Newish to tequila. Have traditionally been a scotch whiskey drinker but over the past 3 or 4 months I’ve become a huge fan of QUALITY tequila. What would you all recommend as my next bottle.

For reference my thoughts on current collection

Fortaleza Blanco- complex mix of agave, citrus, maybe some olive. I honestly don’t have the tequila reviewer vocabulary to describe this adequately yet. It’s as amazing as everyone says it is. Was a pain in the ass to get a hold of though.

Ocho Reposado - deliciously accessible. Light, Agave, mineral, light barrel influence that makes this so easy to drink. I’d recommend this to everyone, even those who dislike tequila.

El Tesoro Anejo - my first bottle. Was easy transition from scotch to something like this. All the traditional wood flavor and character with agave still there.

G4 Blanco Madera - I was excited to try this. Ultimately fell a bit flat. Was expecting similar complexity to Fortaleza, instead got something not as complex as Fortaleza yet not as light and tasty as my Ocho Repo. Don’t get me wrong it’s a fantastic tequila, but for $65 id probably look elsewhere. Cant wait to try their Repo though.

ZUMBADOR - read good things about it, saw it when I picked up the madera and figured it give it a shot. Worked really well in cocktails, and honestly wasn’t a bad sipper either. For under $35, I’m not sure I could do better for a 100% agave repo.

What’s next? Mostly interested in Mexican owned brands at the moment but open.

On my radar -
Cascahuin Tahona
Ocho Widow Jane
El Ateo
Arriesgado
Arrette
ArteNOM
Don Fulano
El Mexicano
Tapatio

What would you all recommend? Thanks!

What are your favorite recipes that y’all make at home?

My go-to is:

- 4oz blanco
- 2oz fresh lime juice
- 1oz dry curacao
- 1tsp mezcal

Share what you got!

I try to hit the local liquor stores first when buying tequila but sometimes end up at Total Wine.

It seems like TW only puts their Spirits Direct brands on sale. Am I wrong? I’m just looking for the best prices on good tequila but I haven’t found any at TW yet (albeit I’ve only shopped there a handful of times)

Same question for BevMo. Never been to one but will travel if the deal is worth it

Only really seeing patron as the additive free option, I think I maybe saw codigo

What do we think about casa sauza and Terria noble?

The guy working here tried to convince me terria noble is additive free. I asked about G4, Fortezala and he nodded and said yes those are very good, we don’t have those but this is similar quality?

Thank you

Note: I like sipping tequilas - usually on the rocks. Singapore weather is too hot to drink neat (in my opinion)

link to the Singapore duty free store: https://www.ishopchangi.com/en/category/wine-and-spirits/tequila?cmode=tr&cagCollectionPoint=HOMEDELIVERYTRAVELLER,ARRIVAL,DEPARTURE

This is a blend of extra añejos aged 3½ -5 years in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels from Luxco. The bottle's been open about a month and what follows are some initial tasting notes. The tequila has opened up quite a bit as it's aerated.

El Mayor is produced by Destiladora González Lux (NOM 1603) in Arandas in the Jalisco Highlands (Los Altos) by the González family – master distiller and patriarch Rodolfo and his daughter/distiller Grace and son Paul. Their extra añejo is a blend of tequilas aged 3½ -5 years in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels from Luxco.

Like all of the brand’s tequilas, the extra añejo is made using González estate-grown Blue Weber agave that is grown in sandy, mineral-rich soil which are hand-chopped and steam roasted in an autoclave. The sugars (aguamiel) are extracted using a roller mill before they are fermented in stainless steel vats using a family yeast strain. The tequila is 2x-distilled in stainless steel pot stills before barrel/cask aging. 

Dark amber/copper, the extra añejo has a medium-long viscosity and coats the palate well.  The aroma and flavor profiles both include prominent oak/barrel notes, making this a good introductory tequila for bourbon drinkers.  On the nose are also aromas of dried fruits (raisins, dark berries), cooked agave, baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, light cloves), toasted notes, dried cacao, dried orange peel, unsweetened dark chocolate, white pepper, and smoked tobacco leaf. 

The flavors mirror the aromas with the addition of barrel char smokiness, black pepper, caramel, toffee, vanilla, and some balanced anise and oak tannin bitterness on the finish.  Slowly rolling the tequila across your palate while bringing in some air brings out the dried fruit notes.  The fruit flavors in this are dried fruits rather than the blend of dried and grilled tropical fruits from the regular añejo. Herbal/grassy notes in the latter are replaced here with oak/barrel notes.

The finish is long (9-10 seconds) and finishes with a rich, full drying sensation across the palate closing with a punchy mix of baking spices, black pepper, tobacco leaf, and charred oak. 

I’m looking forward to seeing how the extra añejo continues to evolve in the bottle.

I’m new to tequila and so far I’ve had Lalo blanco and maestro dobel diamanté which were ok for sipping and great for making my Palomas. But I want something I can take my time and sip and savor. Any recommendations? For price I’d like to keep it under $100

I'm getting into cyberpunk 2077 again and wanna make the Johnny silverhand drink. The only bad part is I don't think I like tequila.

I have only tried sierra tequila though and it was so bad.

Is all tequila like that or is it just sierra?

Visit to Tequila

Love the liquid, had an interesting visit to the place a few years ago. I really enjoyed seeing how it was made and always like getting a sense of place. Wouldn’t mind visiting again and exploring more. The surrounding area was beautiful and our stay in these “barrel rooms” was surreal and wonderful. We were able to try a number of tequila’s, watch the harvesting of some agave, sit around a fire and swap stories, in addition to enjoying some incredible cuisine. Highly recommend a visit!

Hi all. I end up at this restaurant every couple of weeks and I feel like I always fall into the same handful tequilas so would love to know if there are any interesting options on this list that I should definitely try. I regularly drink Ocho, G4, and Fortaleza. I’m open to trying different expressions across the agave spectrum including Mezcals. I tend to drink ranch waters or neat but would opt for neat for any recommendations.

Also, I’m in the East Bay outside of San Francisco so if there are any great tequila spots (Bars, restaurants, or shops) people are aware of I’d love to do some exploring. Used to live a few blocks from Tommy’s in SF and really wish I had that as an easy option these days.

Appreciate any recommendations. Thanks!

tried altos reposado and liked it a lot but its not additive free and looking for something that is, the cheapest option from lcbo seems to be siempre and at its price it seems to make more sense to buy a litre of cimmaron from alberta

I’m visiting Madrid, from Texas, and just happened into a bar called Mezcaloteca Corazón de Agave it which happened to have one of the nicest tequila selections I’ve ever seen. Great cocktails and good tacos as well. I hope it’s possible to read all the labels in my photo, but trust me, the selection is quite excellent. You might consider hitting them up if you’re in Madrid.

I’m from the mid west so my tequila options are sort of limited. I’ll be in San Francisco this weekend and would like some liquor store recommendations. Fortaleza would be a great find as it will never see the light of day in my part of the Country. Thanks!

What kinds of notes can you expect to get from these kinds of tequilas? Most notably Cascahuin Destino has anyone tried this? Specifically interested in blanco anyone tried El Bagazo or the Mijenta Selection 3?

Produced by distillery Fabrica de Tequilas Finos (NOM 1472) in Tequila, Jalisco, by master distiller Arturo Fuentes and master blender Alejandro Garcia Pez, Cenote takes its name for the swimming holes that formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock in the Yucatan which were revered as sacred wells by the Mayans.  Cenote is made with Valley Blue Weber agave 6-7-years-old cooked in an autoclave, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and 2x-distilled in both copper pot and stainless steel pot stills.  The añejo is aged for 12 months in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and is bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) using deep artesian well water from the base of the Tequila Volcano (Volcán de Tequila) which is then carbon and reverse osmosis filtered with silver ions.

The lote number is 02203/2404A.  This review is based on multiple separate notes-taking tastings over 11 months using Riedel Ouverture Tequila Flute and Denver & Liely Mezcal glasses.

COLOR: Dark amber

AROMA PROFILE: Fruit (cherries & roasted pineapple, hint of caramelized banana), light smokiness, caramel, vanilla, cooked agave & baking spices (light cinnamon, nutmeg), vanilla, herbal notes, oak/barrel notes (not overly woody but oak-forward).

PALATE: Subdued fruit, punchy oak & barrel spice, baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves), cherry skins, dried orange peel, light caramel & vanilla, light black pepper, dry cocoa powder.

FINISH: 5-6 seconds

MOUTHFEEL: Medium viscosity in the glass; Medium-thin mouthfeel

Any big tastings going on in SE US in the next few weeks or months?

Been lurking for a bit and today decided to buy this. I am coming from a background of typical tequilas 1800, Patron and Don Julio and lean more toward the blancos. There is a bar nearby that has tequila tasting that I am going to use to try other tequilas. I’ve read that the Ocho is more citrus forward. After tasting it I know this will be a staple in our home.

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Went to my local Vallarta here In socal today looking to get either a bottle of Ocho or El Tesoro when lo and behold I find Fortaleza tucked on the bottom shelf between bottles of Gran Malo. I never expected to find this out in the wild, especially in a big chain like Vallarta. I was especially surprised to see the price was originally $79.00 but was on sale listed at $69.00.

As you can see the bottle has been opened as I am a drinking man and not a collector. So for my first time trying Fortaleza I must say it was pretty damn good. An agave bomb on the mouthful with a nice lingering finish. Does it live up to the hype I always see about in posts? Yes if you can find it for the price I paid, but I dont see myself paying more than a 100 when there are other fine tequilas that are in the 40-50 dollar range that are more readily available.

I do hope to come across this more often and look forward to trying maybe their still strength and winter blends, although I think I was just at the right place in the right time though.

I have a friend who is in Mexico currently he is gonna come back next weekend What drinks would you recommend to?? I am based out of India, I've heard tequila is quite famous in Mexico any particular brand I should ask him to get??

Please also recommend if there are any other kinds of liquor brands apart from tequila which are famous over there.

Feels like a pretty good price, checking online. I see mostly $70 but a couple $60 options as well. Would someone be willing to explain the difference between their Madera and mainline Blanco options? Ive had both their 40 and 54 ABV varieties, and to me the Madera definitely offere more "depth," for lack of a better word.

On the nose it almost smells like, a really mineral rich cave. Like going into a coastal cavern at low tide, but without the whole "low tide" aspect of it. I know that sounds ridiculous but I cant think of a better way to describe the scent. Its not very vegetal or herbal at all, but can definitely get some minerals and pepper.

Mixed it up with my favorite Tequila cocktail; the High Voltage. 1 oz lime juice, 1 oz peach liqueur (I use either Mathilde Péche or Drillaud Peach, depending on the sweetness of the tequila. Mathilde for this one because I wanted something dry.) I personally love this cocktail for tasting when I dont particularly want to go neat or on the rocks, the peach and lime accentuate and elevate without obscuring, especially if you throw in an extra oz of tequila. 🤭

I must say, even with an extra oz in this cocktail, the Madera has almost no presence. I still get some minerality, but there is almost nothing that screams "tequila!" With this mix as other mixes have. Ive made this cocktail with both other G4 Blancos, Lalo, El Tesoro Blanco, El Tesoro repo, El Ateo añejo, Luna de Jalisco añejo, and Teremana repo. All of these other liquors have had a much bolder and upfront presence in this particular cocktail. Guess I'll have to go neat next time.

El Mexicano is a family affair – tequila produced at distillery Tequilas “Hacienda” El Mexicano (NOM 1588) in Arandas in the Jalisco Highlands by master distiller León Bañuelos, Sr., and his children, Willy, Teresa, Tesy, and León, Jr.

The distillery uses Highlands Blue Weber agave at least 6-years-old cooked in a low-pressure autoclave for 18-24 hours. The sugars are extracted using a roller mill and fermented in open stainless steel tanks before 2x-distillation in stainless steel pot stills to avoid the flavor copper pots can impart. It is bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV). The reposado is a blend of tequilas aged for 90 days in American White Oak (80%) and French Oak barrels both open-air seasoned for 24-36 months.

The lote (batch) under review is #L 25 212 (bottled 24 July 2025). This review is based on multiple separate tastings conducted using Denver & Liely Mezcal and Riedel Ouverture Tequila Flute glasses with varying aeration times over 9 months.

COLOR: Light gold/straw yellow

AROMA PROFILE: Sweet orchard fruits (peaches, apricots) & sweet citrus (lemon & lime), honey, cooked agave & baking spices (cinnamon & nutmeg), white pepper, vanilla, & herbal notes – the aroma profile overall is subtle.

PALATE: Cooked agave & robust baking spices from the nose + cloves, black pepper, oak & oak tannins, maple, anise, herbal/grassy notes, orchard fruits & berries, citrus peel (lemon, lime, grapefruit), light caramel, vanilla, butter, minerality, & salinity – the flavor profile improves significantly after the bottle has been open for a few weeks to a month.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium viscosity in the glass & a medium creamy mouthfeel

FINISH: 8-9 seconds (medium-long)

Here’s a breakdown of what I paid for each here in socal

Pantalones: $20

Codigo 1530: $15

Libelula: $28

Carrera: $20

G4 Reposado: $32

Cascahuin: $40

Ocho: $33

G4 blanco: $35

Mijenta: $37

Abre ojos: $26

They’re sealed because I typically buy two bottles: one to drink and one to give away if I like the juice.

Much appreciated :)