14 best tequilas for your next party
So much more than the slamming spirit of our youth, today’s tequila is an altogether classier affair. These high-quality spirits demand we take them seriously, whether sipped neat or mixed in refreshing cocktails, the Good Housekeeping Institute found the best tequila to stock up on.
Best tequila 2025
What are the different types of tequila?
Like champagne, tequila production is a closely guarded secret and must be made and bottled within a specific area in Mexico. It can only be made from blue agave (unlike smoky mezcal, which can be created from over 30 different varieties).
The best tequilas are produced with 100% agave, but the legal minimum is just 51%, with the rest allowed to be made up by a neutral spirit.
Unlike wines, with their complex classification systems, tequila is simply categorised by age as follows.
Blanco
Tequila blanco (or silver as it’s sometimes called) is clear in colour and un-aged. As such, you can expect a fresh, agave, citrus-spiked flavour.
Reposado
Aged for at least two months and up to one year, here the colour changes to more gold and amber tones. You should find a more well-rounded flavour and smoother finish with sweeter vanilla and oak notes.
Anejo
This type of tequila is aged for at least one year and as long as three. Here, you’d expect to see fuller, more complex notes, depending on the different casks used. Ex-cognac, bourbon and red wine barrels are all popular.
What are the best tequila cocktails?
Tequila is a versatile spirit and can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in cocktails. If you’re going down the latter route, we’d recommend using blanco in a classic margarita or with the best tonic (as recommended by our experts) and saving aged styles for after-dinner cocktails, such as an old fashioned or espresso martini.
Looking to replenish your drinks trolley? Read on for more expert-tested reviews:
Best whisky | best tequila | best gin | best flavoured gin | best port | best rum | best spiced rum | best vodka
How we test tequila
Our panel – made up of 10 WSET accredited spirits experts and tequila-loving consumers – put 49 blanco, reposado and anejo tequilas to the test.
Each was tried neat and blind, to avoid brand bias, allowing the full flavours — fresh citrus to warming oak — to shine through. Our experts were on the lookout for smooth, easy-drinking styles, with well-balanced sweetness and added complexity.
Below are their best tequilas to try in 2025.
Tequila Anejo
Score: 90/100
Our winning tequila won our panel over with its alluring aroma, bringing spicier hints of clove, ginger, caramel and vanilla to the fore. The mouthfeel is rich and velvety, offering a standout sipper at this price point. No self-confessed tequila connoisseur should be without a bottle on their drinks trolley.
Tequila Blanco
Score: 82/100
Crafted by esteemed Master Distiller and third generation Tequilero de Primera, Carlos Camarena, Ocho Blanco is as crisp and clean as they come. With notes of fennel, anise, lemongrass, white pepper and freshly-cut grass on the palate, it’s best sipped straight up but makes a stellar margarita, too.
£27.50 at thewhiskyexchange.com
Tequila Blanco
Score: 80/100
Casa Rayos stands out with its citrus-forward flavour and sweet floral lilt, balanced by a touch of spicy cracked black pepper and pink peppercorn. The subtle earthier notes, characteristic of the agave's region, add depth, making it the perfect choice for longer drinks like a paloma.
Tequila Reposado
Score: 80/100
Our winning tequila reposado is a high-quality, golden-hued "rested" style, using 100% blue weber agave. It has spent six months in bourbon barrels, which gives it extra complexity — think nutty, caramel, vanilla and peppercorn notes.
With a super-smooth mouthfeel and long, memorable finish, our testers thought this tequila was worthy of the price tag.
Reposado Tequila
Score: 78/100
Looking to spend a little less? Budget-friendly Cazcabel came a close runner-up with our experts, thanks to the combination of spice, fresh citrus notes and sweet caramel.
The peppery finish means this spirit is better suited to cocktails, rather than sipping neat — so try it in a classic margarita to enjoy the saline note.
Coconut Tequila
Score: 76/100
For a fruity twist in tropical cocktails, try this top-rated, coconut-tinged tequila blanco. It smells sweeter than it tastes and has a super-smooth finish. We think those who enjoy rum will appreciate this, especially when paired with pineapple juice for instant summer refreshment all year round.
Reposado
Score: 76/100
With soft cinnamon spice, sweet vanilla and pronounced woody notes, El Jimador Reposado may not be as complex as some tequila we tested, but we think it’s a solid drinks trolley staple for cocktail experimentation.
Especial Silver
Score: 74/100
It’s highly likely you’ll be familiar with the Jose Cuervo brand, given it produces the best-selling tequila in the world. This is its silver variety, which is made in limited quantities each year.
With a subtle earthiness, sweet touch and excellent balance of spice, pepper and vanilla, we can see why it's such a crowd pleaser.
Plata Tequila
Score: 74/100
This may not be such a well-known name, but for something a little more exclusive, Olmeca is made in the top tequila-producing region of Mexico.
Expect a powerful smoky flavour and bags of complexity — with some testers likening it to cognac. It’s perfect for after-dinner sipping or would make a fresh twist on an old fashioned cocktail.
Cristalino Tequila
Score: 74/100
Aged for 30 days in oak, before being filtered through charcoal for a purer taste, this high-quality tequila is made from 100% agave. On the palate, our testers enjoyed notes of tobacco, delicate vanilla and a smooth, spicy finish. Designed with cocktails in mind, we’d suggest a refreshing paloma, to allow the sweetness to really sing.
What’s more, a percentage of profits go towards supporting butterfly conservation across the US and Mexico. Win-win.
Reposado Tequila
Score: 73/100
With its little sombrero hat, this uncomplicated tequila is instantly recognisable. It’s a great price, with notes of lime, salt and butterscotch and a warming finish. We’d suggest picking a bottle up for your next taco night.
El Rayo Plata Tequila
Score: 72/100
With its citrus-soaked flavour profile, fresh minerality and lick of black pepper on the finish, El Rayo’s tequila blanco is just the thing to replace your beloved gin. Just add a splash of tonic and lemon wedge.
Silver Tequila
Score: 70/100
Patron is another household name in the world of tequila — and for good reason. The nose may be subtle compared to some, but look past the first sip and you’ll find this spirit offers decent complexity, including a hint of cumin and black pepper.
Crisp, clean and pure, it's flavoursome enough to sip, shoot or mix in cocktails.
Rojo Reposado Tequila
Score: 70/100
This tequila has a rich, deep golden hue, and mellow notes of lavender, hazelnut, bruised apple and caramel. It’s all wrapped up in a smooth, warm finish that would work a treat in cocktails. We think it's excellent value, given the price.
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