Tequila’s second as America’s “it” spirit is way from over. It might even be getting stronger as different classes wrestle. A latest report revealed by beverage information analytics agency ISWR indicated that agave spirits — an area primarily pushed by tequila — was the one alcohol class to expertise development within the U.S. in 2023.
This sustained reputation coincides with a market more and more flooded with new tequilas. These labels can pique curiosity and should even evolve into new favorites, and so they make the class enjoyable to discover. However as thrilling as a recent, shiny expression of tequila will be, there’s nothing as dependable because the acquainted standby that at all times has a spot in your bar. It’s a bottle that unfailingly delivers consolation and happiness with each pour, which is what a great tequila ought to do — and nobody is aware of good tequila higher than the individuals who use it on daily basis.
That’s why we requested 14 bartenders to share their very own go-to tequilas, each behind the stick and on their dwelling bar carts. Right here’s what they mentioned.
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The most effective go-to tequila, based on bartenders:
- Siete Leguas Reposado
- Tequila Ocho Plata
- Fuentesca Huertas Las Antenas Blanco 2018
- Dobel Diamante Cristillino
- Siete Leguas Blanco
- Don Fulano Blanco
- Pueblo Viejo Blanco
- Cascahuin Plata 48
- Don Abraham Blanco
- Tequila Arette Fuerte 101
- El Tesoro Additional Añejo
- Lalo Tequila Blanco
“My go-to tequila is Siete Leguas Reposado. This tequila is made within the highlands of Jalisco and the roasted agave piñas are crushed utilizing a tahona, a big stone wheel that rotates slowly to pulverize the vegetation. This system and all of the craftsmanship it entails results in an earthy, citrusy, and balanced reposado tequila. The spirit is aged for eight months in bourbon barrels, which imparts delicate flavors of vanilla on the palate. Once I have a tendency bar, I gravitate towards this tequila for a lot of causes. It’s affordably priced, daring sufficient to face as much as highly effective flavors when crafting cocktails, and nuanced sufficient that it may be loved neat or on the rocks.” —Sarah Kornegay, bar supervisor, The Katharine Brasserie & Bar, Winston-Salem, NC.
“Tequila Ocho Plata. It’s not your properly; it’s not your top-shelf. It’s a clean however strong expertise from begin to end. Most straight-up tequila pictures will make you make ‘the face’ — you already know what I’m speaking about. This was the primary tequila shot I’ve ever stopped [shooting] and began sipping it, and I loved each second. It allowed me to have fun tequila on the next degree than earlier than.” —Shane Mstroine, bartender/bar supervisor, Desk 45, Cleveland
“I’m gonna go a bit extra area of interest with Fuentesca’s 2018 Huertas Las Antenas Blanco. This phenomenal blanco is from [the brand’s] grasp distiller Enrique Fonseca, the genius behind different staples like Don Fulano and Cimarron. That is one of the best sipping blanco I’ve ever had. I’m not gonna give a tasting be aware so you’ll be able to take pleasure in moving into blind, however do your self a favor and discover a bottle. And don’t let the worth tag dissuade you. It’s price each penny.” —Kevin Diebold, head bartender, Predalina, Tampa
“Our go-to tequila is Dobel Diamante Cristalino. It’s the primary tequila model to start out making cristalino, and has at all times offered an genuine strategy. Their high quality and 11 generations of ancestral tequila-making shine by way of within the many expressions they produce. Whether or not sipped or in a cocktail, this expression has a really versatile taste dynamic, which is why [our restaurant] has gone by way of 5 hand-picked barrels in our first yr!” —Henry Ottrix, beverage director, Lucina Eatery & Bar, Denver
“Siete Leguas Blanco. I admire it as a result of you’ll be able to really style the place it comes from. It has identification and terroir, and you may nearly detect subtropical inexperienced notes on the nostril and palate. It’s gotten a bit dearer over time, but it surely’s nonetheless beneath $50 for a bottle. It’s additionally unbelievable in cocktails. Strive utilizing it in a Paloma or Tequila Negroni.” —Jordan Joseph, bar director, Sous Terre/Brodetto/Crawford and Son/Jolie, Raleigh, N.C.
“The Don Fulano Blanco is a unbelievable highland tequila produced by the Fonseca household from Atotonilco. It [has a] wet-soil and mineral-focused nostril that turns into tropical fruit, pepper, and baked agave notes on the palate. The end is lengthy and wealthy, nearly with a contact of butterscotch. The value level is great, particularly in comparison with different much less fascinating tequilas that value much more.” —Jonathan Stanyard, bartender and advisor, The Bitter Gringo Co., Seattle
“I at all times wish to remind myself what nice, simply-treated agave tastes like, however I additionally love seeing what distillers can do with it. That’s the reason my go-to is Tequila Ocho Plata. The tequilas of Carlos Camarena of the La Alteña distillery are basic, terroir-driven tequilas that really feel fashionable. There aren’t any bells and whistles, only a masterful hand making actually conscious spirits. For cocktails and sipping, it doesn’t get a lot better.” —Christian Favier, beverage supervisor, The Odd, Charleston, S.C.
“Pueblo Viejo Blanco is a simple, scrumptious, reasonably priced tequila from Casa San Matias. It’s nice high quality at a fairly unbeatable worth, each for bars and residential bartenders. Casa San Matias is an excellent tequila producer with girls on the helm, [and] they supply wonderful employment alternatives for girls and have labored to cut back their environmental footprint. Actually a win-win for everybody!” —Sammi Katz, bartender, The Rockwell Place, Brooklyn
“My go-to-tequila must be Casacahuin Plata 48. It’s peppery with notes of banana peel and an extended end. It at all times has a deserving place on my bar cart at dwelling.” —Engracio Clemena, beverage supervisor, La Societe, San Francisco
“I’m an enormous fan of Don Abraham Blanco. It’s 100% natural [and] it follows conventional farming strategies in a time when a lot agave farming is harmful to the land and to the crop. The reposado is equally pretty, however I personally benefit from the mild, barely fruity crispness of the blanco.” —Nate Hayden, beverage director, Giusto/Mom Pizzeria, Newport, R.I.
“The tequila that has had my coronary heart since I found it’s Tequila Arette Fuerte 101. It’s the purest type of tequila expression, because the product comes straight from the nonetheless earlier than they reduce it to decrease the alcohol proportion. Daring, strong, and fantastically crafted utilizing the volcanic-rich water from the wells discovered within the city of Tequila. This tequila may have drinkers falling in love with the spirit yet again with each sip!” —Bruce Polack, beverage director, The Common, Denver
“Tequila Ocho Plata is one in every of my favourite tequilas. It’s a unbelievable sipper and an awesome mixer as properly. The nostril may be very agave-forward, with some hints of citrus and pepper. It additionally accommodates heavy cooked agave notes on the palate. Whereas it does have a bit bitterness and a few chunk, it has a candy end rounded out by the citrus and cooked agave coming by way of. I really like the way it has complexity to it whereas nonetheless being very accessible for individuals new to tequila. Does splendidly in cocktails as properly, like my go-to Spicy Margarita.” —Rollin Colmenares, head bartender, RT60 Rooftop Bar and Lounge, NYC
“I really like when our whiskey-focused friends ask: ‘What can I strive that may drink like a whiskey, however is certainly not a whiskey?’ With out hesitation, I at all times ask in the event that they’ve tried El Tesoro Additional Añejo Tequila. El Tesoro takes pleasure in creating conventional tequilas that honor the distinctive terroir in Arandas, Jalisco. What I really like most about El Tesoro tequilas is that their liquid transports you straight to La Altena the second your first sip touches your lips. This further añejo is aged in ex-bourbon barrels for four-plus years, leading to not solely the attractive style of candy, roasted agave but in addition wealthy notes of darkish chocolate, roasted espresso, and toasted coconut. There’s a mild contact of oak and a component of peppercorn and baking spice that retains our whiskey drinkers going again for extra.” —Jacki Schromm, basic supervisor, Reserve 101, Houston
“LALO Tequila Blanco is one in every of my present favorites to pour friends from our again bar when somebody is searching for one thing a bit extra frequent that we don’t carry. A highland tequila with recent citrus and cooked agave high notes and underlying grassy undertones on the nostril, it has a palate that’s barely tacky in the very best approach. I at all times wish to information friends in direction of having fun with one thing additive-free and genuine and real. This additionally performs properly in cocktails.” —Michael Aredes, bartender, Superbueno, NYC
