When tequila is mentioned, you probably think of one of two things: shots with salt and lime, and a margarita. The holy grail of tequila cocktails, the blood pumping through the heart of any good party, the flavour combination that does not budge in the public favour. The margarita has been built on many times, in many ways and by many different people and bars but one thing is for certain: it’s damn tasty.
Here are our favourite tequilas for making this delicious, timeless cocktail…
Patrón Silver
Patrón may be the most iconic and recognisable tequila brand in the world with its large bottomed bottles and spherical stopper. Though name dropped once every ten minutes, Patrón is still a solid tequila that is a staple behind the bar. We feel it should be a staple in a home bar too, as its consistency and aromatic flavour are perfect in any and all margaritas.
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £40.95
1800 Silver Tequila
The oversized stopper and interesting bottle shape are the first thing that’ll catch your eye about this tequila. In fact, the bottle is said to be made in such a way as to resemble Mayan pyramids! Named after the year that tequila was first put into oak casks, 1800 Silver Tequila is delicate while still being fiery, and offers an elegant floral finish. Having this bottle on your shelf means you’ll be getting a great margarita every time.
ABV: 38%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find it here: UK £32.99 // US $41.99
Código 1530 Rosa Tequila
This tequila is particularly interesting and totally different from anything else on this list. The first thing you’ll notice is that it’s not the usual clear colour you’ll get from a young tequila, instead it has a rose tint to it. Aha! That, my friends, is because this tequila is rested for one month in barrels that previously held Napa Cabernet Sauvignon! This unique process gives the tequila some notes of red fruits that you won’t find anywhere else. Put this tequila in a margarita alternative such as a watermelon margarita and you’ve got yourself a winner.
ABV: 35%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find it here: UK £45.75 // US $64.99
Olmeca Altos Plata
If you hear the word ‘plata’ and have no idea what it means, don’t worry. Plata, silver and blanco tequila all mean the same thing: they’re all tequilas that have not been rested for longer than two months. Easy peasy. Olmeca Altos is a great, clean tequila that is perfect for making cocktails such as margaritas. If you want something that’ll serve you well, go for Olmeca Altos.
ABV: 38%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find it here: UK £29.90 // US $26.39
Villa Lobos Blanco
Villa Lobos Blanco is an entry-level tequila from Master Distiller Carlos Camarena, who has worked on some of the finest tequilas on the market. For that reason, he’s kinda a big deal. This blanco is excellently balanced and incredibly smooth, without the aggressive agave bite that can put people off tequila. It’s silky and soft without being too mellow and is perfect in a margarita that will have you and your friends coming back for more...
ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml
Find it here: £32.45
Best Tequila for Reposado Margaritas
Reposado tequila is tequila that has been rested from two months up to a year. As it rests in the barrels, the flavour rounds out and loses some of the tang that you might get from a blanco tequila. However, the tequila does gain a lot of complexity as it rests and this can take your margaritas to a completely different space taste-wise. We recommend trying it!
Vivir Tequila Reposado
In Spanish, vivir is the infinitive form of the verb ‘to-live’, and let’s just say you’ll certainly be living after trying Vivir’s Tequila Reposado! This reposado is matured in oak bourbon barrels for at least 6 months before being decanted into the beautiful bottles that Vivir is known for. Notes of butter and caramel don’t overpower the agave present in this tequila, instead complementing each other and making for a smooth and sophisticated drink perfect for a classy margarita.
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £36.95
Panchos Datos Reposado Tequila
Before being bottled, Panchos Datos Reposado is rested for six months in white oak barrels that were used to mature bourbon whiskey. These barrels give this tequila the tasty vanilla and caramel notes that make it so mouth-wateringly delicious! The rounded flavours make for a smooth margarita, but it’s just as delicious taken neat or over ice.
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £49.50
Fortaleza Tequila Reposado
If you’re ready to splash a bit of cash for an extremely nice reposado, we recommend you go for Fortaleza Tequila Reposado! While the bottle is beautiful (especially that stopper reminiscent of an agave piña), it’s what’s inside that’s worth shouting about. Along with the classic caramel notes, there’s citrus, wood spice and orchard fruit - not forgetting those rich agave flavours. Maybe this one might be a little too complex for a margarita, but we’re not stopping you!
ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find it here: UK £64.69 // US $69.99
Looking for more tequila content? Make sure you check out The World’s Best Sipping Tequila or The Best Celebrity Owned Tequilas!