Tequila is a Mexican spirit that is a staple in bars. It’s smooth enough to drink straight or as a shot but dynamic and versatile enough to be used in a variety of different cocktails. Prices for tequila can range from under $20 to as much as thousands of dollars, with the quality typically depending on how long the aging process takes. If you’re on a budget and can’t afford to drop a large amount of money on a bottle of alcohol, don’t worry! You don’t need to spend a lot. The best affordable tequilas will do well in whatever concoction you plan to make without breaking the bank.
The process of distilling tequila starts with harvesting agave plants at the correct age, depending on climate conditions. After harvesting, the plants are taken to a distillery, where they are cooked and crushed to extract sugar and juices, then start the fermentation process. Once the correct level of alcohol is reached, the liquid is then filtered and bottled. While excessive drinking is never good for your health, tequila can be a great choice if you’re counting calories due to its lack of carbohydrates and sugar.
If the word “tequila” brings back memories of cheap shots that leave a bad taste in your mouth, it might be time to expand your horizons! Tequila can be used in a wide range of cocktails, and according to a survey of 2,000 adults in the U.K., one in five drinkers prefer mixed drinks over beer and wine. You can add a shot of your favorite tequila to popular cocktails such as the classic margarita, a paloma, a tequila sour, or a Mexican mule. Tequila is usually labeled with five different classifications: Blanco, reposado, anejo, extra anejo, or cristalino. The labels indicate how long the liquor has been aged.
Different Types of Tequila:
- Blanco tequila is unaged and has a clear, white color. It has a fresh, agave flavor with hints of citrus and pepper. Blanco tequila is often used in cocktails, such as margaritas and palomas.
- Reposado tequila is aged for 2-11 months in oak barrels. This gives it a slightly golden color and a more complex flavor profile, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice. Reposado tequila can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails.
- Añejo tequila is aged for at least 1 year in oak barrels. This gives it a rich, amber color and a full-bodied flavor, with notes of wood, fruit, and spice. Añejo tequila is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
- Extra añejo tequila is aged for at least 3 years in oak barrels. It has the deepest flavor and aroma of all the tequila types, with notes of vanilla, chocolate, and coffee. Extra añejo tequila is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
- Cristalino tequila is aged in oak barrels and then filtered to remove the color and some of the more intense woody flavors. This gives it the clarity of a blanco tequila with the complexity of an aged tequila. Cristalino tequila can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails.
If you’re not sure what kind of tequila you prefer, you can even sign up for tequila tastings to try different kinds! In the meantime, StudyFinds has drawn up a starter list of some of the best affordable tequilas on the market to get you started. Grab a glass and let us know in the comments which one is your favorite.
The List: Best Affordable Tequila, According to Experts
1. Espolòn Tequila Blanco
Espolòn Tequila’s bottle of blanco is the top pick for an all-around affordable tequila that mixes well in cocktails and goes down surprisingly smooth for shots. “The best margarita we tasted last year utilized a very basic recipe (Cointreau, lime juice, tequila, salty rim) and involved this blanco, which is bright and citrusy with just enough pepper and spice to hold your drink up, but smooth enough to keep you going back for, well, way more than you should,” writes Inside Hook.
Being double distilled contributes to its smoothness, but despite its ability to adapt to any mixer or cocktail the tequila still has more than enough complexity of flavor. “The brand’s iconic rooster, featured on each label, references the charge in the fight for Mexico’s independence,” says Delish. “The flavor is super smooth, especially for the price.”
“Espolon, a highlands tequila, is a bit earthier than El Jimador, and not as crisp and light,” adds a reviewer at Serious Eats. “Spicy and mildly floral, it carries hints of grilled pineapple and black pepper. I like sipping this one on ice, though I prefer it in cocktails, especially margaritas. Espolon is always a bit surprising to me because I always find myself preferring the blanco over the reposado.”
2. Olmeca Altos Plata Blanco
Olmeca Altos Plata has more of a mild and light flavor profile, with notes of citrus, pepper, and agave. Pair it with seafood, or spicy and salty snacks. “This highland tequila is super solid, particularly mixed into cocktails,” explains The Spruce Eats. “Though the price is approachable, Olmeca Altos makes sure to use eco-conscious production methods, which is pretty rare for tequilas at this price point. The flavor has sweet caramelized agave and pepper notes with a creamy finish, resulting in a serious bang for your buck.”
This tequila has won several awards, such as the International Spirits Challenge and Global Tequila & Mezcal Masters. “When the occasion calls for batched Margaritas, whether fresh or frozen, Olmeca Altos Plata serves a standout option,” writes Vine Pair. “Cooked agave forms the core of its profile, while sweet tropical fruit and baking spices add extra layers of flavor. A jalapeño kick on the finish promises to pair perfectly with a chili-spiced salted rim.”
According to Mashed, if you are looking for something affordable to “stock your bar or to make a big batch of cocktails, Olmeca Altos Plata is the way to go. It’s a citrusy spirit that’s a margarita must, and not just because of the price tag.”
3. Gran Centenario Añejo Tequila
If you want a tequila with more depth, try a reposado or anejo tequila. Gran Centenario Anejo tequila is aged for 18-36 months in French oak barrels, giving it a sweet flavor with nutty aromas. “The term ‘añejo’ (which means ‘aged’) refers to a tequila that’s been aged in oak barrels for one to three years—an investment of time and resources that often finds the resulting tequilas priced out of the “cheap” category,” writes Liquor. “Gran Centenario, however, still offers their solid añejo at a price that won’t put too large a dent in your pocketbook.”
Ideally, this tequila should be enjoyed neat, and paired with heavier meats or savory snacks. “The aroma hints at bourbon with notes of oak, caramel, vanilla, and roasted agave,” describes Marcas de Tequila. “On the palate, blue agave is dominant, paired with apple, oak, vanilla, and caramel.It concludes with a medium, smooth finish touched by caramel and oak. Gran Centenario Añejo is a budget-friendly option. It may not be the best Añejo out there, but it’s solid, versatile, and offers good value for its price.”
“Like El Jimador, Gran Centenario isn’t really a complex tequila; it’s smooth and refreshing, with citrus overtones and some grassiness,” says Serious Eats. “Though it’s a simple tequila, it’s satisfying and tasty, just right for a margarita.”
4. Cazadores Reposado Tequila
Cazadores is a great budget reposado. “The Cazadores distillery has been producing tequila since 1922, so they have a century worth of expertise,” explains Delish. “This reposado spends a year in new American oak barrels, so it’s got the perfect balance between woody and sweet.”
Cazadores tequila is produced in a seven-step, fully sustainable, zero-waste distilling process. “Reposado tequila is aged for two months to a year in oak barrels, a process which softens the brightest of the spirit’s assertive agave notes, and one of the most quaffable tequilas in this category is the reposado from Cazadores,” writes Liquor.
“Developed in 1922 in the Mexican community of Arandas (where it’s still produced today), the small-batch Cazadores Reposado—which translates to ‘resting’—is made with 100% blue agave,” adds Thrillist. “It hangs out for up to a year in American oak barrels which provides it with its signature taste. The final product: fresh agave flavors mingling with vanilla and woody notes—otherwise known as a recipe for an excellent chilled sipping tequila. Enjoy.”
5. Tequila Ocho Reposado
Tequila Ocho produces their product at the same distillery in Arandas, Jalisco and customizes their production methods to the conditions of each particular harvest. “A single estate tequila from NOM 1474, Cía Tequila Los Alambiques, Tequila Ocho’s reposado is made from agave harvested from Los Alto de Jalisco at peak maturity between seven to 10 years, slow cooked in brick ovens for 48 hours, cooled for an additional 24 before the piñas are crushed in a roller mill and fermented for 100 hours in open air wood fermentation tanks,” explains UpRoxx.
A bottle of this artisanal tequila is a slightly higher spend compared to other tequilas on this list is worth the richness in flavor that’s perfect for sipping. “This lightly amber-hued tequila was matured for exactly eight weeks and eight days in oak barrels that previously held American whiskey,” writes Cool Material. “This creates a wildly complex tequila that starts with aromas of sticky toffee, vanilla, and cooked agave. One sip and you’ll be transported to a world of vegetal, sweet agave, vanilla beans, dried fruits, and cinnamon spice. It’s a great spicy, sweet tequila to sip on an unseasonably cool evening.”
“This lively, bright Tequila will please purists,” says Wine Enthusiast. “A light hand with the oak means a straw hue and brisk aromas of jalapeño and citrus. The palate melds flavors of bell pepper, fresh rosemary and roasted jalapeño that lead into mild coconut and graphite notes on the midpalate, finishing with a fresh herb exhale.”
6. El Jimador Silver
If you want a solid blanco tequila that won’t break the bank and works well for shots or cocktails, a bottle of El Jimador is a great choice. We wouldn’t recommend this one for sipping, but the liquor’s bright flavor profile is perfect for mixing. “Silver tequilas in general are pretty ideal for mixing. But El Jimador’s citrusy characters make it a great match for a delicious lime-forward margarita,” explains The Manual. “Most tequila cocktails have some citrus, so keep this versatile tequila around.”
El Jimador is perfect for citrus based cocktails or spicy margaritas, with fruity, spicy flavors and a warm, smooth finish. “The brand owner, Brown Forman, cites a Nielsen poll that indicates El Jimador is the top-selling 100%-agave brand in Mexico,” writes Serious Eats. “If that’s true, it’s easy to see why. El Jimador’s blanco is smooth and crisp, tasting of fresh agave and citrus. It’s not a super-complex sipper, but if you’re looking to finally graduate from plastic-jug tequila, El Jimador should be your first stop.”
“Made in Jalisco, this 100 percent agave tequila rests for 40 days before it’s bottled and sent to thirsty drinkers,” adds The Spruce Eats. “This results in a crisp tequila that works particularly well in cocktails, and the fact that it’s one of the best-selling brands in Mexico confirms that. Tasting notes of roasted agave, lemon, and honey pair particularly well in a paloma. The name El Jimador tips a hat to the farmers, the Jimadors, who lovingly grow and harvest all the agave in Jalisco, Mexico.”
7. Lunazul Blanco Tequila
Compared to El Jimador, Lunazel boasts more of a complex flavor profile, with notes of spice. “Grassy agave meets a bowl of mixed tropical fruit in this lowlands blanco,” writes a reviewer at Serious Eats. “The flavor has a hint of pepper and herbal notes, and the finish is mildly spicy. Though this isn’t my favorite sipper of the bunch, it’s great in cocktails. Try it in a Paloma, in the Mexican style, with a pinch of salt, some fresh lime juice (if you can afford it), and grapefruit soda.”
As with most blanco tequilas, Lunazul is great for crafting cocktails, even simple ones that let the flavor of the tequila shine. “Lunazul prides itself on the fact that every bottle is hand-labeled and hand-crafted,” explains Delish. “Stir this into a tequila-ginger, add a slice of lime, and you’ve got a really good cocktail.”
“Sometimes simple is better. Lunazul blanco is smooth, balanced, and unaged, allowing the pure agave flavor to lure you in on its own,” says Thrillist. “There are pronounced flavors of agave, pepper, and vanilla in each sip.”
How to Taste Tequila
To taste tequila, start by pouring a small amount into a glass. Swirl the tequila around in the glass to release the aromas. Then, take a small sip and let the tequila roll around your mouth. Pay attention to the flavors and textures of the tequila.
Here are a few tips for tasting tequila:
- Sip slowly: Tequila is best enjoyed slowly. This will give you time to appreciate the flavor profile.
- Neat or on the rocks: Tequila is typically enjoyed neat or on the rocks. You can also add a splash of water or lime juice to your tequila.
- Pair with food: Tequila can be paired with a variety of foods, such as Mexican food, seafood, and barbecue.
No matter what your budget is, there is a great affordable tequila out there for you. By following the tips above, you can choose the best affordable tequila for your taste and budget.
You might also be interested in:
Sources:
- Inside Hook
- Delish
- Serious Eats
- The Spruce Eats
- Vine Pair
- Mashed
- Liquor
- Marcas de Tequila
- Thrillist
- UpRoxx
- Cool Material
- Wine Enthusiast
- The Manual
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
The best one is Gran Centenario and the second one Cazadores (good quality for the price) the rest sorry but that’s why are cheap compare to the best ones…