Best Tequila Brands for Straight Sipping and Margaritas, Plus Premade Cocktails

National Tequila day isn’t until July 24, but we’re celebrating early this year on Cinco de Mayo (which is basically another National Tequila Day if we do say so). With so many tequila brands on the market, it can quickly start to feel overwhelming when it comes to choosing the right one. After all, some tequilas are better for mixing and others are better for sipping. Discover our shopping editor’s favorite tequilas!

Don Julio Alma Miel Joven Tequila: Best for Sipping

Buy from Caskers, $108

Crafted to honor the visionary legacy of Don Julio González who transformed tequila-making in 1942 with nothing but passion and a dream, Don Julio Alma Miel Joven Tequila is one of the smoothest tequilas I’ve ever tasted. Made from the juiciest piñas (hearts of the agave plant), this one-of-a-kind blend of añejo tequila matures for 14 months that’s finished in French wine casks and blanco tequila that’s distilled with oven-roasted agave honey.

The notes of honey, spiced orchard fruit, creamy caramel, and the deep richness of roasted agave make this perfect for serving over ice (we like the crystal clear square ice cubes this mold makes). But whether you prefer tequila neat or on the rocks, this 80-proof tequila from Don Julio is the best option.

1953 Tequila Añejo: Best Añejo Tequila

Buy from ReserveBar, $236

1953 offers a tequila free of additives and farmed and distilled by women, who harvest mature Blue Weber agave from the mineral-rich red soil in the Jalisco highlands. After being slow roasted to extract the agave juice, it ferments in open-air tanks, gets distilled with natural spring water, and ages for 15 months in American oak barrels that previously housed bourbon. This makes for an ultra-premium ańejo tequila that’s smooth and delicious!

Flecha Azul Reposado: Best Reposado Tequila

Buy from ReserveBar, starting at $58

Flecha Azul Tequila makes the finest ultra-premium tequila (fun fact: Mark Wahlberg is a principal investor in the brand). This reposado (which means “rested”) rests for six months in ex-bourbon American oak barrels to give it a layer of praline, vanilla, sandalwood, and baking spices. Another excellent sipping option for fans of scotch, bourbon, and whiskey who want to try something new!

Suavecito Blanco Tequila: Best Blanco Tequila

Buy from Total Wine & More, $45

The remarkably rich and smooth flavor of Suavecito’s Blanco Tequila beings with 100% blue agave cultivated at an altitude of 7,000 feet in Mexico’s Central Highlands. Using age-old distillation techniques to produce this quintessential tequila, it’s irresistibly delightful when sipped neat but also seamlessly blends into any tequila-based cocktail.

Casamigos Blanco Tequila: Best Tequila for Margaritas

Buy from Total Wine & More, $44

Crisp and clear with subtle hints of vanilla and a smooth finish, Casamigos tequila (founded by George Clooney) is distilled in copper-lined stills, then filtered and aged two months in stainless steel containers. Perfectly delicious to shoot or sip, this versatile tequila makes great margaritas.

Astral Margarita Cocktail: Best Premade Margarita

Buy from Caskers, $27

If you don’t feel like breaking out the cocktail shaker or blender, Astral takes the guesswork out of making margaritas. Each 42.6 proof bottle contains a bright, agave-forward cocktail that’s harmoniously blended with lime, tangerine, and a hint of vanilla. This premade margarita is perfect for travel or a cocktail in a pinch!

Cutwater Tequila Paloma: Best Canned Tequila Drink

Buy from Caskers, $9 for a 4-pack

If you’re less of a margarita person and more of a grapefruit paloma person, Cutwater Spirits has you covered. Their classic paloma cocktail in a can is award-winning and made with naturally flavored grapefruit soda. Bottled at 14 proof, these canned tequila cocktails were made for sipping in the shade — served chilled of course.

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