Tequila is having a moment. Once considered the degenerate of the spirit world, tequila was long solely the fare of raucous collegiate nights out or bachelor(ette) parties. Served at dive bars or nightclubs, it was shot rather than savoured, with the white spirit viewed as a vehicle to expedite the journey to drunkenness rather than a pleasurable libation. Think back to ye ole days: did you ever actually see someone drink tequila sitting down?
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Today, the tequila landscape has undergone a seismic shift. While the throat-burning shots of our youth were typically mixtos — made from a mix of agave sugar and corn or sugar syrup — an alteration in drinking style has resulted in increased demand for high-end tequilas. With the spirit now sipped as opposed to thrown back, consumers are desirous of 100% agave tequila, resulting in the rise of agave distilleries cropping up in Australia, Peru, New Zealand, South Africa, and India. However, the spirit cannot be called tequila unless it’s made from blue weber agave and be produced in one of five authorised states in Mexico: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, or Tamaulipas. Much like the rules surrounding Champagne and Scotch whisky, agave-based spirits produced outside these bounds must be labelled as ‘Agave Spirit’ or Mezcal and are not technically tequila.
The best luxury tequila brands in 2024
In a relatively saturated market, it can be difficult to identify authentic tequila. To make it easy, we’ve compiled the best sipping tequila brands worth their salt (not that they need it).
1. Clase Azul
Instantly recognisable thanks to its beautiful ceramic decanters — which are sculpted and handpainted in Santa María Canchesdá — Clase Azul is known for both its exquisite spirits and its work highlighting the beauty of Mexican culture and tradition. Its agave plantations are located in Jalisco, the home of tequila, with Clase Azul producing both unaged and aged expressions. The unaged Teuila Plata makes for the ideal foray into the world of sipping tequila, while deep-pocketed veterans of the spirit may wish to opt for the exemplary Ultra Añejo; aged in American whiskey and Spanish sherry casks, it’s an indulgent, full-bodied expression that’s simply begging to be savoured.
Established in: 1997
Founder: Arturo Lomeli
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: Yes
Notable expressions: Plata, Reposado, Ultra Añejo
2. LALO
Proving the (literal and metaphorical) spirit can transcend generations, LALO was founded by Eduardo ‘Lalo’ González, the grandson of the legendary Don Julio González (yes, that Don Julio). The third-generation tequilero takes on a more playful tone than its predecessor, with the company’s sole offering, Tequila Blanco, boasting a crisp, pure taste that lends itself to sipping and cocktails alike. Distilled twice and made from just agave, water, and yeast, it showcases the complex palate of the plant.
Established in: 2021
Founders: Eduardo ‘Lalo’ González, David Carballido
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: Yes
Notable expressions: Blanco
3. Qui
Founded with the desire to make luxury aged tequilas available in North America, Qui sets itself apart from other tequila brands by its use of proprietary filtration and refinement methods. The Qui range comprises two tequilas, the world’s first platinum extra añejo tequila and a rare extra añejo tequila. The former is aged for over three-and-a-half years in American whiskey and French Bordeux barrels while the latter is aged seven years in American whiskey, French Bordeaux, and sherry casks. Their long ageing periods result in full-bodied expressions with rich notes of vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, and coconut coming through.
Established in: 2011
Founders: Medhat Ibrahim, Mike Keriakos, Pete Girgis
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: No
Notable expressions: Extra Añejo, Rare Extra Añejo
4. Casa Dragones
One of the first dedicated ‘sipping tequilas’, Casa Dragones was founded by Bertha González Nieves, the female Maestra Tequilera certified by the Academia Mexicana de Catadores de Tequila (Mexican Academy of Tequila Tasters). Crafted from 100% blue agave grown in Jalisco and utilising small-batch production, Casa Dragones crafts four types of luxury sipping tequila. Interestingly, the reposado is the first tequila to be matured in Japanese mizunara casks and features notes of orange blossom, apricot, and coffee bean. One for the whisky lovers.
Established in: 2009
Founder: Bertha González Nieves
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: Yes
Notable expressions: Joven, Añejo, Reposado, Blanco
5. Fortaleza
While Fortaleza was technically founded in 2005, the family-run Jalisco-based distillery has well over a century of heritage in the spirit. The founder’s great-great-grandfather Don Cenobio founded his first distillery in Jalisco in 1873. Five generations later, Guillermo Sauza has kept the family tradition alive with his own distillery, Fortaleza. Utilising traditional production methods, Fortaleza tequilas are made the same way they were generations ago; with a small brick oven to cook the agave, a tahona to squeeze the juices out of the agave, wood tanks for fermentation, and the original copper pots for distillation.
Fortaleza’s ‘still strength’ Blanco tequila is bottled directly from the distillery’s copper stills without water added prior to bottling, giving off notes of butter, olive, and black pepper, with an underlying vegetal tone, proving that sometimes, age isn’t everything. For something richer and sweeter, the Añejo is matured in American oak and has whiskey-like notes of butterscotch, caramel, hazelnut, and toffee.
Established in: 2005
Founder: Guillermo Sauza
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: Yes
Notable expressions: Blanco, Blanco (Still Strength), Reposado, Añejo
6. G4
Helmed by the fourth generation of the Camarena family, G4 tequila is made using both natural spring water and rainwater. The G4 Blanco is characterised by its purity of palate, with herbal and vegetal notes balanced by a hint of black pepper and smoke, making for the ideal cocktail accoutrement. Fermented exclusively in wooden vats, the Blanco Madera dials up the minerality, which is accentuated by spices, olives, and green peppers. For something headier, the Reposado is aged for a minimum of six months in American oak and boasts many of the same notes as the Blanco, with added oak and a long vanilla-laden finish.
Established in: 2011
Founder: Felipe Camarena
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: Yes
Notable expressions: Blanco, Blanco Madera, Añejo
7. Rey Supremo
Upholding his family’s tradition in tequila, Francisco Gonzales founded Rey Supremo in 2019. Using agave cultivated in Jalisco and Nayarit, Rey Supremo tequilas employ traditional processing methods. Notably, the brand’s Blanco Rosa sees its unaged Blanco undergo ageing in seasoned red wine casks, lending it a pink hue and imbuing it with sweet, floral, and fruity notes.
Established in: 2019
Founder: Francisco Gonzales
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: Yes
Notable expressions: Blanco Rosa
8. Herradura
Located at Hacienda San Jose del Refugio, heritage tequila brand Herradura is the last tequila-producing Hacienda in the world and is responsible for having created the first ever Reposado and Extra Añejo tequila. Herradura tequilas are crafted from 100% blue agave which is fermented and matured for 14 months, with the range spanning Blanco to Extra Añejo, as well as select limited-edition expressions. Aged nine months longer than industry standards, the Herradura Tequila Reposado gives off a soft amber glow thanks to time spent in American oak, and boasts an easy-sipping palate of cooked agave, vanilla, and butter.
Established in: 1870
Founder: Aurelio López
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: No (Mexican-founded, now owned by Brown-Forman)
Notable expressions: Legend, Extra Añejo, Reposado
9. Don Julio
A seemingly obvious choice, but for a reason: Don Julio is a classic. Quite possibly the world’s first luxury tequila, Don Julio crafts exceptional spirits using 100% blue agave from the Mexican highlands. The distillery’s Blanco is a favourite for cocktails while the Reposado, aged in American oak, boasts a soft, refined palate of dark chocolate and vanilla and makes for the perfect entry-level sipping tequila. However, Don Julio’s more experimental tequilas are not to be overlooked; start with the sweet and fruity Rosado before working your way over to the Primavera, which sees the brand’s Reposado finished in European wine casks.
Established in: 1942
Founder: Don Julio González
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: No (Mexican-founded, now owned by Diageo)
Notable expressions: Añejo Cristalino, Primavera, Rosado
10. Volcán De Mi Tierra
One of the newer luxury tequila brands to hit the market, Volcán De Mi Tierra was founded by Moët Hennessy in collaboration with the Gallardo family, who have been in the tequila business for generations. Named after a real volcano that sits in the lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico, Volcán De Mi Tierra combines agave plants sourced from the highlands and lowlands of Mexico, allowing for a more nuanced palate. The former adds fruity and floral notes with a touch of astringency, while the latter is known for its earthiness and minerality. Designed to be sipped neat or on the rocks, Volcan X.A comprises a blend of the distillery’s reposado, añejo, and extra añejo tequilas and reveals notes of spices, cooked agave, and caramel.
Established in: 2017
Founder: Moët Hennessy
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: No
Notable expressions: Volcan X.A, Cristalino
11. Casamigos
You’ve no doubt heard of this one thanks to its high-profile founders. Founded in 2013 by actor George Clooney and businessmen (/Cindy Crawford’s husband) Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman (who typically gets left out of the marketing guff), Casamigos can be credited with inciting every celebrity and their dog to launch a tequila brand. However, the brand’s Reposado is worth a try, with the aromatic easy-drinker characterised by dried fruit and oak on the palate.
Established in: 2013
Founder: George Clooney, Rande Gerber, Michael Meldman
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: No
Notable expressions: Blanco, Reposado
12. 818 Tequila
Founded by Kendall Jenner in 2021, 818 Tequila is made in collaboration with a distiller in Jalisco, Mexico. While one of the youngest tequila brands on this list, 818 Tequila has already managed to rack up a number of accolades for its expressions. The bright, clean profile and floral, citrus, and mineral notes present in Blanco make it well-suited for use in margaritas, while the full-bodied sweetness of Añejo recommends it to sipping and savouring. For something truly special, Eight Reserve comprises a blend of añejos aged up to eight years in French and American barrels and is defined by notes of berries and praline. It comes housed in a sculptural ceramic decanter that doubles as decor.
Established in: 2021
Founder: Kendall Jenner
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: No
Notable expressions: Eight Reserve, Añejo
13. Casa Noble
The Casa Noble story dates back to the late 18th century, with founder Jose ‘Pepe’ Hermosillo a seventh-generation tequilero. Casa Noble tequilas are made using agave from the historic estate of the same name, which are cooked in traditional stone ovens before being naturally fermented and distilled three times. Aged in French oak, the Reposado is an elegant expression with a palate of cooked agave and toasted oak.
Established in: 1997
Founder: Jose ‘Pepe’ Hermosillo
Country: Mexico
Mexican-owned: Yes
Notable expressions: Reposado, Añejo
What are the main types of tequila?
When it comes to the various types of tequila, the key differentiating factor is age. The most widely available types of tequila are blanco, reposado, and añejo.
- Blanco: also known as silver, plata, or white, blanco tequila is the quickest to make. An unaged spirit, it’s bottled without maturation (though some are rested for up to 60 days) and are typically sharper and lighter on the palate, and allow the idiosyncratic agave notes to shine through. Blanco tequilas are best avoided for sipping and should be reserved for use in cocktails like margaritas or palomas.
- Reposado: also known as rested or aged tequila, reposado tequila is aged between two and 12 months. While your first experience (either by way of shots or margaritas) was likely with blanco tequila, reposado offers a lesson in the art of sipping tequila. It’s often aged in French or American oak which lends it a golden or amber hue and imbues it with a unique flavour profile.
- Añejo: also known as extra aged or vintage, añejo tequila is aged between one to three years. This extra time in the barrel further darkens the tequila while removing the intense, sharp notes from its youth and replacing them with sweet, caramelised ones. Because of this, añejo tequila is often one of the best for sipping.
- Extra añejo: a relatively new spirit category, extra añejo tequila was introduced in 2006 and refers to tequila aged over three years.
Words by Henry Blake
