As a Texan, I’m generally not inclined to celebrate Mexican military victories. I still remember the Alamo. But I make an exception for Cinco de Mayo, mostly due to my love of tamales and tequila. For those who are also celebrating in these coming days and looking for a good tequila to sip on a warm afternoon or mix into a good margarita, I have a couple recommendations.
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Best Sipping Blanco Tequila: Casamigos
Usually, when I see a celebrity endorsed spirit I run for the hills. That’s normally the best indicator that it’s just a cash grab, something designed to make a quick buck off the strength of the celebrity instead of the strength of the product.
But that’s not what’s going on here. In fact, this tequila was never intended to be made available for sale.
Designed by George Clooney and his friends for the sole purpose of stocking it in their vacation houses as their “house tequila”, this spirit was built from the ground up as a delicious experience no matter how you take it. But the elongated nap this takes in American oak barrels (yes – even this blanco expression!) means that there’s plenty of flavor here even all on its own, and it’s all delicious.
| Casamigos Blanco Tequila Produced By: Casamigos Owned By: Diageo Production Location: Jalisco, Mexico Classification: Blanco Tequila Aging: No Age Statement (NAS) Proof: 40% ABV Price: $42.99 / 750 ml Product Website: Product Website Overall Rating:   |
Best Sipping Aged Tequila: Casamigos Anejo
I can already hear the comments coming calling me a Casamigos shill. (I wish, y’all! Actually, no, my wife wishes because that might mean I actually made money off this blog.)
Here’s the thing, though. What makes the blanco version of Casamigos delicious is the same thing that makes their anejo delicious. That fine balance and delicious saturation of the vanilla and caramel flavor components only gets better with age, much like Clooney himself.
I’ve tried a lot of aged tequilas, from El Jimador to 1800, Patron to Jose Cuervo. And this is, hands down, my favorite out of them all.
| Casamigos Anejo Tequila Produced By: Casamigos Owned By: Diageo Production Location: Jalisco, Mexico Classification: Anejo Tequila Aging: No Age Statement (NAS) Proof: 40% ABV Price: $46.99 / 750 ml Product Website: Product Website Overall Rating: |
Best Mixing Tequila: 1800 Silver
When you want something to mix into a cocktail, there are a couple factors to consider. It needs to be delicious, have enough well saturated flavor to be seen in the chaos, and (possibly most importantly) not break the bank. The good news is that’s pretty much the description of 1800.
This sub-brand of Jose Cuervo is actually made from the same stock as the more famous big brother, but where that big name brand is actually a “mixto” (not pure agave-based alcohol) this edition is 100% blue agave from start to finish. There’s also a little bit of a bonus here in that the finished product is aged in oak casks for about two weeks before being shipped, which adds some great new flavors that you don’t otherwise see.
| 1800 Silver Produced By: 1800 Owned By: Becle Production Location: Jalisco, Mexico Classification: Blanco Tequila Aging: No Age Statement (NAS) Proof: 40% ABV Price: $20.99 / 750 ml Product Website: Product Website Overall Rating: |
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Explore More Tequila
Didn’t see something you like? Check out the rest of our tequila reviews below, you might find something interesting!
Casamigos - Anejo TequilaAnejo Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(5) - $46.99 |
Exotico - BlancoBlanco Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(5) - $15.99 |
Herradura - Ultra TequilaAnejo Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(4) - $53.99 |
Casamigos - Blanco TequilaBlanco Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(4) - $42.99 |
Ilegal - Joven MezcalMezcal | MexicoRating:(4) - $34.99 |
El Jimador - Anejo TequilaAnejo Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(4) - $23.99 |
1800 - SilverBlanco Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(4) - $20.99 |
Patron - Anejo TequilaAnejo Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(3) - $51.99 |
Jose Cuervo - Tradicional Anejo TequilaAnejo Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(3) - $31.49 |
Espolon - Blanco TequilaBlanco Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(3) - $19.99 |
Patron - Silver TequilaBlanco Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(2) - $40.99 |
1800 - AnejoAnejo Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(2) - $39.99 |
Maestro Dobel - Silver TequilaBlanco Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(2) - $33.99 |
Hornitos - Plata TequilaBlanco Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(2) - $19.99 |
El Jimador - Silver TequilaBlanco Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(2) - $18.99 |
Herradura - Anejo TequilaAnejo Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(1) - $44.99 |
JAJA - Blanco TequilaBlanco Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(1) - $32.99 |
Jose Cuervo - Especial Silver TequilaBlanco Tequila Mezcal | Mexico, JaliscoRating:(1) - $19.99 |
Hornitos - Anejo TequilaReview In ProgressAuthor: Nick Leghorn |
Villa One - Silver TequilaReview In ProgressAuthor: Nick Leghorn |
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Could you review some Cristaliano tequilas?
I’ll put some on the list — thanks for the recommendation!