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Favorite Tequilas

The very best 100 percent agave tequilas.

Nino Padova

By now we all know that there’s good tequila and bad tequila. The kind that’s meant to be sipped and savored, like a fine wine, and that other stuff, bringer of blurry nights (I don’t remember getting this tattoo!) and head-throbbing hangovers. Here at Sunset we swear by additive-free, 100 percent agave tequila. Why? Because it tastes great.

Good tequila can be distinctive, complex, and have as much depth and character as any fancy-pants scotch or cognac. The good news is that there’s never been a better time to enjoy Mexico’s native juice: A boom in exports has flooded the U.S. market with premium tequila. The bad news? The boom also means fatter marketing budgets for spirit companies, making it tough to separate what’s actually good from what Justin Timberlake says is good.

So what is good tequila? Abandon the idea that age = quality. Many golden-colored bottles are full of sugar and artificial color, and plenty of silver tequilas have mind-blowing complexities. Price, unfortunately, doesn’t necessarily tell you much, either. You’ll know the good stuff when you taste it, though. A fine tequila goes down smooth whether aged or not, and can be sipped on the rocks or even neat, with no salt or limes being part of the picture.

We’ve picked several bottles from across tequila’s vast spectrum—from Margarita-ready blancos to oak-aged, special-occasion añejos. And as much as we want you to share in our enthusiasm for tequila, we don’t suggest trying them all in one sitting. And remember, the bottom line with tequila (or anything really), is that it’s good if you like it. Salud!

1 /6 E. Spencer Toy

Fortaleza Blanco

Some backstory with your sipper? Fortaleza is made by Guillermo Sauza, a fifth-generation tequilero whose great-great grandfather, Don Cenobio Sauza, was the first person to export tequila from Mexico. Sauza became a global sensation before being sold off in the 1980s. Now, with no legal right to the family name, Guillermo turns out tiny batches of artisan tequila using throwback methods. The estate-grown agaves are hand-crushed with a stone wheel (or tahona), fermented in wooden vats, and distilled in century-old copper pots. What comes out of the bottle is rich and elegant with a bright volcanic minerality. Pour into a champagne glass to soak up all the nutty, fruity aromas.

2 /6 E. Spencer Toy

Siete Leguas Blanco

Named after Pancho Villa’s horse, Siete Leguas is a family-run distillery in the Los Altos (or highlands) region of Jalisco, two hours east of Guadalajara, where the agaves grow larger, producing sweeter, fruitier tequila. The blanco is classic highlands tequila: full-bodied and fresh, with hints of stone fruit and white pepper. We like to think of it as Patrón for adults.

3 /6 E. Spencer Toy

Espolón Reposado

Another dynamite value, Espolón disappeared from the States for a while before returning a few years ago with an evocative new label depicting traditional Day of the Dead-style images. The reposado rests in American white oak for six months, giving it the kind of smooth, mild finish you usually find in tequilas that are twice the price.

4 /6 E. Spencer Toy

El Tesoro Añejo

One of the great gateway tequilas, El Tesoro’s añejo is soft and caramelly and super smooth, a quality it gets from being distilled in copper, rather than stainless steel. It’s also distilled to proof, meaning there’s no water added. We suggest adding your own—just a drop or two to help coax some of the complex oak flavors.

5 /6

123 Organic Reposado (DOS)

If you’re looking for a tequila with a conscience, this is your hooch. 123’s agaves are sourced from pesticide-free plantations, and all the packaging comes from recycled materials, right down to the soy ink scratched onto the labels. The good feelings follow through to the glass, where you’ll find a gentle balance of roasted agave and oak. This is a great starter tequila for wine drinkers.

6 /6 Richard Cabo

Kah Reposado

As a general rule, one should stay clear of any liquor that’s poured from a skull-shaped bottle with a devil on it. The exception: Kah, a splashy tequila packaged in hand-painted ceramic Day of the Dead-inspired skulls. But it’s what’s under the cork that blows our minds. Aged for 10 months in French oak casks, the ultra-smooth reposado packs in a ton of body and mature agave flavor. And while most tequila is bottled at 80 proof, this one clocks in at deceptive 110. So sip carefully. We don’t want you losing your head.