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 too choose from, picking the perfect tequila can be a real head scratcher.
But fear not! Taster's Club taken the liberty help out. Our expert curators took on the task of sampling through thousands of options, meticulously curating the ultimate guide to the best tequilas for your discerning palate. We carefully considered various factors such as expression, price, and versatility to ensure that each selection caters to a diverse range of preferences. 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.
As the weather warms up these tequilas will make sure you are starting off the season right. They can be mixed in your favorite cocktail, shared with close ones or savored on a nice warm evening. Put on your sunglasses, lather on the sunblock and let’s dive in and start finding the right tequila for you.
Top 10 Best Tequila Recommendations from our Bottle Shop
Curator's Pick
ArteNOM Selección 1146 Añejo
ArteNOM Selección 1146 Añejo 750ML is Taster's Club's top pick for 2024. This tequila embodies excellence with its superb taste, quality, and consistent satisfaction for tequila enthusiast. 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.
Best Blanco
LALO Blanco
Introducing Taster's Club's premier Blanco selection, LALO. 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, offering an exceptional experience that celebrates the true essence of this cherished plant.
Best 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 in every sip, making Siete Leguas a must-try for tequila enthusiasts.
Best 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, Don Fulano Añejo exemplifies exceptional craftsmanship and complexity, making it a must-try for tequila aficionados.
Best Extra Añejo
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. This tequila is a testament to time-honored craftsmanship, offering a viscous mouthfeel and an excellent lingering finish.
Best 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 not only visually stunning but also rich in flavor and texture, making it a standout choice for those seeking a refined and delightful tequila experience.
Best For Gifts
Tears of Llorona
Taster's Club presents its top pick for the best gift: Tears of Llorona. Aged for 5 years in a unique blend of scotch, sherry, and brandy barrels, crafted by Master Tequilero Germán Gonzalez, this 100% Agave tequila is verified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker. Considered a collector's treasure, it's bottled at 80 proof / 40% ABV in very small batches at NOM 1146, Tequileña, Tequila, Jalisco. Germán's heritage, rooted in Tequila Chinaco, ensures a premium experience with late-harvested Highland agaves and meticulous aging, making Tears of Llorona an exceptional and coveted gift choice.
Best 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. Best enjoyed neat in a specialized tequila glass, this tequila promises an exquisite and memorable experience.
Best 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”. Long, warm, and complex, Wild Common is a must-try for agave purists with the highest standards.
Best 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, operated by the esteemed Orendain Brothers. Arette embodies the strength and passion of its namesake, an Olympic gold-winning horse. Made from 100% Estate Agave, it preserves artisanal practices for quality over quantity. This tequila offers baked agave, floral, and honey notes with a hint of black pepper, a robust opening followed by a clean finish. Arette Blanco is a crisp and versatile tequila, perfect for any occasion.
If you are still uncertain about which tequila is right for you and looking for more options? We have many more options available in the Taster's Club Bottle Shop.
Curated Tequila Selections: Join Taster’s Club Today
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 anejos for savoring neat or enhancing your favorite cocktails. Each bottle selection will surely impress presenting a unique but complex, balanced flavor profile!
Top 10 Best Tequila FAQs
What is tequila made from?
Tequila is made from the Blue Weber agave plant and, under Mexican law, within Jalisco and a few other Mexican states. Once the agave is harvested, it’s cooked, ground, and fermented. The yeast converts the sugar to alcohol, and the mixture is distilled into tequila.
What are the types of tequila?
There are five types of tequila: blanco, reposado, añejo, extra añejo, and cristalino. Blanco is unaged, reposado is aged between two and twelve months in oak barrels, añejo ages for over a year but less than three, and extra añejo ages for over three years. Cristalino tequilas are usually aged but charcoal-filtered to make them clear and free of woodsy barrel flavors.
What makes a good tequila?
Make sure you’re drinking good tequila by looking for these things on the bottle’s label:
- “Hecho en Mexico” (made in Mexico) and “CRT” (approved by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila, which is the regulator that oversees tequila production)
- A four-digit “NOM” (Norma Oficial Mexicana) number, or unique identifier for tequilas and where they’re made
