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Articles by Brad Buskirk
C.O. Jones Blanco
C.O. Jones tequila is the result of a genuine, long-standing passion for tequila and a desire to share that passion with others. The journey began in 1999, when Bob Potter opened a tequila bar at a time when tequila represented only a small part of the U.S. spirits market. The goal was never simply to sell tequila, but to educate people about the spirit and give them an opportunity to discover quality brands they might never have encountered otherwise.
Viuda de Martínez Extra Añejo
Some tequila brands are built around a new concept, while others carry a history that stretches back generations. Viuda de Martínez falls firmly into the latter category, with a story dating to 1840 that connects the brand to an important period in tequila’s development in Jalisco. The name itself has an unusual and deeply personal origin.
TCapri Blanco
TCapri tequila begins with a story that extends well beyond the bottle. Founder Tiffany Capri Hainesworth’s path into the tequila industry followed a life-changing experience: after surviving a traumatic brain injury, she began reevaluating what mattered most to her and what she wanted the next chapter of her life to look like.
Jose Cuervo Especial Gold
Jose Cuervo Especial Gold is one of the world’s most recognizable tequila bottles and, for many consumers, has served as their first introduction to the category. Unlike a 100% agave tequila, this expression is a mixto—a tequila made with at least 51% sugars from blue Weber agave and up to 49% sugars from other sources. The clearest cue is the absence of “100% agave” on the label; wording such as “made with blue agave” does not mean the tequila is 100% agave.
Augusto Joven
Augusto Tequila was created by three founders with a simple goal: to produce a tequila they would genuinely enjoy drinking and proudly share with others. Rather than following the conventional barrel-aging path for tequila, the brand chose to build its identity around exclusive sherry-cask maturation. This approach distinguishes Augusto from much of the tequila industry, where bourbon barrels remain the preferred choice for aging.
Siembra Valles Ancestral Blanco
Siembra Valles Ancestral is one of the most ambitious efforts to reconnect tequila with its historical roots. Conceived by David Suro of Siembra Spirits and brought to life alongside Salvador “Chava” Rosales and the Rosales family of Cascahuín, this limited-production tequila revives production methods that predate modern industrial tequila.
Terralta Reposado
Terralta is produced by master distiller Felipe Camarena at the renowned El Pandillo Distillery (NOM 1579) in Jesús María, Jalisco. The name Terralta, meaning "high land," pays tribute to the Highlands of Jalisco, where the agaves used for the brand are grown. Watch my video review on Instagram Introduced in 2017, Terralta has earned a strong reputation among tequila enthusiasts for its consistency, transparency, and traditional approach to tequila production.
Lágrimas del Valle 2025 La Mesa Del Charco Plata
Lágrimas del Valle was created around a question that deserves more attention in tequila: how much does place truly matter? Produced in collaboration with the Rosales family at Cascahuín (NOM 1123), the brand explores the influence of terroir by releasing annual bottlings sourced from individual ranches, allowing drinkers to experience how soil, elevation, climate, and harvest year shape the character of the agave long before it reaches the distillery.
Calle 23 Blanco
Calle 23 is the passion project of French-born biochemist and engineer Sophie Decobecq, a trailblazer in the agave world whose scientific curiosity led her deep into Mexico’s tequila culture. After relocating to Mexico to study fermentation and distillation, Sophie fell in love with the spirit and eventually launched Calle 23, naming it after the street sign that inspired her during a pivotal moment in brand creation.
Paladar Reposado Toasted Series
Paladar has built its reputation around exploring how different maturation techniques can influence tequila while remaining committed to additive-free production. Produced at Tequila Arette de Jalisco (NOM 1109) under the guidance of master distiller Eduardo Orendain Jr., the brand focuses on showcasing agave through creative barrel experimentation.
Purasangre Añejo
Purasangre tequila is a heritage brand rooted in Jalisco’s highland agave tradition. The name Purasangre, meaning “thoroughbred,” reflects a focus on quality and lineage. The brand is produced at the historic Tequileña (NOM 1146) distillery guided by Enrique Fonseca, a fourth-generation agave grower whose family has been farming agave in Los Altos since the late 1800s. In 1989, Fonseca acquired the distillery from Bacardi and became a quiet but influential figure in the rise of premium tequila.
Bandera Blanco Tequila Review
Bandero Tequila was founded by entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria, best known as the co-founder of Patrón Tequila and John Paul Mitchell Systems. Since its launch, Bandero has positioned itself within the modern premium tequila category through bold branding, celebrity influence, and a strong connection to contemporary tequila culture.
Casa Azul Blanco
Casa Azul is a brand that has built its identity around being USDA certified organic, focusing on organic and sustainable farming practices. Now produced at Destiladora La Roca (NOM 1646), the brand enters a new chapter rooted in a family legacy tied directly to agave farming and tequila production in the heart of Jalisco.
Sauza Hacienda Gold Joven
Few names in tequila carry the historical weight of Sauza. Founded in 1873 by Don Cenobio Sauza, the brand helped define tequila’s early commercial identity and was instrumental in bringing the spirit beyond Mexico’s borders. Sauza was among the first producers to export tequila to the United States, helping establish international demand and recognition for the category.
Teremana Añejo
Teremana is a modern tequila brand introduced in 2020 by Dwayne Johnson in partnership with Mast-Jägermeister. Produced in the highlands of Jalisco at a dedicated distillery, Destilería Teremana De Agave, (NOM 1613) built specifically for its production. Since its launch, Teremana has scaled rapidly, expanding distribution across the United States and into multiple international markets.
Why Brix Matters in Tequila, and Why it's Also Overrated
What You’ll Learn: What Brix actually measures, and why it is not the same thing as sugar content. Why the same Brix reading can come from two very different agaves and produce two very different bottles. How Brix shifts through cooking, fermentation, and distillation, and what producers track at each step. Why Brix is a useful tool for a tequila maker, but only one data point for a drinker.
Laelia Blanco
Laelia Tequila is a brand launched in 2025 by fourth-generation agave grower Fernando Pérez Ontiveros. It’s produced at Casa Natima, a distillery in Amatitán in the Valley of Jalisco, operating under NOM 1607 and owned by Grupo Solave. Casa Natima was established as part of the family’s expansion from agave cultivation into distillation. The tequila is overseen by master distiller Carlos R. Huízar, an industry veteran who previously worked with Jose Cuervo.
How the Wrong Glass Is Quietly Ruining Your Tequila
What You'll Learn Why no single glass is "correct" for agave spirits — and what each vessel actually does How glass shape affects aroma concentration, alcohol perception, and mouthfeel The six most useful glasses for tequila and mezcal, from traditional copitas to modern purpose-built options Which glass works best for high-proof pours, formal evaluation, and casual enjoyment Why consistency in glassware matters more than chasing the perfect vessel In the world of agave spirits, people love...
G4 Añejo
G4 Tequila comes from fourth-generation master distiller Felipe Camarena at the renowned El Pandillo Distillery in the highlands of Jalisco. Known for combining traditional tequila methods with thoughtful innovation, G4 uses a blend of rainwater and natural spring water to create a clean, expressive spirit. Cooked agave remains the focus, with production centered on highlighting the natural character of Blue Weber agave.
Curado Tequila Blanco (Cupreata)
Tequila Curado is one of the more unusual bottles in the tequila world. It starts with a traditional 100% Blue Weber blanco distilled by Carlos Camarena, but after distillation it’s infused with cooked agave. Inspired by the work of tequila ambassador Tomas Estes, the project explores how different agaves influence flavor inside a tequila framework. Roasted agave from regions like Oaxaca and Michoacán is steeped in the spirit, almost like a tea bag, adding depth and character.
Patrón Añejo Sherry Cask
Patrón is one of the most widely recognized brands in tequila and was credited with helping re-position tequila as a luxury spirit following its launch in 1989. Patrón was also one of the first additive free tequilas listed by Tequila Matchmaker, now Agave Matchmaker. Patrón continues to explore limited releases, including this 2021 añejo finished for more than 2 years in oloroso sherry casks, adding a layer of wine-driven influence to the profile.
Cardenas Legacy Añejo
Chris Cardenas is the founder and president of Cardenas Legacy Tequila, a veteran-owned brand focused on producing traditionally made tequila from 100% Blue Weber agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco. A U.S. Air Force veteran and former concert promoter, Cardenas developed a deep appreciation for tequila while living in Puerto Vallarta and learning about the culture surrounding agave spirits. That experience inspired him to create a brand rooted in authenticity and quality.
Cardenas Legacy | The Tequila Report
Our Cardenas Legacy Añejo review - independent score, tasting notes, price and ABV from The Tequila Report. Ranked #50 of 150. NOM 1468.
Siembra Alteño Blanco
Siembra Alteño isn’t just a tequila—it’s a statement about what tequila used to be, and what it still can be. Created by David Suro-Piñera who founded Siembra Spirits, in collaboration with master distiller Carlos Camarena from Tequila Tapatio, this high-proof expression is rooted in tradition, transparency, and terroir. Siembra Alteño is a newer release offering a blanco, reposado and an anejo. The blanco has become on of my favorite pours.
Carreta de Oro Reposado
Carreta de Oro (Golden Cart) was founded by a collective of Jalisco agave farmers around 2004 to process their surplus agave, creating artisanal tequila using traditional methods. Its name symbolizes the historic agave-hauling carts. Co-founders Ronak Patel and Samuel La Cerda relaunched the brand with a reformulated product and new bottle design beginning in 2020, gaining wider distribution.
Cultura 100 Blanco
Cultura 100 is owned by Jaime Juarez. He also owns a grocery distribution business as well as Unified Spirits LLC a spirit import company. In the past he worked with Tequila brands in a distribution capacity, but now owns Cultura 100. The brand’s name comes from the concept of being 100% true and authentic to the culture of Tequila. Tequila Cultura 100 is a newer brand that seems to be getting some attention online. Nose leads with agave and citrus at center stage.
Aguasol Blanco
Aguasol Tequila comes from the Cascahuín distillery (NOM 1123), a family-run operation with roots stretching back to 1904. Aguasol was built from inspiration backstage at a music festival by owners Charles Attal and Eduardo Margain. Their vision was to create a clean tequila with agave being front and center, crafted from mature Blue Weber agave grown in volcanic soil and made using traditional methods that honor Jalisco’s deep tequila heritage.
Fuenteseca Cosecha 2018 - Huerta "Las Antenas"
Fuenteseca is known for ultra-aged tequila created by master distiller Enrique Fonseca under NOM 1146. It specializes in extremely long barrel-aging in multiple types of casks and at varying storage altitudes. Each one offers an amazing experience of flavor. Even though Fuenteseca is known for aged expressions, don't disregard the blancos as boring or average. The blancos are a bold and complex experience that are just as special and complex.
Inspiro Blanco
Inspiro Tequila is a women-founded and women-led tequila brand launched in 2020 by Mara Smith. Crafted from 100% Blue Weber agave it champions purity, transparency, and conscious craftsmanship. Under the expertise of master tequilera Ana María Romero Mena, Inspiro produces small-batch tequilas that are kosher, gluten-free, and sustainably made.
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