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Best Tequila Brands You Need To Try At Least Once

Unlike a lot of other spirits that can be produced in various regions around the world, tequila can only be produced in the Tequila region of Mexico (in the same way Champagne can only be classed as such if it’s produced in the Champagne region of France). All tequilas are derived from the blue agave plant found in the area, but various ageing processes, and whether the plant was obtained from highlands or lowlands, gives each bottle a unique taste.

However, there are only four ‘types’ of tequila:

Blanco, or silver, which is clear and bottled immediately after distillation
Reposado, a rested tequila that has to be aged for a minimum of two months, but less than a year
Añejo, an aged or vintage tequila that is stored in small oak barrels for a minimum of a year, but less than three years
Extra Añejo, an extra-aged tequila stored in small oak barrels for a minimum of three years

There are over 1300 registered tequila brands floating around the world, from some 150 producers, so curating a selection of the best is no easy task. Nevertheless, we’ve done just that to tell you the best tequila brands to look out for next time you’re at the bar or making yourself a delicious margarita.

Related: How to spot fake tequila

In this tequila story…

1800
Avión
Cabo Wabo
Casamigos
Cazcabel
Don Julio
Dulce Vida
El Jimador
Espolón
Herradura
Jose Cuervo
Kah
Milagro
Patron
Tequila Fortaleza
Tromba
Tequila FAQs

1800

1800 is named so because it’s cited as the year tequila was first successfully aged in wooden barrels. There are six variations available, with Silver, Reposado and Añejo all being represented, along with a coconut-flavoured version which is particularly easy on the palette.

Avión

Avión Tequila is produced using blue agave plants from some of the highest elevations in the town of Jesús Maria, Jalisco, Mexico. The agave is roasted for three days to extract a naturally sweet flavour, before being separated for various ageing processes in former American whiskey barrels, which is why Avión has earned a spot on our list.

Cabo Wabo

The Cabo Wabo tequila brand was founded by Sammy Hagar of Van Halen fame after the rock singer visited the town of Cabo San Lucas with his bandmates. After first starting up a bar and nightclub – also called Cabo Wabo – Hagar began selling a house-brand of tequila, produced by a distillery in the Jalisco region. It was eventually imported to the United States where it was well-received and has since gone on to win numerous awards in the tequila brands industry.

Casamigos

Casamigos was co-founded in 2013 by none other than George Clooney. Clooney and his neighbour – nightclub owner and businessman Rande Gerber – decided to commission a distillery to make a tequila after spending months sampling various others. They wanted a tequila that “didn’t burn going down” and that’s exactly what they got with their Añejo variety. The tequila brand now produces Reposado and Blanco variations too, along with a Mezcal. Personally, we think Casamigos is the tastiest tequila around.

Cazcabel

Cazcabel tequila is produced using blue agave plants from the highlands of the Jalisco mountains. After seven years of growth, the plants are harvested and put through a fermentation and distillation process that involves copper pots and steel stills. The company’s range includes honey, coconut and coffee liqueur flavoured tequilas, as well as the more traditional Blanco and Reposado, making this one of the more versatile tequila brands on the market.

Don Julio

Don Julio is perhaps one of the most recognised tequila brands in the world. It’s certainly the largest in terms of value. It’s named after founder Don Julio González-Frausto Estrada, who began distilling at the age of 17 in 1942. It wasn’t until 1985 that the Don Julio brand was first launched, by Don Julio’s sons, in celebration of his 60th birthday.

Dulce Vida

Dulce Vida tequilas are some of the most awarded in the world. Hailing from San Ignacio Cerro Gordo, Mexico, the company harvests its blue agave plants from the highland region of Jalisco. Not only does it produce tequilas within the four main types, but it offers real-fruit infused variations too, including lime, grapefruit and pineapple jalapeńo.

El Jimador

El Jimador is the best-selling tequila in Mexico, which considering the amount produced in the country, is no mean feat. It gets its name from Jimador, an accolade bestowed upon only the very best agave plant farmers, who can easily and quickly identify which plants are ripe and which aren’t. It’s naturally fermented in open-top distilleries and bottled immediately, resulting in a super-clear Blanco tequila.

Espolón

Espolón is another tequila produced in the Los Altos (Highlands) of Jalisco, under the ownership of Campari America. It was first produced in 1998 by Cirilo Oropeza, who designed the San Nicolas Distillery in which the tequila is still made today. Along with traditional variations, the brand also has an El Colorado tequila, which is the first to be aged in former bourbon barrels.

Herradura

Herradura isn’t just a brand of tequila, but is a major distiller too (it’s responsible for making El Jimador) and was founded in 1870. After remaining in family hands for 125 years it was sold to a US beverage maker in 2007, although it’s still produced on the same site in Amatitán, Jalisco. Herradura is responsible for producing the first Reposado and Extra Añejo tequilas, and the Hacienda in which they’re made is the last active one remaining in the world.

Jose Cuervo

There’s a very good chance you’ve heard, and probably already drunk, Jose Cuervo tequila. It’s the best-selling tequila brand in the world and one that lines the stomachs of virtually every teenager (of legal drinking age), university students, and anyone else who likes a night out. Its history can be traced back to 1758 when King Ferdinand VI of Spain granted Don Jose Antonio de Cuervo some land, which was then used to plant and harvest blue agave plants. The brand currently produces seven tequilas, along with pre-mixed margaritas.

Kah

Kah tequila celebrates The Day Of The Dead, the annual Mexican festival that celebrates the spiritual journey of loved ones who have died – ‘Kah’ is the Mayan word for ‘life’. It’s the source of inspiration for the bottles, which resemble skulls, and each one is hand-painted, so no two bottles are the same.

Milagro

Milagro (Spanish for ‘miracle’) was founded in 1998 by two college friends who wanted to reignite some passion in what they believed to be a rather stale tequila scene in Mexico. Their master distiller Pedro ensures the blue agave plants used come from the Jalisco Highlands, which are then slow-roasted in brick ovens for 36 hours to extract every ounce of flavour. The fermentation process uses two different types of still, and it’s this process that gives Milagro a unique flavour.

Patron

Patron tequila has been around since 1989 but has since changed ownership a couple of times. There’s a good chance you would have already seen bottles in nightclubs and bars, a direct result of a global marketing campaign that has included various celebrity endorsements. Patron produces several varieties of tequila, but it’s perhaps best known for its silver and coffee liqueur-infused varieties.

Tequila Fortaleza

Tequila Fortaleza has only been around as a company since 2005, but its distillation process can be traced back over 100 years. The distillery that Fortaleza uses was resurrected in 1999 (after being closed in 1968) by Don Guillermo, the grandson of Don Javier, who was responsible for finding the small piece of land on which the La Fortaleza distillery sits. The company’s process still uses a small brick oven and the same original copper pots, ensuring the flavour is kept as authentic as possible.

Tromba

Tromba Tequila is the brainchild of Australians Nick Reid and James Sherry. The duo, along with Canadian Eric Brass, decided to start making a tequila of their own after visiting the Highland regions of Jalisco. But rather than make tequila to dominate the Mexican market, the trio was more in the business of exporting, with Australia, America and Canada high up on the list. The fact that their Master Distiller used to work for Don Julio, you know it’s going to be good.

Tequila FAQs

How do you drink tequila?

Many connoisseurs swear that the best way to drink tequila is to sip it on its own. You may have it chilled or straight up or even on the rocks. For shots, enjoy it with a wedge of lime and a small amount of salt.

How much alcohol is in tequila?

Tequila must have between 35 and 55 percent alcohol content or 70 to 100 proof. For the spirit to be sold in the United States and Canada, it must contain at least 40 percent alcohol.

What cocktails are made with tequila?

Tequila is versatile and can be used in lots of mixed drinks. Margarita is probably the best known tequila cocktail. You may also try the Paloma, Juan Collins, Tequila Sunrise and Brave Bull.

The post Best Tequila Brands 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

America ‘Miles’ Behind Australia When It Comes To Rewarding Passenger Loyalty

Overnight Delta became the first US airline to extend elite status to customers whose travel plans have been curtailed by the lung-busting pandemic. Barely hours later, United followed Delta’s lead.

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And another one. @united, too, is extending status to all of its current Premier members through the end of the 2021 program year (which January 31, 2022). Following @delta’s announcement this morning, UA will be lowering the requirements of earning status to accommodate for the near-total shutdown of passenger air travel due to the #covid_19 pandemic. The airline is also extending all of its annual subscription options by six months. Get the details at the link in our bio.⁠ : @_zachgriff⁠ ⁠

A post shared by The Points Guy (@thepointsguy) on Apr 5, 2020 at 2:13pm PDT

But why has it taken them so long? In Australia, where we have just 5,750 confirmed cases of the virus, and are still in a state of somewhat relaxed lockdown, with punters still hitting the beach and jogging like there’s no tomorrow, our two major airlines offered frequent flyers a 12-month status extension almost three weeks ago.

The US, on the other hand, has 336,958 confirmed cases of the virus, is in a much stricter lockdown, and has been that way for weeks. People are scared to brush each other in the supermarket, activities like surfing have been outlawed and no-one is travelling anywhere except for urgent medical reasons (as we reported last week).

So why have America’s airlines taken so much longer to react than Australia’s, despite having a greater (and earlier) reason to offer their frequent flyers peace of mind? A recent New York Times Op-Ed provides a clue at why, writing that American carriers like American Airlines exist in a cut-throat market where the only race, especially domestically, is one to the bottom (think ever reducing seat pitches, baggage allowances, etc).

American Airlines also went on a stock buyback spree, which The New York Times opinion piece took them to task for: “There are plenty of things American could have done with all that money. It could have stored up its cash reserves for a future crisis, knowing that airlines regularly cycle through booms and busts. It might have tried to decisively settle its continuing contract disputes with pilots, flight attendants and mechanics. It might have invested heavily in better service quality to try to repair its longstanding reputation as the worst of the major carriers.”

“Instead, American blew most of its cash on a stock buyback spree. From 2014 to 2020, in an attempt to increase its earnings per share, American spent more than $15 billion buying back its own stock. It managed, despite the risk of the proverbial rainy day, to shrink its cash reserves.”

Why do we mention this, when this article is centred around Delta and United Airlines’ lethargy in extending frequent flyers’ status? Well because so far they are the only airlines to do it, and also to illustrate what a competitive market they operate in.

While Australia’s airspace is also competitive, Qantas used to be government-owned, and even now there are a lot more regulations in place. Much like Medicare (think of it as a sort of heavy-duty Obamacare), Australia is still a free-market capitalist economy, but not quite so much so as the US.

For this reason, Australians (especially those that fly Qantas and Virgin Australia) are used to paying slightly more for their flights than their cousins across the pond, but also have higher expectations of their airlines.

This was driven home to DMARGE recently via reader feedback to our article “Should We Feel Sorry For Qantas & Virgin Australia?“. Unlike The New York Times piece (“Don’t Feel Sorry For [American] Airlines” which garnered support for bailouts to be contingent on American Airlines becoming less privatised, many of our readers were outraged at that same suggestion being levelled at Virgin Australia and Qantas.

Until America elects a Bernie Sanders type figure (which doesn’t look likely any time soon) we’d say this trend is set to continue, and – in loyalty, at least – American carriers will continue to languish behind Australia’s.

Online Jewellery Stores FAQs

What should I look for when buying jewellery?

Always look for a maker’s mark. It is a stamp of authenticity indicating the origin of the jewellery. If you can, buy only from reputable jewelers. Inspect the piece and look for flaws. Make sure the metal is not scratched and the gem is secure in the mounting.

How can you tell fake gold from real gold?

One way to determine is to hold a magnet up to the metal. Real gold is not magnetic, so if it is real, it will not stick to the magnet.

Is jewellery a good investment?

Yes, if your jewellery came from the collections of top designers. They will retain their value because the makers are known for using only high-quality gems and precious metals in each piece.