Take Your Pick: Five Fine Tequilas for Every Taste
Cierto Tequila Private Collection Blanco
Though tequila has exploded in popularity in recent years, understanding what makes a great choice can be challenging. With confusing associations or pure marketing hype, clearing out the noise is essential in the search for a great sip. Dive into the world of tequila with these five preferred picks, whether for Cinco de Mayo or beyond.
Five Great Tequilas for Every Taste
For the Purist: Cierto Tequila Private Collection Blanco
Cierto Tequila Private Collection Blanco
Type: Blanco
Notes: Natural cooked agave, fresh florals and citrus
Claim to Fame: The most awarded tequila in history.
Why it’s Worth it: Cierto Tequila is 100% additive-free tequila, which means it is not made with any artificial ingredients or additives.
An all-new tequila, Cierto Tequila stands out from the competition because it is confirmed additive-free, a distinction that less than 3% of nearly 3,000 active tequila brands hold according to Tequila Matchmaker. No risk for a burning throat here. The name "Cierto" means "true" in Spanish, and it perfectly describes this authentic, all-natural tequila made from fully mature, estate-grown agave from the Highlands of Jalisco. The agave is harvested and distilled by esteemed fourth and fifth generation agaveros (agave farmers), Enrique Fonseca and Sergio Mendoza. This familial closeness to the land and plant has earned Cierto over 600 awards in its short history. Served best neat or on the rocks. From $89.99 at ReserveBar.
For the Super Traditional: Don Julio 1942
Don Julio 1942
Type: Añejo
Notes: Warm oak, vanilla and roasted agave
Claim to Fame: Celebrating over 80 years of production, a true legend in the space
Why it’s Worth it: Aged slightly longer than most añejo, 1942 is a signature addition to a bar cart.
Created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Don Julio González's distilling career, Don Julio 1942 is crafted from the finest blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco. The agave is cooked slowly in traditional brick ovens, fermented with natural yeast, and double-distilled in copper pot stills. The result is a complex tequila with notes of vanilla, caramel, and roasted agave. Aged for at least two and a half years in oak barrels, Don Julio 1942 is a smooth, sipping tequila with a warm and velvety finish. It's no wonder this tequila has become a staple in fine bars, easily identified by its numerical name. From $129.99 at ReserveBar.
Open to Experiment: Dulce Vida Pineapple Jalapeño
Dulce Vida Pineapple Jalapeño
Type: Blanco
Notes: Mild agave, pineapple, pepper/chili
Claim to Fame: 100% organic tequila featuring real pineapple and jalepeño, 100% additive-free.
Why it’s Worth it: Delicious and complex, Dulce Vida’s infusions hold up as a real treat.
While hearing the word “infusion” can send picky sippers running, Dulce Vida’s Pineapple Jalapeño is a step away from the sweaty, sugar-soaked shots you’re probably thinking about. Crafted in the region of Los Altos, Mexico, this tequila is an ideal choice for savoring its rich and complex flavors or enjoying as a quick shot. Its flavor profile is characterized by a delightful sweetness at the beginning, followed by a pleasant warmth and heat towards the end, all provided by 100% natural ingredients sourced in a real manner. While the agave takes a backseat, it’s not missing- reminding you you’re taking a complex tequila. From $19.99 at Drizzly.
For the Mixologist: Bribón Reposado Tequila
Bribón Reposado Tequila
Type: Reposado
Notes: Caramel, candied papaya, and citrus
Claim to Fame: An ultra soft texture makes for smooth mixing and 100% additive-free.
Why it’s Worth it: A fair price makes this a strong choice for a high-volume bar cart or mixologist-in-training.
When it comes to cocktails, the ingredients must share a stage. Many cocktails depend on a great tequila that doesn’t try to steal the spotlight but instead offers a sturdy base to hold things together. In comes the Bribón’s Reposado Tequila. Thanks to being aged in toasted American oak barrels for 6-9 months, Bribón’s honey-toned Reposado has the linger of youth and the incoming sense of age— the goldilocks zone for being suitable in a long list of cocktails. Fully capable of supporting a Margarita, the Bribón Reposado Tequila can equally flex its muscles in more adventurous things such a Tequila Old Fashioned or straightforward Tequila Sour. From $27.99 at Drizzly.
For the Minimalist: Flecha Azul Cristalino Añejo
Flecha Azul Cristalino Añejo
Type: Añejo
Notes: Chocolate, clean, and oak
Claim to Fame: Aged 18 months in ex-Bourbon barrels makes for a surprising sip, and 100% additive-free.
Why it’s Worth it: Obsessed with production technique, Flecha Azul’s Cristalino holds Añejo warmth but a youthful smoothness.
Like a fine timepiece or a great sport’s car, Flecha Azul’s Cristalino is a story of centered clarity in the mission. Stability and consistency sits at the center of this solid tequila, and for some, that’s the only thing that matters. Smooth and reasonably sweet with no harsh or off-putting notes, this is a confident sip. Focused on a modern and streamlined approach and unique in its ex-Bourbon barrel aging process, this Cristalino drinks nicely neat or on the rocks as it has very little warmth. It’s foggy and assertive, with a happy smoke note. This premium tequila uses volcanic-filtered water and carefully selected Blue Weber Agave that is harvested by hand. From $105.99 at ReserveBar.