The 10 Best Tequilas of 2026: Beyond the Shot Glass
Tequila has evolved from party fuel to a world-class sipping spirit. These ten expressions prove that the agave renaissance is real—and it's spectacular.
The tequila revolution is no longer coming—it has arrived, unpacked its bags, and settled into the finest bars on the planet. What was once dismissed as a one-dimensional party spirit has matured into a category that rivals single malt Scotch for complexity and craftsmanship. For this ranking, we tasted over 60 tequilas—blanco, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo—to find the ten that best represent where agave spirits are in 2026.
1. Fortaleza Reposado — 95/100
MSRP: $55 | Best For: The tequila that converts whiskey drinkers
Guillermo Soto's family distillery in Tequila, Jalisco, makes spirits the old way—tahona-crushed agave, copper pot distillation, and careful barrel aging. This reposado spends eight months in American oak and emerges with roasted agave sweetness, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, and a minerality that speaks of terroir. It's tequila the way it was meant to be.
2. Pasote Blanco — 94/100
MSRP: $45 | Best For: Agave purists
Master distiller Felipe Camarena crafts this blanco with an intensity of agave character that puts diffuser-made tequilas to shame. Bright cooked agave, citrus, white pepper, and mineral notes create a tequila of crystalline purity. Magnificent in cocktails; transcendent neat.
3. El Tesoro Añejo — 93/100
MSRP: $60 | Best For: Oak-aged agave complexity
Another Camarena masterwork. El Tesoro's añejo rests for two to three years in ex-bourbon barrels, developing rich butterscotch, caramel, roasted agave, and baking spice while never losing its essential agave character. The balance between wood and plant is extraordinary.
4. Ocho Plata — 92/100
MSRP: $45 | Best For: Terroir explorers
Ocho's single-estate approach to tequila—each batch sourced from a different rancho—makes it the most intellectually stimulating tequila brand on the market. The Plata expression showcases pure highland agave with floral, citrus, and herbaceous notes that change subtly with each vintage.
5. Tapatio Excelencia Extra Añejo — 91/100
MSRP: $120 | Best For: After-dinner luxury
Four years in oak transforms this tequila into something approaching bourbon-like richness while maintaining unmistakable agave DNA. Dark caramel, dried fruit, chocolate, and roasted agave create a finish that lasts for minutes. Remarkable.
6. G4 Blanco — 90/100
MSRP: $40 | Best For: Margarita perfection
Felipe Camarena's third entry on our list (the man is prolific) delivers bright, focused agave with citrus, jalapeño, and mineral notes. G4 Blanco makes the best margarita you'll ever taste and is equally compelling on its own.
7. Siete Leguas Reposado — 89/100
MSRP: $50 | Best For: Traditional tequila with polish
This historic distillery produces a reposado of beautiful balance—cooked agave, caramel, vanilla, and light oak with a creamy texture. It's old-school tequila making with modern consistency.
8. ArteNOM Selección 1579 Blanco — 88/100
MSRP: $50 | Best For: Regional agave exploration
Sourced from the highlands of Jalisco at the Vivanco distillery, this blanco offers ripe tropical fruit, cooked agave, and a distinctive floral quality. Each ArteNOM expression showcases a different distillery, making the range an education in agave terroir.
9. Cascahuín Tahona Blanco — 87/100
MSRP: $45 | Best For: Rustic authenticity
Made exclusively with a volcanic stone tahona, this blanco has a textural quality that mechanically processed tequilas simply cannot replicate. Earthy agave, citrus, mineral, and a delightful rustic character that speaks of tradition and craft.
10. Tequila Cabeza Blanco — 86/100
MSRP: $35 | Best For: The everyday sipper
At $35, Cabeza delivers an agave-forward blanco with impressive complexity. Sweet cooked agave, pepper, citrus, and herbaceous notes make this an outstanding daily tequila that punches well above its price point.
Methodology
All tequilas were evaluated blind by our panel. Only 100% agave expressions from verified distilleries were eligible. We scored across five dimensions: Aroma (20%), Palate (30%), Finish (20%), Value (15%), and Complexity (15%). Diffuser-made tequilas that passed our quality threshold were not excluded, but none made the top 10. All bottles were purchased at retail.
