If you’ve ever been to Mexico, you’ll know the way we drink tequila on this side of the Atlantic is, to put it lightly, an utter travesty.
Sloshing it into a novelty shot glass and chasing it with a wedge of lime and some salt was the old way to knock back the agave spirit. And let’s face it; it wasn’t an entirely pleasant experience either.
It’s something of a revelation, then, to know that traditionalists and connoisseurs don’t shoot tequila; in fact, most of it is designed to be swilled, savoured and sipped slowly to allow the oaky, citrus and spice notes hiding within to reveal themselves. That goes double for the ‘good’ stuff like Anejo tequila, which spends the longest amount of time ageing.
What is the difference between Blanco, Reposado and Añejo tequila?
Tequila is split into three categories which directly relate to the ageing process.
- Blanco: also known as a 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.
Enjoying a high-quality tequila is something you can do year round and there are tequila flights to try (smaller measures) for those who don’t want to fork out on a bottle of something that might end up collecting dust at the back of your drinks collection.
If you’re already well into your tequila journey and fancy deepening your knowledge or trying something different, we’ve rounded up the best tequilas - of all ages - to enjoy sipping slowly.
From big brands to niche producers, see the best sipping tequilas to buy in the UK below.
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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
Don Julio Reposado Tequila, 70cl
This luxury brand knows about the craftsmanship of making truly excellent tequila. Handcrafted in the hills of Jalisco, the spirit is distilled before spending an eight month stint in American white-oak barrels before the smooth golden amber is packaged into handsome brown glass bottles and shipped for customers to enjoy. All that time and effort is well worth it; this is some of the richest, smoothest tequila around.
Buy now £49.95, Amazon
PATRON Harvey Nichols Barrel Select Añejo Tequila
Say hello to Patron’s first single cask tequila, a Harvey Nicks exclusive. It’s distilled, then left to mature in a barrel made from French wood for 20 times longer than required to be an Añejo: 33 months. The result is a harvest of just 366 limited edition bottles known as Patron x Harvey Nichols Barrel Select Añejo Tequila.
Sweet and spiced, this Cognac-like tequila is a world away from anything you’ve tried before.
Buy now £85.00, Harvey Nichols
1800 Tequila Añejo
Packed full of toasty butterscotch and vanilla notes, this is a fine bottle to turn to when the weather starts to cool. The complex flavours are best enjoyed solo, and are courtesy of 14 months of ageing in French Oak barrels. The result? A spiced, well rounded serve with a velvety mouthfeel. Add ice, but only if you must.
Buy now £37.68, Amazon
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 £116.69, Amazon
Casamigos Añejo Tequila
If you’ve got even a passing interest in tequila, Casamigos can’t fail to be on your radar. The small-batch producer is famous for having A-list fire power in the form of one George Clooney. It offers bottles in all ageing categories including this glorious Añejo that’s particularly suited for leisurely sipping. Sweet with hints of caramel and vanilla layered between spice and a little woody smoke, the finish is smooth and lingering. A neat expression that needs nothing else.
Buy now £90.00, Harvey Nichols
Patrón Añejo Tequila, 70cl
An aged tequila from one of the best-known producers of the spirit, Patrón’s version is aged in small white oak barrels for a year to produce a sweet and smooth tequila that should be a crime to shoot. You can detect caramel here, as well as raisins, honey and vanilla notes.
It’s undeniably tasty, but enjoy sparingly: that 40 per cent ABV won’t feel as pleasurable in the morning if you’ve overdone it.
Buy now £69.50, F&M
818 Añejo Tequila
Kendall Jenner’s 818 tequila brand has plenty of depth, and this expression of Añejo proves it. It’s crafted from long-grown agave, slow fermented after cooking before being pot distilled to ensure it imparts rich, woody flavours. A sip detects plenty of rich caramel with spices like cinnamon and clove offering excellent balance.
Buy now £64.95, Master of Malt
