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Articles by Mike Barad
El Tequileño Still Strength Blanco
El Tequileño was founded in 1959 by Don Jorge Salles Cuervo and named after the town of Tequila, in which it remains a mainstay. Don Jorge distilled for Jose Cuervo before forming his own brand. El Tequileño continues to be produced by the family, now under master distiller Jorge Antonio “Tony” Salles, following Paradise Spirits’ acquisition of the brand in 2017. El Tequileño is one of the few brands to operate out of its own dedicated distillery (NOM 1108).
Cazadores Reposado
Cazadores traces its roots to a Bañuelos family recipe from 1922 and launched commercially in 1973. It was later sold to Bacardi in 2002. While the current quality can be debated, what cannot be is the strong retail success the brand continues to find. I see this brand everywhere. Cazadores is one of the biggest names in tequila, generating tens of millions of dollars in sales this summer while posting weekly sales growth of 20.8%.
Our 124 Top-Rated Tequilas
We've published more than 300 tequila reviews since our debut in January. Through October 18, 124 of those bottles scored 90 points or higher. That's up from 87 in our July edition. The 37 bottles added since then are marked (new). Note: Scroll down, below the list, for more about how our scoring system works. More than half are blancos. There are 31 reposados, 12 añejos and 12 extra añejos. Some of these leading bottles come from legendary distilleries.
Entremanos Castaño Blanco
Entremanos is produced at Hacienda de Oro (NOM 1522) in Amatitán, under the guidance of master distiller Jaime Villalobos Sauza. The distillery is putting out a number of well-regarded brands these days, like Amatitense, Cachasol, Elevación1250, and Dos Angeles Caídos. The brand is fronted by its charismatic COO, Alan Taylor, who produces amazing Spanish-language content on Instagram and is well worth following at @el.alanbique.
Volcán de mi Tierra Reposado
The Gallardo family has called Hacienda La Gavilana in the Tequila Valley home since 1774. They have some seriously deep roots in the area. In 2014, the Gallardo family created a joint venture with Moët Hennessy, LVMH’s wines and spirits division, launching Volcán de mi Tierra Blanco and Cristalino Añejo in 2017. While I don’t usually like cristalinos, those early añejo batches were some of my favorites because they didn’t completely filter out the color and character.
Amatiteña Barrancas
Amatiteña is not your typical tequila. In fact, it is not even typical of the tequila made at its own distillery, Tequilera Puerta de Hierro (NOM 1477), where you are as likely to find sweeter tequilas such as Cava de Oro as cleaner profiles such as the new Ascênda. Master distiller Alberto Partida started Amatiteña as a passion project to practice ancestral tequila-making techniques.
Campo Azul 1940 Reposado
It took three generations to arrive at the Campo Azul tequila we find today. The first generation were agave growers who planted in the Highlands of Jesús María. The second generation of agave growers decided to open their distillery in 1996, Casa Campo Azul (NOM 1416). Today, the third generation runs the company while maintaining its own agave plantings to help ensure a reliable supply of quality agave for tequila production.
Casamigos Reposado
Casamigos is the “house of friends” that used celebrity backing and an approachable profile to introduce tequila to new circles. Co-founded by George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman in 2013, Casamigos sales quickly went through the roof on the back of slick marketing that showed how tequila could be cool, ultimately leading to Diageo acquiring the brand in 2017 for up to $1 billion.
CasAzar Reposado
CasAzar is a newer brand with Miami roots and Vegas style, but is it worth betting on? Co-owners Max Ramirez and Viviana Sierraalta-Ramirez started their own brand in South Florida after spending 10+ years at Diageo. CasAzar’s name is a combination of Casa de Azar, a “house of gambling.” They went all-in on a lifestyle brand at a time when others are emphasizing their Mexican heritage. I’ll give them this, the bottle is quite something to behold.
How The Tequila Report Rates Tequila: 17 Questions, Answered
As Reviews Editor for The Tequila Report, I see all our reviews and feel all of the feedback. Here are the answers to the questions we get most often. Last updated August 13, 2026. We review interesting and noteworthy tequilas, plus popular bottles you will find on many shelves. We do not rate every tequila on the market. We are a newsletter, not a database. We generally don’t score extremely small releases. A tequila batch needs to be at least 1,000 bottles for us to consider it.
Nosotros Blanco
La Historia de Nosotros shares “the story of us,” and it’s a story worth experiencing. Conceived as a college project on sustainable tequila, now with female-led distillation, Nosotros is doing things its own way. Brand owners Carlos Soto and Michael Arbanas met in college in California. Carlos was studying business entrepreneurship, where he first pitched his idea for a sustainable tequila brand. After graduation, the partners decided to make a go of it.
Zumbador Blanco
Zumbador proves that quality tequila can be delivered at an affordable price. Roberto López Anaya crafts his first tequila at Destilería El Sabino (NOM 1643) in the Highlands of Jesús María, where he is the master distiller, distillery owner, and brand owner. Roberto and the López family represent four generations of agave growers overseeing 1,000 acres of fertile land. He’s also the nephew of tequila luminaries Carlos and Felipe Camarena.
Highest-Scoring Tequilas of 2026 (so far)
How We Do Ratings at The Tequila Report As Reviews Editor, I see all our reviews and feel all of the feedback. Here are some thoughts and insights after six months, and nearly 200 reviews published. I often hear from consumers they think our rating scores are high. But we sometimes hear from brands that our scores are too low. Maybe that means we’re doing it just right? Here’s how our system actually works.
Volans Reposado
Volans tequila represents a partnership between two families: Chad and Cristina Allen, who hail from Guadalajara, and Felipe Camarena and his sons, who distill in Jesús María in the Highlands of Jalisco. This partnership must have been signed in blood, or even holy water, because Volans is the only tequila made from all three water sources available at the famous El Pandillo (NOM 1579) distillery: rainwater, natural spring water, and deep well water.
Siete Leguas Añejo
Siete Leguas remains true to its roots, utilizing a combination of old-world methods with modern scale to deliver some of the most delicious and widely available tequilas from a craft brand. There are many highlights from visiting the Siete Leguas (NOM 1120) distillery, starting with their unique ‘closed’ tahona pit that traps all the agave juice from crushing. It uses no water and has no drain, so the liquid gets a chance to sit and reabsorb back into the fibers.
Tapatio Blanco 110
Tapatio is a house brand at the famous La Alteña distillery located in Arandas. This NOM 1139 distillery was founded in 1937 by Don Felipe Camarena, enjoyed widespread success under Carlos Camarena, and is now led by his talented sister, Jenny Camarena. Tapatio 110 is bottled at the highest legal limit of 110 proof (55% ABV) to retain maximum flavor of the agave. It was originally developed to shine in cocktails with a strong profile that doesn’t get lost when mixed.
Tres Agaves Blanco
Tres Agaves is an affordable tequila that doesn’t sacrifice quality. They use certified organic estate grown agave and avoid any chemicals or additives during production, delivering a very clean tequila. Originally designed to deliver a line of high-quality products for cocktails, you’ll find Tres Agaves branded tequilas and mixers with wide distribution. But the tequila is good enough to drink straight, so let’s give the blanco a taste.
Cascahuín Plata 48%
Under the guidance of master distiller Salvador Rosales Trejo (“Chava”), the Cascahuín distillery (NOM 1123) rates among the best and produces some of my personal favorites. Two of their house blancos that battle for supremacy are Plata 48% and Tahona Blanco, and you’ll get nearly as many people picking one over other. For me, Plata 48% is the standard bearer.
ArteNOM Seleccion de 1414 Reposado
ArteNOM was a revelation when it was founded by Jake Lustig in 2010. This innovative brand was the first to highlight different distilleries and the craft of various star master distillers all under one brand, not one house. This allows each distiller to focus on a unique expression that represents their passion and craft, the Art of the NOM (ArteNOM). Each distillery has a four-digit NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) number, identifying it as the house of record where a tequila was bottled.
El Tesoro Extra Añejo
El Tesoro de Don Felipe offers the perfect blend of traditional tequila production made for widespread availability. Under the stewardship of legendary master distiller Carlos Camarena for decades, the torch has recently been handed off to his talented sister Jenny Camarena. Made in Arandas at the famous La Alteña distillery which has operated since 1937, El Tesoro is crafted with care.
Read this author’s articles and reviews on The Tequila Report
Passionate about agave and community, Mike founded the Great Lakes Tequila Club and proudly serves on the board of the Tequila That Cares Foundation. He is also the Reviews Editor at The Tequila Report.
El Tesoro | The Tequila Report
Tahona, horno, and wood fermentation — still setting the standard
Mijenta Blanco Tequila Review
If you are looking for a purpose-driven tequila, Mijenta should be on your list. The brand’s name comes from Mi Gente, meaning My People - aiming to bring people together. Mijenta is a leader in sustainability, as the first certified B-Corp tequila, and one of the few with a flavor profile developed by a female maestra tequilera - the legendary Ana María Romero.
Patrón Silver
Started in 1989, Patrón has become a ubiquitous brand dominating the bar scene with big budget marketing and an easy-drinking spirit. Their most popular expression should be familiar to you, Patrón Silver—an unaged blanco bottled in a distinctive squat bottle with bulbous cork topper. Patrón stands tall among other mega-brands with their use of traditional production methods at scale, avoidance of sweeteners or other enhancing agents, and commitment to sustainable practices.
Pantera de Oro High Proof Extra Añejo
A bold cask-strength extra añejo at an approachable price. This tequila was unleashed by industry veteran Scott Baird, who was previously involved with Tequila Ocho and Ancho Reyes. This new brand’s first release stands tall as a 53% ABV cask-strength extra añejo. Aromas start fruity and floral, with the high alcohol content punching through the barrel notes. After some dark cherries, the barrel delivers caramel and leather. Flavors of raisin, oak, tobacco, and clove rise to the forefront.
Are Single Barrel and Special Batch Tequilas Worth Your Money?
What You’ll Learn: The technical difference between "Single Barrel" and "Small Batch" and what you’re actually paying for. Why these limited expressions command a significant price premium over standard flagship bottles. How to evaluate "rarity" versus actual "quality" when deciding to invest in a collector’s bottle. When to splurge on a special batch and when to stick with the reliable flagship expression.
Montagave Blanco ‘Las Rocas’
Montagave’s brand owners combine a love for wine and tequila into new techniques, with Las Rocas an elegant example. While most blancos aren’t aged, Las Rocas is rested for four weeks in a concrete egg similar to those used in old-school winemaking, and believed to be the only one in use for tequila, currently. Aromas start light but come in gentle waves of sweet agave, minerals, citrus, and mint.
Quintaliza Reposado
Quintaliza is a trailblazer looking for that perfect marriage of tequila and coffee. This reposado is rested two months in ex-bourbon barrels then another three months in barrels that previously held cold brew coffee from Chiapas, Mexico. Cozy aromas of dark chocolate,oak, barrel spice, dark cherries, and agave greet you. Bold flavors include tobacco, dark chocolate, oak, barrel spices, leather, and coffee.
Siete Leguas | The Tequila Report
Still-strength blanco from the legendary Gonzalez family turns up the intensity and viscosity a few notches
Amatiteña Añejo
Nearly all tequila is made from agave that is steam-cooked in an above-ground oven, while most mezcal cooks agave with wood in an underground pit. Amatiteña takes a hybrid approach that uses a direct flame oven to roast agave over mesquite wood. This delivers a kiss of smoke across the lineup. Strong aromas jump from this añejo starting withdark chocolate, cherries, oak, leather, caramel, and light smoke. Taste follows withoak, orange, cherries, light smoke, salt, agave, and honey.
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