Did someone say Margaritas? Whether you like your tequila shaken into a lime-drenched cocktail, or sipped straight over a giant ice cube, we’ve got a bottle to suit. Welcome to our round-up of the best tequilas, for drinking on National Tequila Day – July 24th – and all summer long…
El Rayo Plata
Ever tried a T&T – that is, a tequila and tonic? It’s a fun, approachable and fresh way to sip tequila, especially in summer, and El Rayo has been specially designed for it. Created by two childhood friends living in Peckham, it’s made, as all good tequilas are, from 100% blue agave. Expect citrussy, herbaceous and vegetal notes that really lengthen out and come into their own when mixed with a quality tonic.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.45
Padre Azul Blanco
Topped with a giant 3D skull, Padre Azul’s bottle is a real bold, love-it-or-hate-it presentation (see also: Crystal Head vodka). But there’s no arguing that this smooth-drinking tequila is crowd-pleasing on the palate, bursting with sweet agave, molasses and pepper. It’s on the pricier side for a blanco, but once you’ve drained the last drop you can repurpose that bottle as a stylish bit of décor, right? Right?
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: UK £78.62 // US $74.99
Mijenta Blanco
One thing we love about this premium blanco is that it’s made, somewhat unusually, by a female ‘maestra tequilera’, Ana Maria Romero. Her talent shows in the glass – Mijenta has a complex nose and a savoury, spiced and honeyed backbone, with butter and citrus on the palate. The pastel label is a lovely touch – it’s a fresh, stylish take that shows off the modern side of tequila, beyond the tired clichés. As for the perfect serve? We like this poured straight over a giant ice cube and garnished with a wedge of lime. If you want to hear more about Mijenta tequila, tune in to Ep.81 of our Bring a Bottle podcast!
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £54.99 // US $49.99
Tapatio Blanco
Tapatio’s been made the same way since the 1930s, and as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. This traditional-style tequila has a cult following for a reason: its powerful palate sings with classic blanco character, with cooked and raw agave, pepper, earth and citrus, plus a distinct vegetal lilt. If you’re new to drinking tequila you might find Tapatio a little bit full-on to begin with – it’s certainly no shrinking violet – but for fans of the spirit this is pretty much a perfect pour at its price point. Roll on the Margaritas…
Size: UK 500ml // US 1L
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £25.45 // US $74.89
Casamigos Blanco
This is an outstanding tequila. Unlike most blanco tequilas, the piñas used in Casamigos Blanco are roasted for 72 hours before going through an 80 hour fermentation period. This leads to a crisp, clean tequila with unique flavours including hints of citrus, vanilla and sweet agave and a beautifully smooth finish. Try it in a spicy margarita or a mojito for a mouth-wateringly good cocktail!
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £50.00 // US $41.99
Don Julio Añejo
It’s one of the big dogs of the agave world, so we couldn’t have a round up of National Tequila Day sippers without Don Julio. The bottling is an añejo style, which means by law it’s been aged for a minimum of one year in barrel – though, in this case, it’s spent a full 18 months hanging out in new American oak. As you might expect, this aging imparts some of the woody character you might find in a whisky, including vanilla, caramel, butterscotch and honey notes. Serve it neat to do it justice.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: UK £52.08 // US $88.90
Herradura Reposado
This was the first reposado – that is, a tequila that has been oak-aged for between two and 12 months – to hit the mainstream market, all the way back in the 1970s. And as its continued presence on shelves will attest, it’s a classic with staying power. Vanilla, oak, pepper and caramel aromas join a rich smoky palate with a heady cinnamon bite. We think that this is just the pour for mixing into richer cocktails, so if you haven’t tried a tequila old fashioned yet, pick up this spirit and get to work.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £41.95 // US $43.99
VIVIR Reposado
Aged in bourbon barrels for at least six months, this reposado shows off the newer, more contemporary side of tequila-making. It’s not just the minimalist branding, which feels like pure millennial catnip. The flavour profile, too, is super smooth, sweet and subtle – perfect for winning over agave sceptics who might still be reeling from old tequila-shots-at-the-bar memories (we all have ‘em). Like El Rayo, VIVIR is really made for mixing, and they recommend giving it a go with ginger ale.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £37.99
Storywood Speyside 7 Reposado Tequila
If you love whisky, you’ll love Storywood – this reposado has been aged for 7 months in ex-Speyside casks from Dufftown, imparting a smoky, oaky and honeyed character to the tequila. It’s made with lowland agave, which gives it a bit of a vegetal, herbal profile, perfect for both sipping straight or subbing into whisky-based cocktails. If you’re in an experimentation mood, do as Storywood cheekily suggests and serve it up in a tall glass mixed with Scotland’s (other) national drink, Irn Bru. You’ll never think of tequila the same way again.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £42.45
If you love a tequila cocktail then have a read of The Best Tequila Cocktails, recipes included! If, sipping neat is your preferred way to imbibe then have a look at The World’s Best Sipping Tequilas!