The Best 15 Tequilas For Margaritas
Tequila's popularity is at an all-time high. According to Statista, Americans purchased about 23 million cases (6 bottles per case) in 2020. Worldwide, the tequila market has grown to around 8.2 billion dollars. As interest in this liquor grows, so do the number of tequila (and possibly margarita) drinkers.
A margarita comes with a few components: lime juice, a sweetener, ice, sometimes salt, and tequila. While mix-ins are important — avoiding pre-made margarita mix is crucial — the tequila can make or break your recipe.
The label of your tequila bottle should partially indicate its quality — look for a label that includes the phrase "100% agave." In the United States, tequila is only required to contain at least 51% agave. These types of tequilas will be labeled "mixto." However, the ones made with pure agave are better.
The bottle should also tell you which type of tequila you're looking at. The main types of tequila are: blanco, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo. Blanco — which is also referred to as "plata" (meaning silver) — is the kind you want in making margaritas. But that still doesn't narrow down your choices very far, does it? We're here to help. These are the best tequilas for making margaritas.
1. Espolòn Blanco
Espolòn Blanco is a popular tequila from a celebrated brand. Although it's known for being cheap and easy to find, this blanco is a good choice for a couple of reasons. First, Espolòn Blanco is made with 100% blue agave. All tequilas must be made from this agave type to be legally considered the real thing.
The agave for Espolòn Blanco is grown in Los Altos de Jalisco, aka "the highlands" section of Tequila. The city is often divided into two parts: highland and lowland, with the separate areas imparting different flavors to the agave grown there. Tequila from the highlands, like Espolòn Blanco, is known for herbaceaous and citrus-heavy flavors. While tequila from the lowlands is known to have peppery and earthy flavors, according to Business Insider.
This blanco is great for mixing into margaritas, since it's usually affordably priced under $30 per bottle, meaning you won't feel bad using it for a party or big group. Plenty of reviews on TequilaMatchmaker attest to its mixing power. Drinkers note that this somewhat unsophisticated tequila is not great for sipping, but has a touch of natural agave-flavored sweetness that can enhance a sugary margarita.
2. Olmeca Altos Plata
By looking at the name, you should be able to guess where this tequila is made. But just in case, Alto's website will assure you that its agave is grown in Los Altos. The label of Olmeca Altos Plata makes it convincing enough to mix into your marg, with 100% agave and "Hecho en Mexico" boldly on display.
Blancos, like this one, are the standard margarita mixer for a couple of reasons. These typically clear tequilas are usually unaged or aged for up to 60 days, according to Difford's Guide. The reason for blanco's clear color is their lack of aging. Reposado or añejo tequilas will likely be darker in color because they have been aged for months or even years in oak barrels. Luckily, because the blancos are so much younger, often cheaper, and have a more pure agave sweetness, which is thought to go best with margaritas.
The Olmeca Altos Plata is an award-winning tequila, which has been recognized by The Tequila Masters, The Spirits Business, and La Serena Chile competitions (via Olmeca Altos). According to many Flaviar reviews, this liquor's strong citrus flavors make it great for mixing into any tequila cocktail. It should pair especially well with the lime juice of your next margarita.
3. ElVelo Tequila Blanco
ElVelo is another great blanco made of 100% pure agave in Jalisco (via AltmaMar). Its name, which translates to "the veil," references the layer of ash that covered the Tequila region when a volcano erupted there, reports ArtisanWineShop. Although that volcanic explosion occurred around 200,000 years ago, the tequila community likes to say that this ash imparts flavors to the Jalisco tequilas, especially those from the lowlands, where ElVelo's agave is grown. That's why the ElVelo Blanco's label depicts an exploding volcano.
This tequila is around $30, making it affordable and perfect for mixing. Unlike similarly priced tequilas, ElVelo Tequila blanco has a slightly higher ABV (Alcohol By Volume) of 44.5%. In the U.S., Tequilas must have at least 40% ABV — meaning 80 proof. In Mexico, the minimum ABV for tequilas is 35%. Overall, most tequilas are between 35% and 55% ABV (via SipTequila).
According to Drizly, ElVelo Blanco tastes grassy and peppery, which is typical for lowland tequilas. There is a strong aroma of agave, followed by citrus tasting notes, as Have Spirits Will Travel describes. Both the scent and flavor of ElVelo Tequila Blanco should go great with those classic margarita components we've discussed.
4. 1800 Tequila Silver
1800 Tequila Silver should be a familiar bottle, recognizable by its trapezoidal shape and blue-accented label. According to 1800 Tequila, the bottle's shape is meant to reference the Mayan pyramids, the ruins of which are still located throughout Mexico. The company name also alludes to the year the first bottle of tequila was made.
This drink is made from agave plants that are "aged for 8-12 years and harvested at their peak." This is the standard amount of time it takes to grow agave, according to Vine Pair. In making their silver tequila, 1800 distills the agave twice, then blends several different white tequilas to create the final "silver" spirit, 1800 Tequila says. In the end, there's a classic, affordable tequila (around $30) with a 40% ABV.
All of this brand's tequilas are grown in the highlands (via Proximo Spirits). That means the fresh flavors of 1800 Tequila Silver will pair well with a citrus-focused or fruity margarita. According to ThirtyOne Whiskey's review, this silver is both vegetal and acidic, with notes of lemon and freshly cut grass.
5. Don Julio Blanco Tequila
Don Julio is one of the most recognizable names in tequila. That doesn't mean they don't make a great 100% agave liquor to use in your margarita. Don Julio, named for its founder Don Julio González, grows the blue weber agave used in its tequilas in the highlands region. On their website, the company (which is owned by the same family that runs 1800 Tequila) vows that Don Julio's blanco is best for making margaritas, due to "its crisp agave flavor and hints of citrus," which are of course associated with the highlands.
Like 1800 tequila, their blanco is made from unaged agave, then double distilled, the tequila maker claims. Don Julio blanco is also 40% ABV, like 1800. However, Don Julio's product tend to run at a slightly higher price point, around $40 per standard 750 ml bottle.
According to Spirits Review, Don Julio Blanco has both the herbaceous qualities of a highland tequila, along with the peppery taste of a lowland tequila. The review recommends using the blanco for margs as well as sipping, due to the more complex flavor profile and higher quality. If it's good enough to sip alone, it should definitely be good enough to put in your next tequila margarita.
6. Patrón Silver
You may know of Patrón as one of the more expensive tequilas on the market. It's true, Patrón Silver is slightly more pricey than its competitors, at around $50 per bottle. However, the quality of this tequila company — which was founded as recently as 1989 — is credited with elevating tequila's reputation in the drinking game, according to Liquor.com. Patrón was able to do that thanks to their mixable and sippable tequilas, such as their margarita-ready Patrón Silver.
Patrón Silver is made with 100% agave and is 40% ABV, the company website says. The brand also claims to use a volcanic stone, tahona wheel to process their agave plants. Its one of many tequila companies in Jalisco to do this, due to the region's proximity to the now-dormant Tequila Volcano (via Casa Dragones).The company's distillery is located in the highlands region of Tequila (via PR NewsWire).
According to The Spruce Eats, Patrón Silver has an exciting aroma of "sunshine." This seems a little hard to believe, but it couldn't hurt putting the spirit in your margarita batch at your next barbecue. Some detractors still say the attractive bottle, with its real cork and green ribbon, is what really drives people to purchase this more expensive blanco (via DrinkHacker). Yet, reviewers on Influenster would disagree, saying Patrón Silver is not overhyped, and continues to be one of the smoothest tequilas still out there.
7. Herradura Silver
Herradura has even been making their tequila for over 100 years. According to their website, Herradura began producing tequila as early as 1870, in Amatitán, a municipality located within the state of Jalisco. The company claims to engage with that history by preparing their agave in traditional clay ovens.
Unlike other silver or blanco tequilas, Herradura Silver is aged for a short period of around 45 days in barrels made of American White Oak (via Herradura). This aging process of fewer than 60 days still qualifies Herradura Silver as a blanco-type tequila, however, it turns the liquid a slight straw or greenish hue. While untraditional, this may give your margarita a dash of color while preserving the pure agave taste of a traditional blanco.
One reviewer on Distiller.com praised the short aging period's contribution to Herradura's flavor profile, saying it's "great in citrus-based drinks where you want a little more complexity, but a reposado would be out of place." Another critic wrote, "The finish is long and clean, just like a proper silver, but that very short time in the barrel almost gives it a spicier finish, like the proof were a bit higher." Feel free to add it to your next margarita — it'll be a greata ddition.
8. Casa Mexico Tequila Silver
You may have heard of Casa Mexico Tequila for its associations with boxer Oscar De La Hoya and actor Mario Lopez. But look again, and you'll find that Casa Mexico makes a great silver tequila for your next margarita. The drink is 40% ABV, 100% agave, and sells for around $35.
Casa Mexico Tequila Silver is a highlands tequila and is distilled twice. Its cooking processes are a little more contemporary, as the agave is crushed with a roller mill and cooked in brick ovens, rather than clay. However, the Casa Mexico website likes to boast a commitment to eco-friendly practices, such as "renewable resources and conservative farming techniques." In addition to sustainable, the brand is sometimes referred to as a "small batch" tequila company (via Wooden Cork).
On TequilaMatchmaker.com, Casa Mexico Silver has high ratings, with an average community score of 84 out of 100. Agave is the primary aroma and taste noticed by reviewers. One reviewer described it as a "budget sipper and a solid mixer," another called it the "highest of the middle shelf." It's an agave-focused flavor profile, as well as a middle-ground blanco — making it perfect for margaritas.
9. Pasote Blanco
Pasote, a tequila brand named after Aztec warriors, is a 100% agave tequila made in Jalisco. Another reference to the Aztecs, who lived in modern-day Mexico, is included in the bottle design featuring an Aztec sun god. The brand even says in the description of their tequilas, "we are certain you will revel in our tribute to warriors everywhere."
Despite the tough advertising, Pasote also employs natural processes. The tequila company claims their blanco is distilled with "natural rainwater." The company also avoids adding flavors, chemicals, or glycerin to their drinks, they say, which sets the blanco apart from "mixto" or less organic tequilas.
According to one review from TequilaAficionado, the effect of rainwater is noticeable while drinking Pasote Blanco. They write, "A minerality derived from the rainwater used during distillation anchors the overall taste of this tequila." TasteTequila reviewers agreed with them somewhat, saying the minerality comes across strongly in the aroma. The website also said mentioned a natural sweetness to the blanco. Both qualities should make a sweet, natural, and fresh-tasting drink when mixed in a margarita.
10. Tequila Ocho Plata
Tequila Ocho is a tequila maker full of authentic history and expertise. They've brought those qualities to their Tequila Ocho Plata, a celebrated drink that is so smooth it's primarily thought of as a sipping tequila (via VinePair). That's also why it's a little more expensive, at around $45. However, while it's not advised you sip a mixing tequila, you can mix a sipping tequila. Do that with Tequila Ocho Plata in your next margarita.
Their plata tequila is "100% puro de agave," "Hecho en Mexico," and 40% ABV. It is made from highlands agave grown on the fields of the Camarena Family (who also have their own tequila brand) according to Tequila Ocho. Sustainability is also important to this company. To employ this, the company vows to compost, limit pesticide use, and attempt to limit harm to wildlife (such as bats, which are sometimes endangered by the tequila industry, reports BatCon).
According to SipTequila reviews, there is agave, black pepper, and lots of alcohol in both the aroma and the taste of this tequila. It's sometimes compared to wine in the way it "opens up" after it's been poured into a glass, so maybe expose this tequila to the air for a bit before using it in your next plata margarita.
11. Tequila Fortaleza Blanco
Tequila Fortaleza is a newer brand, founded in 2005. But the company's owners are related to some of the most vital players in tequila's history, including the first person to export tequila and the first person to discover blue weber agave's importance to the tequila industry (via Tequila Fortaleza). The company has traces of that history in their production today, where their distillery uses ancient tahona boulders to crush its agave.
The blanco made by Tequila Fortaleza is such a cult tequila that many drinkers call it the best of its kind. One such fan the founder of TequilaMatchmaker.com, Grover Sanschagrin, who has called it "probably the best blanco on the planet," according to the company. The blanco scores an average of 8.5/10 on Flaviar.com, where many drinkers also call this tequila their favorite. One review even said, "If I had a personal stash of tequila this would number #1."
Tasting notes for the Tequila Fortaleza include unique hints of olive, white pepper, and other herbal scents. Traditional scents like agave and citrus are also there, as well as a lot of sweet, caramelized flavors — according to overwhelmingly positive reviews on TequilaMatchmaker. On that site, the tequila community also raves about this drink, rating the blanco at an average of 90/100. The average bottle is 750 ml, 100% pure agave, and 40% ABV. Tequila Fortaleza Blanco is a little pricier, around $50 a bottle, but it's obviously a worthwhile splurge for your next margarita.
12. El Tesoro Blanco Tequila
El Tesoro is another Tequila brand made at the same distillery owned by the Camarena family, along with Tequila Ocho (via El Tesoro Tequila). The name of their distillery, La Alteña, actually means "a native of El Alto." This makes sense, given that both tequilas are made in the Jalisco highlands.
The name El Tesoro means "treasure" which comes across the gold-accented tequila bottle. It will also come across in the price point, since this blanco is on the higher end of things, at around $50 (via Drizly). But this blanco has earned its keep, winning a handful of awards, including a Double Gold Medal in the International Spirits Challenge of 2020. It also scored 91 points during the Beverage Testing Institute Awards of 2020, per El Tesoro.
Like some of the higher quality and more expensive blancos, the El Tesoro Blanco has a complex flavor profile: there are green notes, olive accents, and white pepper mixed in with the classic agave flavor, according to the company. The Spruce Eats, in a review of the blanco, celebrated its more complex flavors, calling it a "tantalizing mix of sweetened pepper" and "one of the most natural agave flavors." These reviews suggest the El Tesoro Blanco might be great for putting together a refined, yet spicy, margarita.
13. Casa Noble Blanco
There are a few little changes to Casa Noble that set it apart from other tequila companies. For one, Casa Noble's tequilas are distilled three times. Also, the company is set apart by their famous distillery La Cofradia being located outside the hub of Tequila city. The brand claims to be "one of the first certified organic tequilas," according to their website.
Casa Noble's blanco, or crystal tequila, now comes in a tall, rectangular bottle. The company rebranded its tequila earlier in 2021, when it ditched the previously rounded bottle shape (via Bourbon Blog). Where the old bottle resembled a Patrón, the newer one is a little sleeker. The new one runs for around $45, has a 40% ABV, and is made from 100% pure agave.
According to InsideHook, the Casa Noble Blanco is grassy, which will make for a refreshing margarita. The Spirits Business agrees, noting the herby flavor that's part of an overall balanced liquor. This tequila's profile means it could work great with a margarita that's been elevated by garnishes like basil or thyme.
14. Mijenta Tequila Blanco
Mijenta Tequila is primarily known as a forward-thinking tequila brand. Sustainability is considered throughout the tequila-making process, from using recycled agave materials to making their own paper products, to sourcing glass from local craftsmen. Collectivity is another way they've stood out as a more progressive brand. Mijenta claims to have numerous community-focused initiatives, including those helping employees with education and insurance, according to the company's website.
Their blanco tequila is still 100% pure agave, 40% ABV, and made in Mexico. What's different in the process of making this blanco is that it's unfiltered, which could give a bit of a different, more natural flavor. According to SipTequila reviews, the blanco is already making a name for itself as a quality, classic highland blanco — with just a bit of a surprisingly alcoholic bite. That's pretty impressive given that the brand was only officially launched in September 2020 (via The Spirits Business).
15. Cazadores Blanco
Tequila Cazadores is a historic liquor maker that's been perfecting its blanco recipe since 1922. The company is based in Arandas, a town located in the Jalisco region that's about a three-hour drive from the town of Tequila. The name Cazadores translates to "The Hunters," (via Cazadores) and references the more isolated location of their distillery. That's why you'll see a wild stag on the bottle.
The Tequila Cazadores Blanco is 100% agave and 40% ABV. It's extremely affordable, with the average 750 ml bottle going for $20 or less. The company even has recipes for margaritas using their blanco on their website, since the liquor makes sure a good pairing with the classic cocktail. Although, because of the price, the Cazadores Blanco might not be as smooth as other tequilas, according to DrinkHacker.
Despite its low price point, this blanco has made a name for itself. It's even been awarded a spot in Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Spirits of 2017 (via Drizly). It's been described by the company as having a short finish and a clean agave taste, meaning it will easily blend into a batch of sweet margaritas without being too noticeable (via PRNewswire).