel, and spice, creating a smooth and sophisticated drink that appeals to both tequila lovers and bourbon enthusiasts alike.
To create the Old Town Fashioned, combine 2 ounces of ArteNOM Selección 1146 Añejo with 1/4 ounce of agave syrup and a few dashes of aromatic bitters in a mixing glass. Fill the glass with ice and stir until well chilled, then strain the mixture into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Finally, garnish with an orange twist to enhance the aroma and flavor.
2. Classic Margarita with LALO Blanco
The Classic Margarita made with LALO Blanco offers a refreshing and vibrant cocktail that balances lime juice's bright acidity with LALO's smoothness, making it a favorite for any occasion.
To make a Classic Margarita, combine 2 ounces of LALO Blanco, 1 ounce of fresh lime juice, and 1 ounce of agave syrup in a shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, shake vigorously until well chilled, and then strain into a salt-rimmed glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel for an extra touch.
3. Reposado Paloma with Siete Leguas Reposado
The Reposado Paloma enhances the classic with Siete Leguas Reposado, which introduces rich oak and caramel notes to the refreshing grapefruit soda base. This cocktail is perfect for those seeking a revitalizing drink, highlighting some of the best tequilas available.
To prepare this drink, combine 2 ounces of Siete Leguas Reposado with the juice of half a lime in a glass. Fill the glass with ice and top it with grapefruit soda, then stir gently to combine and garnish it with a lime wedge.
4. Añejo Negroni with Don Fulano Añejo
The Añejo Negroni offers a unique twist on the classic Negroni, utilizing Don Fulano Añejo for a depth of flavor that marries beautifully with the bittersweet Campari and vermouth. This cocktail showcases the tequila’s aged character, enhancing the drink with notes of dark chocolate, spice, and a hint of smoke.
To make this cocktail, combine equal parts (1 ounce each) of Don Fulano Añejo, sweet vermouth, and Campari in a mixing glass. Fill the glass with ice, stir until chilled, and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with an orange peel for an aromatic finish.
5. Agave Manhattan with Volans Extra Añejo
The Agave Manhattan elevates the classic using Volans Extra Añejo, adding depth and complexity with vanilla, spice, and dried fruit notes. This cocktail makes a sophisticated choice for those who appreciate high-quality spirits, exemplifying how the best tequilas can transform familiar recipes into something extraordinary.
To create an Agave Manhattan, combine 2 ounces of Volans Extra Añejo, 1 ounce of sweet vermouth, and 1/4 ounce of agave syrup in a mixing glass. Add bitters and ice, stir until chilled, then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a cherry.
6. Diamante Highball with Maestro Dobel Tequila Diamante
The Diamante Highball is a refreshing and effervescent cocktail that highlights the smoothness of Maestro Dobel Tequila Diamante. The lightness of this drink makes it an excellent choice for any occasion, while the hint of lime adds a refreshing twist.
To create this cocktail, pour 2 ounces of Maestro Dobel Tequila Diamante into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and a splash of fresh lime juice, then stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge for a pop of color and flavor.
7. Luxury Sipper with Tears of Llorona
The Luxury Sipper showcases the exceptional quality of Tears of Llorona, making it a favorite among collectors. This tequila offers an exquisite drinking experience, highlighting rich flavors of dried fruit, chocolate, and oak from its meticulous aging process.
To make a Luxury Sipper, pour 2 ounces of Tears of Llorona into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel to accentuate its luxurious profile.
8. Reposado Old Fashioned with El Tequileño Reposado Rare
The Reposado Old Fashioned reimagines the classic recipe with El Tequileño Reposado Rare, offering a rich, smooth texture with notes of caramel and vanilla. This cocktail brings the depth of aged tequila to the forefront while retaining the simplicity and elegance of the traditional Old Fashioned.
To create a Reposado Old Fashioned, combine 2 ounces of El Tequileño Reposado Rare, 1/4 ounce of agave syrup, and a couple of dashes of aromatic bitters in a mixing glass. Fill with ice and stir until chilled, then strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange slice.
9. Tequila Mule with Wild Common Still Strength Blanco
The Tequila Mule combines Wild Common Still Strength Blanco with ginger beer, creating a spicy and refreshing drink perfect for warm days.
To make this cocktail, mix 2 ounces of Wild Common Still Strength Blanco in a copper mug with the juice of half a lime. Fill with ice, top with ginger beer, and stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge for a refreshing touch.
10. Ranch Water with Tequila Arette Blanco
Ranch Water is a simple and highly refreshing cocktail featuring Tequila Arette Blanco. Its clean flavors make it a favorite for casual sipping, especially among those who appreciate the best tequila has to offer.
To make Ranch Water, combine 2 ounces of Tequila Arette Blanco in a tall glass with the juice of one lime. Fill with ice and top with sparkling water. Stir gently and garnish with a lime slice for a refreshing finish.
How to Choose the Best Tequila for You
Choosing the best tequila for your palate can be a rewarding experience, given the variety available today. Here are some essential tips to help you find the tequila that suits you best:
Explore Flavor Profiles
Different tequilas offer unique flavor profiles influenced by their ingredients, production methods, and aging processes. For example, blanco tequilas are typically bright and herbal, while añejos can showcase notes of vanilla, caramel, and spices. Sampling different brands can help you discover which flavors resonate with you.
Read Reviews and Rankings
Researching the top 10 tequila rankings can guide you toward well-regarded options. Websites like the Taster’s Club, which specializes in spirits, often compile lists of the best tequilas based on expert reviews and consumer feedback, helping you identify the best tequila brands.
Consider Your Drinking Style
Think about how you plan to enjoy your tequila. If you prefer sipping, opt for aged varieties like añejo or extra añejo. Additionally, blancos or reposados are typically preferred for cocktails. Knowing how you intend to drink your tequila will help you make a more informed choice.
Taste and Test
Tasting tequila is the best way to find your favorite tequila. Visit local distilleries, bars, or tasting events to sample different brands. This hands-on approach will provide insight into the best tequila for your individual taste.
Consider Food Pairings
Think about what you’ll be enjoying your tequila with. Tequila can beautifully complement a range of dishes. Light, citrusy blancos work well with seafood, salads, and light appetizers. Reposados, with their balanced flavors, pair nicely with grilled chicken or tacos, while añejos are fantastic with richer fare like mole sauce or aged cheeses. This versatility makes tequila a great choice for various occasions.
Think about what you’ll be enjoying your tequila with. Tequila can beautifully complement a range of dishes. Light, citrusy blancos work well with seafood, salads, and light appetizers. Reposados, with their balanced flavors, pair nicely with grilled chicken or tacos, while añejos are fantastic with richer fare like mole sauce or aged cheeses. This versatility makes tequila a great choice for various occasions.
Get the Best Tequila Here at Taster's Club!
Elevate your tequila experience with a Taster’s Club Tequila Membership! With two options to choose from, you can indulge in carefully selected blancos, reposados, and añejos for savoring neat or enhancing your favorite cocktails. Each bottle selection will impress, presenting a unique but complex, balanced flavor profile!
Frequently Asked Questions about The Top 10 List of Tequilas
As you explore the top 10 tequila brands, it's natural to have questions about these exceptional spirits. Below, we’ve compiled some frequently asked questions to help you better understand the nuances of these selections and enhance your tequila experience:
Which tequila goes down the smoothest?
From the top 10 best tequila list, ArteNOM Selección 1146 Añejo is considered to be one of the smoothest options, showcasing a harmonious balance of flavors with its rich notes of butterscotch, citrus, and dark chocolate.
Are the tequilas in the list available year-round?
Most of the tequilas listed, such as Siete Leguas Reposado and LALO Blanco, are typically available year-round, but some limited editions or specialty releases, like Tears of Llorona, may have restricted availability. Checking directly with retailers or the distillery is advisable for the best stock assurance.
Can I substitute any tequila in my favorite cocktail recipes?
Absolutely! You can substitute any tequila in cocktails, but the flavor profile will change depending on whether you use blanco, reposado, or añejo. For example, Tequila Arette Blanco is an excellent choice for classic cocktails like margaritas, while Don Fulano Añejo can elevate more sophisticated drinks.
What tequila is good for beginners?
LALO Blanco is highly recommended for beginners due to its clean, pure agave flavor and lack of additives. It's an approachable tequila that showcases the true essence of the spirit, making it perfect for newcomers to the world of tequila.
How should I store tequilas to keep them fresh?
Tequilas should be stored upright in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and temperature fluctuations, to maintain their quality. While most spirits, including the best tequilas, have a long shelf life, consuming them within a few years of opening is recommended for optimal flavor.
