We tested entirely too much tequila to identify the ideal bottles for sipping, shots and cocktails, including a few surprises

There are thousands — yes, thousands — of tequila brands, and for good reason. Sales of agave spirits make up the third-largest spirits category in the United States, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. And even with a glut of brands and general ennui in the drinks world, the category is still showing signs of growth (particularly reposado tequilas). Basically, everyone likes tequila.

So if you’re going out this year for Cinco de Mayo (or ordering in), tequila will be on the menu. Below, we’ve highlighted 50 great bottles that are worth your time and money, all of which we’ve sampled and tested over the years to identify the best emerging labels and bottles on the market, along with some standbys that never get old. We started this list in 2021; this year, we added a few newcomers and changed a a couple picks if a brand we liked came out with something new (and better).

For the most part, we tried to narrow our selections to tequilas you have a chance of trying, either via a good local bar, liquor store or online shop (we recommend ReserveBar for quick orders and Frootbat or SipTequila for the harder-to-find stuff).

“CASA DRAGONES. We’ve been fans of this sipping tequila since InsideHook launched 10+ years ago — it was part of our first Father’s Day gift guide — though we usually let someone else pick up the tab when we want a sip. The distillery does a good job with maturation — both the Tequila Añejo Barrel Blend (matured in new French Oak and new American Oak) and Reposado Mizunara (aged in a rare Japanese oak) offer unique and elegant profiles not often found in tequila.”

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