Every Patrón Flavor Ranked From Worst To Best

There's something about sipping on an ice-cold margarita in the summertime that brings out the joy in most people. This is also where tequila comes in: It's the primary liquor for margaritas, Palomas, and tequila sours. And, if you happen to be a tequila purist, then you probably love tequila shots, which showcase the quality of tequila. 

According to VinePair, Patrón is the world's third best-selling tequila brand, and it has really helped put premium tequila on the radar of the masses. Today, Patrón is owned by the rum brand Bacardi, but it started out as a humble company founded by John Paul DeJoria, who also happens to be the brains behind the line of Paul Mitchell Hair Products (via Fundable). 

Patrón's range of tequilas consists of more than 30 bottles, so you have quite a few options if you're looking for your next tequila find. However, not all flavors are created equal. Some Patrón flavors are real gems, while others should be skipped. Before delving into the wondrous world of Patrón, it's best to figure out how each bottle squares up in terms of taste and quality. 

"Reposado" refers to tequilas that have been aged for more than 60 days. Patrón's Reposado tequila has been aged for at least two months and promises to deliver notes of oak along with a smooth taste. This tequila may also have hints of vanilla, fruit, citrus, and honey. This tequila has a light amber tint.

As The Tequila Shop explains, each bottle of Patrón is handmade and individually numbered, and the Reposado is no exception. This feels like a higher-end tequila, from the packaging to the cork closure. But, that's not enough to save Patrón Reposado from committing the number one tequila cardinal sin. It's just not packing enough aromas, flavor, or texture. 

The texture is surprisingly light, which wouldn't be so bad if everything else was up to standard: But it's not! Because Patrón is synonymous with quality, this tequila definitely won't be the worst you've ever had. But it's just not amazing on its own. Pour this bad boy into a margarita to get the full depth of flavor that Patrón tequila promises.

Since Patrón has so many tequilas in its portfolio, it's important that each one is distinct enough and powerful enough to stand on its own while upholding the Patrón brand name. We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but Patrón Extra Añejo 7 Años doesn't quite deliver the quality that you expect. It has a beautiful deep golden coloring and aromas of black pepper and vanilla (via Drink Spirits).

In terms of the palate, it has some of the aforementioned qualities, along with some notes of dried fruit. It is aged in French oak barrels for seven years, and somehow, it's still not quite powerful enough. 

We can appreciate the desire to craft a more delicate tequila, but at this price tag, it's fair to expect a powerful and great-tasting tequila, and this spirit simply doesn't deliver. It's available for around $260, and at that price point, it's competing against some of the finer tequilas on the market. So, maybe skip this and try a different high-end tequila instead: You might get a tequila that actually wows you.

When Patrón and renowned jewelry and homeware brand Lalique partnered together to make a tequila, it was only right that the collaboration created a spirit that serves a lot of style. The Patrón en Lalique: Serie 1 tequila is housed in a leather display case, and the bottle has an amber-colored crystal bottle stopper that matches the tequila's hue. Only 500 units of this tequila were produced, so it was never meant to fly off the shelves. So how does the flavor match up to the grandiose expectations?

Considering that this bottle will cost you close to $7,500, it needs to deliver a dynamic drinking experience. According to the Patrón website, this blend is made from the "oldest and rarest Patrón tequilas." It does have  favorable reviews on Tequila Matchmaker, with some users remarking on its long, silky finish, luscious stonefruit notes, and lovely hints of oak. But all this is not enough to justify the hefty price tag. While this is a delicious tequila, it's likely a bottle that's meant for keeping and impressing your friends rather than cracking open to savor.

Patrón Estate Release is yet another limited edition offering from the mega tequila brand. Only agave grown on the Hacienda Patrón estate is used in the making of this spirit. This is a silver (also called Blanco) tequila, which means that hasn't been aged (via Wine Enthusiast). A Blanco isn't normally the type of tequila that bears a price tag of $100, but that's about how much Patrón's Estate Release costs. So is it worth the money?

Well, it certainly has some appeal. According to VinePair, this tequila has lovely floral notes and a wonderful balance of aromas and flavors. All these layered aromas give the tequila a nice complexity. However, this spirit does lack a bit of concentration and power. You certainly won't be sorry you made this purchase, but at this  price point, you may want to venture to other bottles to see if you can get a bit more value for your money. 

Patrón's Sherry Cask Aged Añejo tequila is yet another attempt by Patrón to demonstrate that the brand carries a diverse range of tequilas. This is a bright golden tequila that is aged for more than two years in casks that were once used for Oloroso Sherry. It's a special edition tequila, and it is a special drink indeed. Drink Hacker describes this tequila as having distinct notes of sherry, which, we suppose, is the entire point of using old sherry casks. 

This tequila has some nutty qualities and unmissable oxidized sherry notes. So it's certainly not your quintessential tequila but for someone looking for a more distinct tequila-drinking experience, this might just be the perfect spirit. It's quite good. It's not great by any means, because it strays so far from tequila, but you definitely won't be disappointed if someone serves you a glass of this spirit. 

Patrón Extra Añejo 10 Años is sold in a snazzy bottle that is made of hand-blown glass and emblazoned with a blue and gold label. As the name would have you believe, this stunning amber-colored tequila has been aged for a decade and has subsequently nabbed the title of Patrón's oldest tequila. It is aged in hybrid barrels that are made from American and French Limousin oak.

This is clearly a tequila that has been made for either tequila connaisseurs or those who are willing to spend around $380 for a bottle. It's made from Weber Blue Agave and is distilled with the utmost care. And, unlike some other varieties of Patrón, this bottle delivers both style and substance. It has plenty of oaky notes, along with some hints of fruit. The alcohol isn't overpowering, and the tequila's texture is satisfyingly smooth. 

The only downfall with this tequila is that one Tequila Matchmaker reviewer picked up on too many notes of oak, which could certainly overpower some of the other more desirable qualities of the spirit.

Roca Patrón Silver is a silver tequila that is unaged and crystal clear. It has juicy citrus aromas, as well as some notes of black pepper. The Roca line of tequilas is distinct from other bottles as it leverages a crushing technique that has been used for centuries. This process entails crushing the agave underneath a massive stone wheel, which is also known as tahona. The agave used is also matured for at least six years before harvest, so it produces a tequila with deeper flavors.

This may sound like a lot of work for a bottle of tequila, but boy, do the results pay off. The Rum Howler Blog gave it a favorable rating for a few key reasons. This tequila is quite gentle when sipped on its own, although it does have a mild level of heat. There are some lovely notes of white pepper, and mint, along with a lime zest finish that lingers on long after the tequila is gone. At around $60 per bottle, it's slightly higher in terms of price than the brand's flagship silver tequila, although it's a huge increase in terms of quality. 

This may appear to be the perfect tequila for someone who prefers their aged tequilas heavy and rich. However, as apparent from the coloring, which is more golden than amber, this tequila has a lighter profile. 

The Roca Patrón Añejo has undergone 14 months of aging. It may have hints of vanilla, baking spices, citrus, and even some ginger and black pepper, followed by a silky smooth finish. Taste Tequila also picks up on butter notes and bright agave. It is aged in bourbon barrels. 

This is a tequila that is worth the $45 price tag. It is fantastic value for the price, and while it isn't one of the most exciting or complex tequilas Patrón offers, it is one of the brand's more down-to-earth offerings. It's can be sipped neat, but you can also make a tequila sunrise or a tequila sour to get more mileage out of it.

Mezcal lovers will certainly notice a few similarities between the Gran Patrón Smoky and their favorite mezcal. To make this tequila, the piñas, or the hearts of the agave plant, are roasted for seven days in underground stone pits with some mesquite. This ensures that the piña is imparted with a deep and rich smoky flavor that is a lush component of the finished product. 

According to Difford's Guide, this tequila has some quintessential smoky notes of bacon as well as some sweeter aromas of butterscotch and pastry. This is definitely one of Patrón's better offerings. It sings in the glass, inviting you to take yet another sip. It's complex yet approachable, not to mention just plain delicious. It's a silver tequila, so it is not aged, which allows the smoke to be the main star of the show. This bottle retails for around $220, making it the perfect tequila to bring out for special occasions.

If you're a fan of dessert wines, then there's a strong chance you'll love the Gran Patrón Burdeos. This añejo tequila has been aged in both French and American oak barrels. The aging process is finished in wine barrels from Bordeaux. The barrels don't give the tequila notes of wine; rather, they help the tequila acquire a deep amber hue along with warm notes of baking spices like vanilla and cinnamon, as well as raisins.

This tequila comes in a striking bottle: The stopper is adorned with a bee design. Toast Fried remarks that the tequila has a thicker texture with a lovely finish that contains spice, fruit, and oak notes. 

However, at around $500, this bottle is not cheap. Rest assured, though, that it's worth that price: You'll enjoy the heck out of this beautiful spirit. It's luscious and layered, providing much joy at every step of the process. From sniff, to sip, to swallow, this is a tequila that more than justifies every dollar of its hefty price tag.