Tangy, bright, and aromatic, there's something about making—and enjoying—and margarita. However, before you play bartender at your next event, mixology experts say it's worth finding the right tequila to perfect your signature recipe. In fact, they say that the brand you choose can add depth, richness, and nuance to your drink, lending it a more elegant flavor. Wondering which tequilas are considered top-shelf, even at an approachable price? These are the 10 brands that experts recommend if you want to serve only the best.
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1 | El Tesoro Blanco
El Tesoro Bianco
El Tesoro Blanco is a complex tequila that balances pure, sweet agave with white pepper and a hint of green olive. H. Joseph Ehrmann, owner of San Francisco's second oldest saloon, Elixir, says it's among his favorites for making margaritas.
"I started selling this tequila in 1992 while managing Roxanne and The Peyote Cafe in Washington, D.C.," he tells Best Life. "It changed my view of tequila forever and made me a big fan. Several decades later it's still a rockstar, and in my mind, the pioneer of 100 percent agave Blanco tequilas."
2 | Kokoro Tequila Plata
Kokoro Spirits
Ehrmann says that Kokoro Tequila Plata, a brand with a rich mouthfeel, and superior smoothness, is another brand he commonly reaches for when making margaritas.
"This up-and-coming brand is not only delicious, additive-free, and traditionally made, but it is also a B Corporation that brings a Japanese design sensibility to the category," he says, referring to companies that meet high standards for transparency, environmental sustainability, and legal accountability.
3 | Fortaleza Reposado
Fortaleza Tequila
Reposados are aged tequilas that spend two months to a year in an oak barrel or wooden tank, subtly taking on flavor notes and gold undertones from the vessels in which they are aged. Ehrmann says Fortaleza Reposado is a top performer in the category.
"This is the finest expression of a Reposado on the market, lending the perfect amount of barrel flavor notes to your margarita. It pairs a touch of vanilla and cinnamon with perfect agave flavor," he says. "It demonstrates how a Reposado can make a great margarita."
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4 | Fortaleza Blanco
Fortaleza Tequila
Sebastian Hamilton-Mudge, a bartender and bar owner with 30 years of experience in the drinks industry, endorses the same brand but says he prefers Fortaleza Blanco.
"For a more premium margarita, Fortaleza Blanco works wonderfully, offering a brilliant representation of the quality coming out of the Tequila region. Fortaleza truly highlights the great agave they work with and carries through the other ingredients in a Margarita," he tells Best Life.
5 | Espolón Añejo
Espolón Tequila
Añejo tequilas are another kind of aged tequila, but they spend an even longer time in the barrel: between one and three years. Ehrmann suggests using Espolòn Añejo, a subtle yet flavorful spirit with notes of caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and chocolate.
"Espolòn's version of an añejo achieves the goal of allowing agave to shine through the aging (whereas a lot of añejo's fail at that) while still being an affordable bottle for cocktailing," he says.
6 | Tequila Komos
Tequila Komos
Theo Lieberman, beverage director for Delicious Hospitality Group, says one of his favorite spirits to use for a margarita is the luxury brand Tequila Komos.
"While it might seem crazy to use such a high-end tequila in a margarita, I like to pull down the components of lime and Cointreau to let the flavor of the tequila shine through," Lieberman says. "The different expressions of Komos offer a different take on a margarita as well–from the Añejo Cristalino to the Resposado Rosa or the Anejo Reserva, each expression changes the mood of the margarita."
7 | Siete Leguas Blanco
Tequilas Siete Leguas
Full-bodied, smooth, and richly flavored, Siete Leguas Blanco is another of Ehrmann's top tequila recommendations. Fans of the brand point to its delicate herbal and citrus notes, which include a touch of spearmint.
Ehrmann describes it as "an absolutely beautiful expression of pure agave flavor in Blanco tequila," noting that "it doesn't get much more classic than this."
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8 | Kilinga Bacanora
Kilinga Bacanora
Hamilton-Mudge also suggests exploring the various tequilas made by Kilinga Bacanora. He says these agave spirits made in the Sonora region in the north of Mexico are "high quality but a little different for your margarita."
"Kilinga sits somewhere between a Tequila and a Mezcal in style—it's incredibly smooth, full of complexity, and has a hint of smoke," the expert tells Best Life.
He continues, "They produce a few different styles, from seed to bottle. If you want something a little fresher and brighter for your margarita, use their Silvestre Bacanora. If you want something a little richer, with a touch more smoke on the finish, then go for their Kilinga Bacanora Blanco," he advises.
9 | Olmeca Altos Tequila
Another tequila brand that can make a seamlessly mixed cocktail is Olmeca Altos Tequila, says Hamilton-Mudge, who is also a co-founder of the cocktail companion site, Candra.
"Altos is a great choice for making a classic margarita for so many reasons: it's light, sweet, has citrus notes, and it's a tequila that really shines in a margarita by complementing the fresh lime juice and curaçao. It's also very reasonably priced, making it accessible," he notes.
10 | Cierto
Cierto
Michael "G" Giambrone, the founder and operator of Raise The Bar in Las Vegas, says that when it comes to margaritas, he love to surprise guests with "simple twists that pack a big punch." His favorite brand to do just that is Cierto Tequila.
"If I’m looking to batch up a crowd-pleasing, fresh-tasting margarita that’s a bit more traditional, I prefer a dry, agave-forward Blanco tequila such as Cierto Private Collection Blanco to pair with the sweet and tart flavors found in freshly squeezed lime juice, premium orange curacao, and organic agave nectar. My secret weapon is a few drops of saline, especially for guests who aren’t into the salted rim," he notes.
When Giambrone wants to level up and impress his guests, he makes what he calls a 'Millionaire Margarita' using a well-aged Reposado that’s heavy on spice notes (and absent of artificial vanilla flavors), such as Cierto Private Collection Reposado. "Instead of lime juice, I opt for a citrus stock made from whole Mexican limas, and instead of curacao, I use a house-made citrus agave tincture," he explains.
Finally, if you're looking to "bring out the big guns," as he says, you can make a gold leaf dusted margarita with Cierto Private Collection Extra Añejo.
"It might be heresy, but I don’t think there’s anything controversial about making a margarita with the best, highest-end ingredients available to you," he tells Best Life. "This unbelievable 48-month aged tequila imparts a depth of flavor and oaky cognac notes for a completely indulgent, but still 100 percent natural, margarita."
