Best tequilas: tried and tested
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Tequila Enemigo
This UK-founded brand has five Tequila of the Year awards on its extensive list of prizes and accolades, and it's a staple at exclusive establishments including the Ritz and Hakkasan. Delicious neat, and sumptuous in cocktails, this is a sophisticated and pure spirit that is best enjoyed from a flute rather than a tumbler to fully appreciate the flavour complexity. The team went through 89 iterations in their quest to settle on the perfect formula for the signature Enemigo 89 Anejo Cristalino Tequila. Safe to say, it was worth the wait.
£61.25; thewhiskeyexchange.com
Lobos 1707 Reposado
"Lobos" is the Spanish word for wolves, in a nod to the wild spirit of the brand, while 1707 is the year that company founder Diego Osorio's great-great-grandfather is said to have developed the recipe. Now available in the UK, the Lobos 1707 Reposado is a golden-hued tequila aged in oak barrels and finished in historic Pedro Ximénez (PX) wine barrels, resulting in rich and complex flavours when sipping. This bold spirit has a well-rounded taste with woody notes, but goes down smoothly with little burn, finishing with a slight sweetness on the palate.
From £64.99; Selfridges.com.
Patrón El Cielo Prestige Silver Tequila
Premium Mexican brand Patrón recently launched "El Cielo", its prestige silver tequila. Made from 100% Blue Weber agave, water and yeast – and distilled four times (an industry first) – this tequila is so clean and smooth that it really is best enjoyed with just ice and a fresh orange wheel slice. But we also recommend trying an El Cielo martini or spritz. At more than £200 ($253) for a 700ml bottle, El Cielo is certainly on the pricier end of the tequila scale. But in terms of a must-have addition for your home bar, and mornings with no hangovers, it's worth every penny.
£220; selfridges.com
Maestro Dobel Diamante
Maestro Dobel has both a long history of tequila mastery and an innate enthusiasm to innovate. Diamante, the maker's star product, is created from a blend of añejo, extra-añejo and reposado tequilas, giving it a particularly unique character. This luxurious cristalino tequila has a certain flavour complexity, with sweeter caramel and vanilla notes balancing a punchier nuttiness. It's a perfect choice for those who want a distinct tequila that's delicious on the rocks, and almost a little too sippable when brightened with a little tonic.
£61.25; thewhiskyexchange.com
818 Tequila
Founded by Kendall Jenner, the supermodel and entrepreneur, 818 Tequila has combined traditional fermentation processes with modern, eco-friendly technology to create her "magic" tequila. The delightful vanilla citrus flavours are all brought together by the Blue Weber agave, hand-picked from Jalisco state in Mexico. Offering three-week aged Blanco, four-month aged Reposado, 14-month aged Añejo, and Eight Reserve, a blend of Añejo aged up to eight years, there's varying flavour profiles to enjoy here, however you choose to drink it.
From £53.99; selfridges.com
El Sueño Watermelon
This naturally flavoured tequila is made from fresh watermelon and Mexican piloncillo – unrefined whole cane sugar – which provides a delicate sweetness. The versatile liqueur is perfect for a twist on a classic margarita or other classic cocktails, but can also be enjoyed straight over crushed ice as a deliciously refreshing summer cooler. El Sueño Watermelon might not be quite what Harry Styles has in mind when he sings about a watermelon sugar high, but its flavour is still fairly euphoric.
£19.25; elsuenotequila.com
Quarter Blanco Agave
Distilled in the UK, Quarter Blanco Agave is – appropriately – about a quarter of the strength of a typical tequila, at 12% ABV. Mexican blue agave is blended with black pepper and orange habanero to provide a citrusy spice that has all the taste you're after from a lighter booze alternative. And while it can be enjoyed neat, it's perhaps best brought to life in quarter-strength margs and palomas. If you enjoy this, you might like Quarter's gin too.
£25.00; quarterproof.com
Patrón Añejo
Rolling Stone described the Grand Patrón as "like a fine wine that's been aged to perfection", first in used American and new French Oak barrels, and finished in vintage Bordeaux ones. With notes of fruit and mushroom, it's a unique, smooth blend. If the price point is off-putting, the Añejo is well worth a try. Aged in used bourbon barrels, expect a little citrus, ginger and black pepper on the taste buds.
£69.50; fortnumandmason.com
Goya Tequila Blanco
Goya Tequila Blanco is made with a considered environmental approach, produced on a small-scale and using traditional methods. Like most top-quality tequilas, it is made from 100% blue agave, but unlike some others, its production is organic. You won't find sugars or insecticides in this seasonal elixir. It's incredibly smooth – a testament to its creators' vision of producing a tequila worthy of a Michelin starred chef's palate.
£45.74; masterofmalt.com
El Rayo Plata
Created by two friends who quit their jobs to pursue a new-found passion for tequila, El Rayo Plata is designed to be enjoyed with tonic, providing a refreshing twist on the more typical summer standards of gin-based refreshers. The herbal scents and savoury flavours are heightened by a fresh mixer, poured over plenty of ice and with a slice of your preferred citrus fruit. It's the "perfect tequila for anyone who has bad memories of the spirit and is looking to get reacquainted", said GQ.
£74.95; elrayotequila.com
The Butterfly Cannon Blue
The super-premium tequila – which is named after the migration of butterflies from the US to Mexico – comes from Destiladora del Valle de Tequila, a traditional distillery in Tequila, western Mexico. The first thing you'll notice about this 100% agave liquor is its vibrant violet-blue colouring, which changes to pink when a mixer like tonic or citrus juice is added. Its flavour is rich and unique, with notes of clementine, prickly pear, strawberry, watermelon, fig and banana. Other flavours, including the Butterfly Cannon Rosa, which is made by infusing Mexican pink grapefruit peel, are available too.
£29.57; masterofmalt.com
1800 Silver Tequila
In 1795, the Cuervo family became the first in the world to be given permission to sell their tequila commercially. "The 1800 tequila brand is all about paying tribute to tradition," said BBC Good Food, so traditional growing and production methods are closely followed. With 100% agave, the double-distilled 1800 silver tequila is light and smooth. Selected white tequilas are blended together to add a level of depth to the balanced flavour, that can be sipped straight, over ice or as a star cocktail ingredient.
£37.95; masterofmalt.com
Mijenta Tequila Blanco
This super silky, award-winning tequila is made from 100% agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco. It's one of the most sustainable products of its kind: all of the paper elements of the packaging are made from agave waste by an organisation of single mothers in Mexico and the company, Mijenta, is a carbon-neutral operation. Mijenta has also partnered with The Ocean Foundation (TOF), a community foundation working to conserve ocean environments, and Whales of Guerrero, another community-driven organisation that focuses on conserving the ecosystem of humpback whales.
£51.49; masterofmalt.com
Cazcabel Coffee Liqueur
The team behind Cazcabel, located in Arandas in Mexico's Jalisco mountains, have combined two of the country's greatest exports: tequila and coffee. Cazcabel Coffee Liqueur marries a roasted sweet hit of luxury coffee with a spirit fashioned from Jalisco-grown Blue Weber agave, creating a sweet and boozy treat that's delicious both in cocktails and neat. Other flavours include honey and coconut.
£26.57; masterofmalt.com
VIVIR Tequila Blanco
This award-winning tequila is produced from nine-year-old Blue Weber agave, grown in Jalisco, Mexico, with the addition of natural volcanic spring water. Traditional hornos (or ovens) are used to produce this smooth spirit that's finished with a slightly floral flavour. It's an easy drinker that holds its own in punchy concoctions, or can be enjoyed au naturale. The Blanco option is a favourite, but if you prefer your tequila aged, then opt for the award-winning Añejo. A reposado is also available, and the Cafe VS is sure to prove popular with espresso martini fans.
From £39.15; masterofmalt.com
Clase Azul Reposado
For a truly premium tequila, Clase Azul is top of the market. Six- to eight-year-old Blue Weber agave is slow-cooked to age for eight months in American whiskey casks, creating Clase Azul Tequila Reposado's characterful flavour mix of vanilla, hazelnut, cloves and cinnamon. This medium-bodied tequila is easily recognisable for its ceramic decanter, which features a distinctive blue design hand-painted by Mexican artisans. An iconic addition to any bar, this one is a must-try for tequila connoisseurs.
£159.90; masterofmalt.com
