Be in no doubt: tequila is having a moment.
The Mexican-produced spirit is inching towards gin’s crown as the drink du jour, if London’s bar menus are anything to go by. From spicy margs to delicious Palomas and a retro throwback to tequila sunrises, tequila-based cocktails are reigning supreme.
We’re discovering the delights of sipping it too, after a lifetime of shooting it in the back of dark clubs in the early hours. Many across the Atlantic would be horrified at the idea of shooting aged tequila in particular. Swallowing a measure whole before biting down on a poor piece of citrus fruit hardly does justice to the labour of love needed to make such agave spirits, some of which have been matured for up to 30 years.
Tequila through the ages
Tequila is split into three categories which directly relate to the ageing process.
- Blanco: also known as Silver, this tequila is aged for two months or less after distillation and is the one that’s most commonly reached for when making cocktails.
- Reposado: typically held in a wooden cask for two months to allow the spirit to absorb some of its flavour, expect a mellow, richer flavour with this type.
- Añejo: the longest-aged tequila is usually the most expensive too, with a price-point at the higher end of the scale. For your money, you can expect a fine whisky-like experience, and just like that amber nectar, Añejo tequila is best sipped neat or on the rocks.
In fact, now we’ve been schooled in the best tequilas for margaritas (our one true love) and the best bottles to sip and savour, many like to consider themselves tequila aficionados - in their circles, at least. And with greater knowledge comes a hankering to delve deeper and try a drop of something really special.
Artisan tequilas have entered the chat. These premium bottles, produced with the finest ingredients and made by the most skilled of craftsmen, are nudging mass-produced bottles aside to take up room on the top shelf of the finest bars of the capital.
Just glance over the next time you’re at a fancy restaurant, and you’ll spot the likes of Clase Azul, Don Julio, Patron et al behind the resident mixologist. Typically costing triple figures, these are the elite tier of tequila, the top guns of their category.
Celebrated for their unique flavour profiles, they come in suitably luxe bottles and packaging, making them ripe for gift-giving.
Whether you’re looking for a fancy present to gift the tequila obsessive in your life, or you’d like to see how good it gets for yourself, we’ve rounded up the best luxury tequilas worth splashing your cash on.
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Gran Patron Platinum Tequila
Going through a shorter ageing process, Blanco tequilas tend to live on the lower end of the price spectrum. Yet in this bottle, Patron presents a rare premium silver (Blanco) tequila. The spirit has been triple-distilled to refine the colour to virtually crystal clear. The result is a smooth as silk tipple that washes notes of citrus and fruit over the tongue, rounding off with the lingering taste of black pepper.
Buy now £277.00, The Whisky Exchange
Patron El Cielo
The only thing better than triple distilled? Four times distilled.
Say hello to Patron’s new ultra-premium launch, made using the highest-quality Blue Weber agave that Mexico produces, along with water and yeast. Made in small batches in a copper still to guarantee the highest standards, this unicorn of Silver tequila surprises with bright, smooth and sweet flavours.
This is far too good for cocktails; splash over ice with a slice of orange to enhance its sunshine-like radiance.
Also available at Selfridges.
Buy now £184.99, The Bottle Club
Clase Azul Reposado tequila 700ml
Long gone are the days of tequila with a worm at the bottom of the bottle. Modern iterations of the Mexican spirit are designed to be sipped and savoured, not shot. With tequila enjoying something of a revival in recent years, here’s an excuse to give something really special.
From artisan producer Clase Azul comes this white and blue ceramic decanter, its beauty rivalled only by the liquid within. Smooth and full bodied, the spirit, made from pure weber blue agave, slips easily down the throat, imparting undertones of vanilla and toffee caramel along the way. We had no idea that tequila could be this good. A triumph.
Buy now £250.00, Harvey Nichols
Rey Sol Tequila
Tequila producers tend to have far more fun with their bottles than makers of other spirits. From decorated decanters to sculptural vessels, there’s plenty to love long after the last drops have gone.
Rey Sol offers its añejo in a sun-themed bottle that is bound to be the star of your next drinks or dinner party. The design comes dressed for special occasions with a moustache and bow tie.
Inside, you’ll find a silky offering made from agave that’s at least 7 years old before being harvested. The smooth pour, humming with almond and caramel notes, gives way to sweet and spiced flavours for a memorable pour that you will relish with every sip.
Buy now £199.95, Master of Malt
Don Julio 1942 Tequila
This small-batch tequila has gone through a 30-month ageing process, left in American white-oak casks to bring out the best flavours. The tall bottle, destined to steal the spotlight in any home bar, is filled with smooth yet complex flavours. Watch the nights draw in with a measure in your hand and savour the notes of tropical fruit, cinnamon and of course, agave. If you’re looking for a gift that will be welcomed with open arms, this is it.
Buy now £199.00, The Whisky Exchange
Komos Extra Anejo 700ml
Made from agave plants harvested in Jalisco, Mexico, this elegant ceramic bottle makes an impression from the off. It takes inspiration from across the Atlantic to the Med, with an ageing process that involves a three-year stint in French oak white wine casks as well as American oak whisky barrels. Both leave their mark on the mature anejo serve; expect vanilla and caramel flavours lifted with refreshing orange peel. Delightful.
Buy now £440.00, Selfridges
Clase Azul Gold tequila 700ml
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in the case of Clase Azul, one can make an exception.
This luxe glass decanter houses a premier standard of tequila, made from a blend of plata, reposado and Extra Añejo distillations. Each one has spent time in French oak and whisky cask before one final push in a former sherry cask to leave behind a smooth serve full of flavour. With notes of fruit and nuts, it’s a warming choice for winter celebrations.
Buy now £500.00, Selfridges
Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia 2020 Tequila
Blended from the Cuervo family’s private estates, you could compare this blended tequila to an expensive brandy, cognac or whisky. It’s made from the finest blue agave leaves (grown for eight years) before a three-year ageing process before being ready to combine with reserves that are up to 30 years in age. Every handmade bottle is not only individually numbered but sealed with wax to ensure purity too. Serving suggestion? Neat on the rocks, naturally.
Buy now £123.90, Amazon
Casa Dragones Joven limited-edition tequila gift set 700ml
Strangely £5 cheaper than buying a bottle on its own, this gift set adds two Riedel tasting glasses (not shot glasses) to the mix, underlining the fact that this is a spirit made to be enjoyed slowly.
The small-batch 40 per cent ABV spirit sings with clean, crisp notes of agave, cloves and pepper. It’s a fiery rendition that lives up to the brand name and will prove an effective warmer come winter.
Buy now £370.00, Selfridges
