10 Bottom-Shelf Tequilas That Are Worth The Buy, According To The Pros

Olmeca Altos Plata

Rob McShea, the beverage director at The Brick Hotel's Cococabana Rooftop Bar in Oceanside, CA, highly recommends Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, describing it as "ideal for cocktails and smooth enough to sip on its own." This tequila brand originated from a collaboration between a master distiller and two bartenders who aimed to create a high-quality yet approachable tequila for mixing. Priced between $26 and $30, Olmeca Altos Plata is crafted in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, located in Mexico's highlands. Tequilas from this area are generally sweeter than their lowland counterparts, and according to McShea, Olmeca Altos Plata features a sweet, citrusy finish.

The agave used in Olmeca Altos Plata is baked in traditional brick ovens, a process that spans three days and results in more intricate flavors compared to the quicker autoclave method. McShea isn't alone in his appreciation for Olmeca Altos Plata; this tequila has garnered multiple gold medals at various spirits competitions, including the International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2022.

Cimarrón Blanco

Cimarrón tequila hails from the highlands of Jalisco, where it is distilled from agave cultivated at elevations exceeding 4,600 feet. Certified as additive-free, Cimarrón Blanco retails for approximately $27 and stands out as one of the few budget-friendly, additive-free tequilas available. Jesus Muñoz of Good Lion Hospitality, who will oversee the bar program at the upcoming Jaguar Moon in Ventura, CA, shares that Cimarrón Blanco is his top choice for tequilas priced under $30. "The robust cooked agave flavors, complemented by notes of citrus and pepper, provide a strong foundation for any agave-based cocktail," he remarked.

Cimarrón tequila is crafted by Enrique Fonseca, a renowned figure in the tequila industry known for his innovative techniques using alembic and copper stills. He was also among the pioneers in aging tequilas beyond the standard one to three years required for them to be classified as añejo, or extra-aged, tequila.

El Tequileño Blanco

Priced at approximately $25, El Tequileño Blanco tequila is crafted in Jalisco from highland-grown agave. Established in 1959, the distillery is currently managed by a third-generation master distiller.

Lucas Assis, a former bartender and social media influencer specializing in tequila, mezcal, craft spirits, and cocktails, endorses El Tequileño Blanco as "an excellent budget-friendly choice for cocktail-making when entertaining at home."

El Tequileño Blanco is classified as a "mixto" tequila, meaning it includes additional sugars. In this case, piloncillo (raw cane sugar) is incorporated during fermentation. While there is a growing trend towards 100% agave tequilas, mixto tequilas can still be of high quality, as the overall outcome relies heavily on the cultivation and distillation methods. Mixtos were quite prevalent before the 1980s, prior to a sugar shortage. Notably, there are some exceptional mixtos available, and El Tequileño Blanco stands out with its rich aroma of cooked agave and a subtle peppery finish. It works wonderfully in cocktails but is also enjoyable on its own. As Assis points out, "El Tequileño Blanco is one of the few additive-free mixtos available today."

Arrete Blanco

Arette Tequila offers a high-quality, additive-free tequila at an affordable retail price of approximately $25, making it an excellent value. Crafted by the fourth-generation Orendain family producers in the heart of Tequila, Jalisco, this brand has roots in the tequila industry dating back to the 1900s, despite being officially established in 1986.

Lucas Assis recalls that this tequila was his go-to choice when he worked as a bartender. The term "well" spirit refers to the more economical liquors that bartenders keep on hand for mixing cocktails. "I consider it one of the best budget options," Assis remarked, adding that it is "widely available and easy to find."

Arette employs both brick ovens and autoclaves to cook its agave, sourced from just outside Tequila, combining these methods to create its distinctive liquor. Arette tequila exemplifies lowlands tequila, showcasing classic herbal and peppery flavors.

Tres Agaves Blanco

A prevalent misunderstanding is that blanco tequila is simply unaged tequila; however, this category permits aging for up to 59 days. Tres Agaves takes pride in bottling its blanco tequila immediately after distillation, ensuring that the vibrant agave flavors remain intact and are not dulled by aging. This approach has proven successful for the brand, as its blanco tequila has previously earned the Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The agave used in Tres Agaves tequila is cultivated in the Tequila Valley, classifying it as a lowlands tequila. When sipping it, you can distinctly detect the aroma of cooked agave, and the flavor profile strikes a pleasing balance between citrus and peppery notes. Priced at $27, Lucas Assis describes Tres Agaves blanco tequila as "probably the easiest-to-find bang for your buck."

Gran Centenario Plata

Gran Centenario is a tequila brand with a rich heritage, established in 1857 by Lazaro Gallardo, recognized as the first Master Tequila Distiller in history. The Gran Centenario Plata is a blanco tequila that undergoes a seven-week aging process in American oak pipónes, which are large vats designed for storing and aging tequila. This tequila features citrus and herbal notes, and its aging contributes to a smoother flavor that is rare for a blanco tequila.

Jared Meisler, an experienced bar owner in Los Angeles who recently launched The Moon Room bar, highly recommends Gran Centenario Plata, priced at approximately $25 per bottle. Meisler pointed out a current trend of "eliminating flavor to create agave vodka," but emphasized that Gran Centenario Plata "has a nice little bite" and genuinely tastes like tequila.

Pueblo Viejo Reposado

Pueblo Viejo is a well-regarded brand in Mexico, though it remains relatively unknown in the United States. While it made its American debut in 1989, the brand has a history dating back to 1886. Its range of tequilas is budget-friendly, offering excellent value, particularly the aged varieties like the reposado.

Reposado tequila is classified as having been aged for a period ranging from 60 days to one year. The process of barrel-aging spirits takes additional time and results in some liquid loss due to evaporation, known as the "Angel's Share," which is why aged spirits like reposado tend to be pricier than blanco tequila.

Pueblo Viejo Reposado stands out as an exceptional find at its price point, typically retailing for around $27 per bottle. Wine Enthusiast reviewer Kara Newman awarded this tequila a score of 91. Jared Meisler also praises Pueblo Viejo Reposado, highlighting that it is aged in both French and American oak barrels, which imparts a remarkable flavor and finish.

Teremana Blanco

Despite the ongoing debate surrounding celebrity-owned tequila brands often being overpriced, Teremana Tequila, founded by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, stands out as an affordable choice. While many celebrity brands are produced at distilleries that also create tequilas for various labels, Teremana is crafted at its own dedicated distillery.

Prices for Teremana start at approximately $21 for a 375 ml bottle. Launched in 2020, the brand quickly gained traction and its blanco tequila even earned a gold medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Produced in the highlands of Jalisco, Teremana's blanco tequila features citrus notes that complement margaritas beautifully.

Resa Mueller, the bar manager at R&D cocktail bar in Philadelphia, incorporates Teremana's blanco tequila into her cocktails. She describes it as "crisp and citrusy with a touch of herbaceousness," a quality she attributes to the distillery's "small batch production methods that allow the agave's character to truly shine."

Espolon Blanco Tequila

Espolòn Tequila is produced at Casa San Nicolas, a distillery established in Los Altos, Jalisco, in 1996. Although it has a shorter history than some other tequilas on this list, Espolòn is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing tequila brands in the U.S. In 2008, the brand and distillery were acquired by Campari Group, a prominent player in the beverage industry, yet Espolòn Blanco Tequila remains an excellent value. Priced at approximately $23 per bottle, it has received an 88 rating from Wine Enthusiast reviewer Kara Newman. This tequila features a harmonious blend of lightly sweet tropical flavors alongside more vegetal and peppery notes.

Katie Stryjewski, author of "Cocktails, Mocktails, and Garnishes from the Garden," considers Espolòn Blanco her preferred choice for cocktails. "I've always found it to offer incredible quality for the price," Stryjewski remarked. "I've sampled several pricier brands, but none have surpassed my enjoyment of Espolòn."

Olivier Rassinoux, Vice President of Restaurant and Bar at Patina Restaurant Group, concurs, stating, "Espolòn is a delightful tequila that creates wonderfully balanced cocktails, all at an accessible price."

Cazcabel Tequila Blanco

Numerous tequila distilleries in Mexico have been acquired by larger corporations, yet Cazcabel Tequila remains a family-owned business. Situated in Atotolnico El Alto, the distillery is run by the Vazquez family, who cultivate their own agave in the adjacent fields. Erbin Garcia, the operations director at Las Perlas Mezcal Bar in West Hollywood, California, describes Cazcabel tequila as "a true gem."

Garcia explains that Cazcabel is crafted from agave cultivated by Alfredo Vazquez, a fourth-generation agave farmer who "selects only the finest single-estate agave from his family farm." The outcome, according to Garcia, is "artisanal tequila that is pure, authentic, and produced without any additives. Cheers to that!"

The brand's blanco tequila retails for around $27 in stores. Additionally, a distinctive aspect of this tequila brand is that its current master distiller, Yadira Hernández Lozana, is among the few female master distillers in the tequila industry.