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The Best Sipping Tequilas
While margaritas and shots are a lovely way to imbibe tequila, but the best sipping tequilas are good for so much more than making icy mixed drinks or shooters. Complex notes on the nose and palate—think honey, toast, and caramel—accompany many sipping tequilas. Imagine them at the after-dinner fire, in lieu of your favorite scotch. In fact, high-quality sipping tequilas, rooted in Mexican tradition and reliant upon generations of knowledge and care, are just as compelling as that glass of single malt.
Before we get to our recommendations, let’s take a minute to go over the basics.
A Breakdown of Tequilas
Silver Tequila (Blanco, Plata, White, Platinum)
This is the purest form of the Blue Agave spirit. It’s clear and typically un-aged, where the true flavors and the intensity of the Agave are present, as well as the natural sweetness. Because they are the most basic form, they are also the least expensive of tequilas, which makes them ideal for mixed drinks, such as margaritas.
Gold Tequila (Joven, Oro)
Gold tequila is often called Joven, which means young in Spanish, is also known as gold tequila because of the golden or rich light brown color that the liquor has because of flavoring agents such as sugar, glycerin, oak tree extracts, and caramel coloring before bottled. Gold tequila is typically a mixer tequila and usually served in mixed drinks such as margaritas since it is less expensive.
Reposado Tequila
Reposado means “rested” in Spanish, and reposados rest anywhere from two months to a year before they are bottled. This is the key difference between reposado tequilas and blanco or silver tequilas. Reposados take on the gold hue from the barrels in which they are aged. They are typically aged in oak or white oak barrels, and the type of barrel changes the flavor of each distillery’s tequila. Reposado tequilas are often used in premium mixed drinks and are also popular for those looking for a good sipping tequila.
Añejo Tequila
Añejo means “old” in Spanish as these tequilas have been aged from one to three years. Compared to reposado, añejo are darker in color, more complex, richer, and smoother in flavor. Known as vintage tequila, the amber-colored spirit is typically considered the best type of tequila for sipping because of their smoother flavor.
Extra Añejo
This is a relatively new type of tequila, which got its official classification from the Mexican government in 2006. The extra añejo has the same exact distilling and aging process as añejo tequila except that it aged longer. This tequila is classified as one that is aged for more than three years. This type of tequila is the most expensive, not only because the flavor is improved with age, but also because distilleries will only allow their best spirits to age for so long. Extra añejo tequila should be enjoyed sip by sip, not shot or mixed.
Cristalino
Cristalino is essentially añejo, or aged, tequila that has been filtered (often through charcoal) to remove the naturally occurring colors it picks up from spending time inside the barrel. The filtration process strips the color and some of the tequila’s woodier notes without removing the rich flavors and textures imparted by the barrel. They tend to have rounder, more creamy aromas and flavors than blancos and also softer acidity and agave notes. They are designed for sipping.
As with any spirit served neat, try adding a few drops of water to open up the aromas and flavor. You can also add one big cube, which will slowly melt, adding luxurious texture and a chill as you sip. The older the tequila, too, the more brandy-like, so you might try sipping añejos and extra añejos out of a snifter.
We put together a list of our top 3 bottles for each category along with a tasting profile so you can up your tequila game with ease!
Best Blanco Tequilas
Corazon Tequila – Blanco
- Nose: Fresh and lively with citrus and green notes.
- Palate: Smooth and light with hints of earth, agave and a peppery bite.
- Finish: Subtle sweetness and a touch of heat.
Lalo Tequila – Blanco
- Nose: Bright citrus, black pepper, cinnamon, and agave.
- Palate: Sweet cooked agave, vanilla, and pepper spice
- Finish: Lingering spice, agave, and cinnamon.
Cascahuin Tequila – Tahona Blanco
- Nose: Fresh and floral with bright citrus and raw agave notes.
- Palate: Smooth and vegetal with flavors of agave, citrus, oysters, and spice.
- Finish: Long and warm with fresh agave and a hint of pepper.
Best Reposado Tequilas
Don Julio Primavera
- Nose: Honeyed agave, hints of spice, and citrus
- Palate: Sweet agave and light orange peels
- Finish: Smooth with silky light citrus
Spec’s Single Barrel – Codigo Tequila 1530 Rosa Reposado
- Nose: Floral and fruity with notes of agave and oak.
- Palate: Smooth and slightly sweet with a blend of fruit and agave.
- Finish: Warm and spicy with a touch of oak and a hint of smoke.
Don Abraham Organic Tequila – Reposado
- Nose: Fragrant and floral with notes of honey and oak.
- Palate: Smooth and rich with a blend of vanilla, caramel, and agave.
- Finish: Long and warm with a slight sweetness and a touch of oak.
Spec’s Single Barrel – Codigo Tequila Reposado
- Nose: Sweet and spicy with notes of agave and oak.
- Palate: Smooth and complex with a blend of fruit, agave, and oak.
- Finish: Warm and spicy with a touch of sweetness and a hint of smoke.
Best Anejo Tequilas
El Tesoro Tequila – Anejo
- Nose: Rich and complex with notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak.
- Palate: Smooth and full-bodied with a blend of agave, fruit, and spice.
- Finish: Long and warm with a touch of sweetness and a lingering hint of oak.
Don Julio Tequila – 70th Anniversary Anejo
- Nose: Crisp and spicy with notes of oak, vanilla, and agave.
- Palate: Silky and round with notes of vanilla, cooked tropical fruit and white pepper.
- Finish: Medium, with notes of vanilla, white chocolate and caramel.
Herradura Tequila – Ultra Anejo
- Nose: Complex and fragrant with notes of oak, vanilla, and agave.
- Palate: Smooth and full-bodied with a blend of agave, fruit, and spice.
- Finish: Long and warm with a touch of sweetness and a lingering hint of oak.
Avion Tequila – Extra Anejo (Reserva 44)
- Nose: Savory notes of cooked agave and roasted hazelnuts, with vanilla undertones.
- Palate: Sweet honey, and vanilla with drier flavors of roasted agave, oak, and leather.
- Finish: Long and silky with a touch of sweetness and a lingering hint of oak.
Cuervo La Familia – Extra Anejo
- Nose: Rich notes of oak, almonds, apples, olives, and cinnamon.
- Palate: Ultra smooth with rich oak, toasted almonds, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Finish: Long and warm with a touch of honey sweetness and a hint of oak.
Cava de Oro Tequila – Extra Anejo
- Nose: Rich and complex with notes of charred oak, vanilla, and caramel.
- Palate: Smooth and sweet with maple syrup flavors and a blend of agave, fruit, and spice.
- Finish: Long and smooth with lingering sweetness and a touch of caramel.
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