Which tequila is better for margaritas?
What to Look for When Buying Tequila
- 100 Percent Blue Weber Agave. When shopping for tequila, look for these words on the bottle. ...
- Grading System. It is also important to remember the basic grading system for tequilas. ...
- Price. You can usually gauge tequila's quality by the price range. ...
- Purpose. How are you sipping your tequila? ...
What is the best type of tequila for margaritas?
The Best Tequila for Making Margaritas
- Teremana Blanco Tequila. ...
- Convite Esencial Espadin Mezcal. ...
- Exotico Blanco Tequila. ...
- Casamigos Reposado Tequila. ...
- Patron Silver. ...
- Casa Noble Tequila Crystal. ...
- Clase Azul Reposado. ...
- Hornitos Añejo. ...
- Cazodores Tequila Reposado. ...
- El Padrino Blanco Tequila. ...
What brand Tequila is best?
Most tequilas are aged in whiskey barrels but to give it that beautiful blush hue and specific fruity taste, pink tequila is aged in red wine barrels. Calirosa is made in Jalisco, Mexico by the Real family, producers of tequila since 1942, and then aged in California red wine barrels, hence the name.
Where do they make the best tequila?
Where Do They Make the Best Tequila?: Casa San Matías, Jalisco, Mexico. María Fernanda Jiménez at the swinging doors of “Old Nick’s Bar” where you can sample the products of Casa San Matías after touring the distillery. Luis Miguel Amador and Raquel Ruvalcaba checking whether all the bitter-tasting spikes have been entirely removed by ...
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Which type of tequila is best for margaritas?
Blanco tequilaBlanco tequila is the go-to for Margaritas. It's a clear, usually unaged spirit (it can be put into barrels for up to 60 days) that highlights the pure expression of distilled agave.
Which tequila is best for margaritas silver or gold?
A silver or blanco tequila is best for margaritas. This tequila is young, only aged in oak for up for two months. It has a stronger flavor that mixes well. Gold tequilas, not ideal for margaritas, have been aged longer in the oak.
Does it matter what tequila you use in a margarita?
When it comes to choosing the best tequila for margaritas, look for one that says 100% de agave or puro de agave. The tequila brands labeled tequila mixto or oro have been cut with an inferior natural cane spirit. Not only will the flavor be less complex, but it's probably made with artificial coloring, too.
Can you use cheap tequila for margaritas?
Several brands produce excellent inexpensive tequilas suitable for sipping and making cocktails, such as margaritas, sangritas, and bloody marias.
Is Blanco or reposado better for margaritas?
Which tequila should you use to make margaritas? Both Julian and Dave recommend using blanco, joven or reposado tequila for making margaritas. Blanco will give your margarita more of a true agave flavor while reposado is for those who want a smoother taste. Joven is a nice balance between the two.
Is reposado better than Blanco?
Blanco is generally used in Margaritas and other light, citrusy drinks. Reposado adds the oak and vanilla from the time it has spent in barrels, so it is better used in heavier cocktails, although it will perform very well in a Margarita as well.
Is Don Julio Blanco good for margaritas?
Don Julio Blanco Tequila On their website, the company (which is owned by the same family that runs 1800 Tequila) vows that Don Julio's blanco is best for making margaritas, due to "its crisp agave flavor and hints of citrus," which are of course associated with the highlands.
Which Jose Cuervo is best for margaritas?
Best For Blended: Jose Cuervo Classic Lime Original Margarita Mix. There's a reason why Jose Cuervo Margarita mix is many people's go-to at-home mixer—it's not too tart, the sweetness is balanced, and it has that oh-so-familiar Margarita flavor that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Which tequila is better silver or reposado?
Reposado tequila is favored by bar professionals for a reason. An aged reposado is one of the best tequilas for anything. Walter Easterbrook, founder of Arte Agave, an agave spirits festival, says you may get more spice or sweet flavor when drinking agave spirits neat.
Is 1800 a good tequila?
1800 Tequila is one of the most awarded tequila brands, and at the 2021 New York International Spirits Awards Competition, 1800's Silver, Reposado and Cristalino editions all took home the Silver Medal for the Best Agave/Tequila. The 1800 Añejo took home the Gold Medal for Best Agave/Tequila.
Is 1800 Tequila considered top shelf?
There are many lesser-known distilleries that produce tequila, as well as top-shelf spirits, but 1800 Tequila is the king as far as sugary cocktails and shots go. Silver 1800 is an affordable option, made from 100% blue Weber agave that's aged for 8 to 12 years and harvested at the peak of its flavor.
Is Triple Sec good for margaritas?
Triple sec, a term used interchangeably with curaçao, is a type of orange liqueur that provides fruity flavors as well as sweet and bitter notes — all of which are essential for a well-made Margarita. Popular labels include Cointreau, Combier, Pierre Ferrand Curaçao, and Grand Marnier.
1. El Tesoro Blanco Tequila
This Blanco tequila serves as the foundation of El Tesoro's flavor profile, with one of the most natural agave flavors you'll encounter in a bottle.
2. Ocho Blanco Tequila
Carlos Camarenas (El Tesoro, Tapatio) and Tomas Estes (Cafe Pacifico, La Perla) collaborated to create Ocho Tequila. This dynamic teamwork combines heritage and tradition with innovation. This is among the few tequilas that are still created slowly and traditionally.
3. Cascahuin Blanco Tequila
The outstanding Cascahuin Distillery in El Arenal, is one of the best in the lowland. They exclusively utilize the finest completely mature agave and symbolize an authenticity that has been lost in practically all but a small number of tequila makers.
4. El Tequileño Blanco Tequila
For the past 60 years, El Tequileño Blanco has been the tequila of choice for residents of Tequila and Guadalajara. Only the most outstanding ingredients are used to manufacture this high-quality tequila, which is 70% agave and 30% Piloncillo (handmade unrefined Mexican sugar cane).
5. Pasote Blanco Tequila
This Blanco tequila is ideal for agave lovers. This spirit is notably herbal and wonderfully pristine, distilled with pure rainwater, natural spring water, and agave farmed specifically by the distillery's master tequilero.
6. Tequila Casa Dragones Blanco - Perfect Balance of Minerals
Tequila Casa Dragones Blanco was voted “The Best Blanco Tequila" by Epicurious Magazine. Its clean and smooth consistency has won the hearts of every tequila lover out there.
7. Don Pilar Blanco Tequila
Don Pilar Blanco Tequila is made from 100% Blue Agave grown on the farm in the beautiful Highlands of Jalisco. Don Jose Pilar Contreras, a native of these marvelous lands, produces this exceptional tequila using unique, artisanal techniques.
Casa Noble Blanco
Many of our surveyed bartenders selected clean, lightweight blanco (unaged) tequilas as their picks for margarita inclusion. Lead bartender Lauren Mathews of Urbana in Washington, D.C. tells us that, “One of my favorite tequilas to put in a margarita is Casa Noble Blanco. It’s such a fresh tequila, and I love the undertones of mint in it.
Tequila Tromba Blanco
Co-bar director Othón Nolasco of Hermanito in Los Angeles opts for Tequila Tromba Blanco when making his bar’s signature margs, explaining that “the Hermanito Margarita features Tromba Blanco as its lush tropical flavors burst with a viscosity that cuts through citrus and lingers with a smooth finish.
Clase Azul Plata
Blanco tequila is also commonly known as “silver” tequila or silver’s Spanish translation, “plata.” Beverage director Weng Lee of Halifax in Hoboken, New Jersey likes Clase Azul Plata in margaritas “because [Clase Azul is] a truly artisanal tequila family – each type comes in its own unique, handcrafted bottle.
Don Julio Blanco
A popular prestige tequila, Don Julio Blanco is the margarita tequila of choice for beverage director Andrea Cornwell of Ocean Prime, who tells us that “ [Don Julio Blanco] is clean, soft and a great complement to fruit notes. The grapefruit and lime in [Ocean Prime’s signature margarita] pair perfectly with the agave spirit.”
Tequila Ocho Blanco
According to bar manager Cari Hah of Big Bar in Los Angeles, “balance is the key to any great cocktail. Each ingredient is meant to complement the others. Tequila Ocho Blanco’s signature flavor profile – clean, crisp, peppery, bright – works beautifully with the sweetness of Cointreau and sourness of fresh lime juice [in a margarita].”
Tapatio Reposado
While the light texture and refreshing profile of blanco tequila make it a margarita favorite, some bartenders prefer the rich and nuanced notes present in an aged tequila for this cocktail.
Avion Reposado
Beverage director Jenn Ramos of Big Night in Boston also uses reposado tequila in her margaritas, and she particularly enjoys the version made by Avion. “A favorite of mine is Avion Reposado. Avion is from the ‘highland’ region of Mexico, where the soil naturally produces sweeter agave, thus yielding tequilas that are more fruit-forward.
What is the best tequila for margaritas? It depends on the margarita! Each of our top tequila brands has a unique flavor profile for your perfect 'rita
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
Teremana Blanco Tequila
With notes of citrus and vanilla, Teremana’s Blanco Tequila has a smooth finish that’s begging to be mixed in a margarita. Teremana produces small-batch tequila that is hand made in Jalisco, Mexico and is owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. If you’re new to mixing drinks, consult our margarita guide for expert tips.
Convite Esencial Espadin Mezcal
Okay, so Convite’s Esencial Espadin Mezcal isn’t a tequila, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add it to your next marg. Smoky with a touch of citrus zest, Esencial Espadin is a balanced mezcal that’s a great introduction to the spirit. Read up on the difference between tequila and mezcal.
Exotico Blanco Tequila
Blanco tequila, also referred to as white or silver tequila, is unaged. These tequilas typically feature a very fresh agave-forward flavor. Exotico Blanco Tequila is a well-priced spirit with a crisp, herbal flavor and hints of pepper and spice. Find fresh ways to upgrade your homemade margarita.
Casamigos Reposado Tequila
Reposado means that the tequila has been aged in oak barrels. Casamigos Reposado Tequila is aged in casks previously used to barrel whiskey, which gives it a caramel flavor. This tequila also has some star power: George Clooney and Rande Gerbere originally founded the Casamigos brand! By the way, this is what tequila is made from.
Patron Silver
Patron Silver is a popular blanco tequila, available nearly everywhere, with a sweet and light flavor. It’s a great tequila to use in cocktails—or to sip on its own. Head straight to the beach with this Cerveza margarita recipe.
Casa Noble Tequila Crystal
Casa Noble Tequila Crystal is a tequila made from 100% USDA-certified organic blue agave. This tequila is triple-distilled, giving it a very smooth flavor with hints of honey, citrus and of course, agave. Learn how to make a margarita —blended, on the rocks and virgin.
There's a great tequila for every taste and budget
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Best Overall: Casamigos Blanco Tequila
Casamigos Tequila is a perfect introduction to premium tequilas. The portfolio follows the basic grading system for tequilas, which is standard for most brands and includes a blanco, reposado, and añejo tequila.
Best Top-Shelf: Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Añejo Tequila
Añejo tequilas are aged between one and three years, letting the barrel’s charred oak flavor really develop inside the tequila. Considered the best of any brand’s portfolio, añejos are higher priced and typically reserved for high-end cocktails or sipping straight.
Best Cheap: Sauza Silver Tequila
Budget tequilas are tricky, and it is very easy to get burned when you buy the wrong one. Sauza Silver is one that won’t let you down or leave your mouth on fire. It may not be as smooth as top-shelf tequilas, but it is one of the best affordable options, and it’s in nearly every liquor store.
Best Mid-Price: Herradura Silver Tequila
Silver (or blanco) tequilas are unaged and the most affordable of any brand’s lineup. Tequila Herradura offers a brilliant example that should be almost anywhere you look. It is premium, but not priced out of reach for the average drinker, and it always produces a great tequila cocktail .
Best Añejo: Don Julio Añejo Tequila
It's hard to find faults in the tequilas of Don Julio. They are readily available, super smooth, and richly flavored with the distinct tequila flavors that make the spirit special. The brand's aged tequilas are particularly impressive and have a reputation that puts them among the best of the best.
Best Reposado: Olmeca Tezòn Reposado Tequila
Los Altos is a region of Jalisco, Mexico that’s known for producing some amazing tequilas. It’s home to the Olmeca Distillery, the makers of Tequila Tezòn. While all of the tequilas are very enjoyable, the brand’s reposado is superb.
Best tequila for margaritas: a quick guide!
We could just give you a big list of great bottles of tequila. Instead, first let’s talk about the types of tequila and what to look for when you go to the store (or search online).
Types of tequila: blanco, reposado, and anejo
There are three types of tequila with names that indicate how much they have been aged. Each one has a different flavor profile. The best tequila for margaritas is blanco or reposado. Here’s an outline of the types:
Best brands of tequila
So, we’ve covered the basics of finding a great bottle of tequila and the differences in tequila types. Want to get even more specific? Here are our picks! Some brands of tequila that are best for margaritas are:
Classic margarita recipe
Of course, we couldn’t leave you without a recipe! Here’s our classic margarita recipe using Patrón Silver. Patrón is a brand of high-end tequila that makes for an astoundingly smooth drink. Also try our Casamigos Margarita.
Classic Margarita
Every margarita lover’s got to have a Patron margarita recipe! This one blends the perfect proportions to make an astoundingly smooth drink.
Sonja & Alex
Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.