What are some decent brands of tequila I can try?

Cafe Society
1

I have become a bit partial to drinking neat whisky lately.
I just watched a series of videos on how tequila is made and it got me curious. The only tequila I have ever tried is Jose Cuervo, which I did not enjoy. I am wondering what other brands I should try, before I can decide if I like tequila or not. But I have no idea which are considered to be decent brands.

I am hoping that if I list some brands of whisky I enjoy, someone might be able to recommend some tequila in a similar range of quality.

Whisky I like includes: Glenfidich (pretty much all of them); Johnie Walker (not the red label, Black is ok, everything else is pretty good although Blue is way overpriced); Oban, Chivas Regal.

So all of them are scotch, I have not found any Rye that I enjoy, and Jack Daniels is particularly unpalatable to me.

So what are the recommendations?

2

Olmeca Altos should be relatively easy to find and not too expensive. I love the smell of it.

3

Also Pueblo Viejo Reposado is supposedly very good, and also very cheap. If you like these you might also be interested in mezcal and there are many different types. I did a tasting session in a small mezcal distillery in Ouxaca and I was surprised at the range. Tequila is arguably a type of mezcal - it’s all agave based.

4

Caveat Emptor.

5

I’ll have a look tomorrow for one of those and give it a go.
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6

There are so many brands, it is difficult to recommend one. And I don’t know what is available where you live.

Basically avoid the cheap stuff. Look for 100% agave and anejo.

As mentioned above mezcal is another fine choice.

Happy tasting!

7

My go to recommendation for someone who wants a sipping tequila is Herradura Anejo.

It’s very good, not insanely expensive, and is just a little bit peppery.

Another good, easily available, choice is Don Julio. I like the Reposado here personally. But they make a lot of very expensive tequila if you decide you like them.

Patron is the most famous of the easy to find brands, but to me is a bit over hyped for the price. Still, if you are going to do shots Patron Silver is a quality tequila shot and makes a fine Margarita (aka, the finest mixed drink in the world.)

So there you are. 1 anejo, 1 reposado, and one blanco to try. All pretty good all readily available everywhere. All mid priced and representative of their style. Sip the first two, mix/shoot the third.

Have fun. Report back.

8

These are all major label blends. Fine if you like them, but not specifically fine tequilas.

9

No, not specifically fine tequila. Intentionally not. You don’t start a person new to scotch on Laphroaig. They are all easily accessible decently priced tequilas that will allow the OP to decide if they want to go track down harder to find and more expensive stuff.

Decide if you like tequila before you get niche.

10

Also, I don’t care who you are, Herradura anejo is good.

Quibble with Patron or Don Julio maybe, but don’t knock Herradura.

11

If you can find (and afford) it, try my favorite: Lapis Tequila Anejo.

12

Moving to CS.

13

Herradura Anejo and Don Julio are both in my drinks cabinet.

Not knowing where the OP is located, suggesting major brands is kinda indicated. Southern California has brands at the local bodega that people in Minnesota have no chance of ever finding anywhere.

14

Herradura Añejo was going to be my recommendation, too.

ETA: Actually, looking at all three of your recommendations, that’s a pretty good starter list.

15

**

Sounds like Latin, is that an Italian brand? :wink:

16

Herradura añejo, Don Julio reposado or añejo, are all good. I like Corralejo reposado or añejo quite a bit, too. Decent on the cheap is 1492. El Jimador isn’t bad.

17

Tequila Romance by Leyenda del Milagro has been a favorite of mine for some time. Its actually a bottle with both types of tequila in it. An Anejo in the center section, and Reposado in the outer. Kinda pricey but well worth it to me as a sipping tequila.

18

El Mayor is very good tequila. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s reasonably priced for the quality I think.

19

The only one my local bottle store has that intersects with what has been mentioned here is Herradura añejo. I have had a glass and can confirm that it is much better than what I remember Jose Cuervo to be. Whether that is because I have simply gotten used to neat spirits or it actually is better, remains to be empirically confirmed.
My initial feeling is that while I can certainly enjoy a bit of tequila now and then, I would be reaching for the whisky more often than the tequila. However, that may change by the time this bottle is finished, probably in a couple of weeks.

20

Used to love Casta Negra, but it seems to have disappeared off the local shelves. It had that clean, pumpkin-tinged flavor I like for either sipping or blending.