Esquire Tequila Guide: 29 of the Best Tequilas To Drink Now

We made it our mission to source the world’s smoothest tequila, and we found it in Clase Azul’s luxury reposado. The brand only uses the finest organic agave (naturally). And the decanter? Well, that's handmade.

Inside, you’ll find a golden liquid, with inviting notes of buttery caramel and vanilla, underscored with subtle cinnamon, nutmeg and juicy apricot. Made for sipping, a few rocks of ice are all you need.

The brainchild of Master Distillers from Spain and Mexico, Lobos 1707 Extra Anejo exhibits the producing prowess of both nations; a blend of blue weber grown in the mineral-rich soils of Jalisco is aged in American oak, before being finished in Pedro Ximénez wine barrels. The result is a tequila of unparalleled smoothness, with a sherry-like flavour profile (think: baking spices, toasted nuts, and dried fruit sweetness), which is testament to the harmonious marriage of tradition and innovation. No self-confessed tequila connoisseur should be without a bottle in their collection.

818 Tequila gained industry acclaim and accolades before its big-name backer (that’s Kendall Jenner, FYI) was revealed.

Smooth and mellow (dare we say it, much like ‘Kenny’ in comparison to the wider Kardashian clan), it’s full of agave sweetness, while the subtle smokiness imparted by the French oak ageing process provides a whiff of popcorn and burnt caramel. This one is destined for shorter cocktails and sipping.

This tequila is on the sweeter side. We think it would work well in a paloma with lime juice, grapefruit juice and a wedge of fresh grapefruit – the perfect refreshing sipper for a summer’s day.

Rested for two months in French oak ex-Napa Valley red wine casks, the result is flavours of roasted red berries with hints of treacle and a long sweet and fruity finish.

It may be an unaged blanco tequila but this small-batch spirit is anything but entry level. You can expect a fresh, clean and sweet flavour profile, with a unique menthol and clove finish.

It’s particularly smooth for a blanco, with no harsh alcohol burn to note, making it ideal in a Tommy’s margarita.

Meticulously crafted from the finest blue weber agave, El Mayor Anejo undergoes a maturation process in white oak barrels for up to 36 months under the watchful eye of Master Distiller Rodolfo Gonzãlez. The complexity of the bouquet is apparent from the get go, with woodier notes at the fore, followed by a spicier hit of clove, ginger, and cinnamon, wrapped up with a whisper of vanilla sweetness. A velvety mouthfeel makes this a moreish sipper deserving of a spot on your bar cart.

You’ll find Casa Noble in many of the world’s leading cocktail bars – and with good reason, too. This triple distilled blanco is as crisp and clean as they come; citrus-forward and smooth, with a prominent black pepper backnote, it’s our go-to for savoury tequila drinks, including Micheladas (think Mexico’s take on a Bloody Mary).

Patron has stepped up with this seriously smooth, four times distilled silver tequila.

Elegant and complex, on the nose you’ll find honeycomb, vanilla and green pepper, moving to a clean and pronounced palate that's made for sipping neat.

Who says an old fashioned needs to be made with whisky? Komos Anejo Cristalino has an unexpected butterscotch sweetness that will give the classic cocktail a whole new lease of life.

Outstandingly complex, however you decide to drink it, you can expect notes of black peppercorn, dark chocolate, brown sugar and toasted coffee bean to boot.

An outstanding tequila from small-batch producer Mijenta, this is matured for at least 18 months in a combination of American white oak, French oak, French acacia and cherry wood casks.

The result is an incredibly smooth and complex tequila that’s packed with honeyed sweetness and grassy, earthy flavours. With very little burn, this is a fantastic choice for sipping with a wedge of orange and a little salt.

Your bar cart deserves a work of art, and this hand-crafted ‘Dia de los Muertos’ inspired vessel is completely unique. Inside, the liquid lives up to the hype — a gentle, soft spirit with a sherry-like sweetness from dried fruit. Let it develop and you’ll be rewarded with a savoury, leathery finish and vanilla and cedar presence.

Ememigo’s Extra Añejo is matured for three years, resulting in a complex and beautifully balanced tequila.

On the nose, expect subtle agave, sage, eucalyptus and black pepper; on the palate, you get a whole range of delicious flavours, with herbal notes as well as maple, cocoa and vanilla, all rounded off with a slightly spicy kick from the alcohol.

This is another work of art for your bar cart and a second favourite from the Kendall Jenner backed 818 Tequila (but don’t let the Kardashian connection put you off). This unique blend of Añejo tequilas is aged for up to eight years in French and American oak barrels and presented in a ceramic decanter handmade in Mexico’s Pachuca, meaning it’s almost as good to look at as it is to drink.

Our panel loved the intense, complex flavours, with woody and caramel notes, ginger and orange marmalade, cocoa and vanilla… the list goes on.

Forget the Triple Sec, this tequila is creatively infused with Sicilian orange and tangerine extracts for ready-to-go margaritas. Syrupy with woody notes, splash over ice in a salt-rimmed glass for the perfect pre-barbecue aperitif with friends.

Fancy trying the latest innovation in tequila? Using a similar method to aged white rum, this has been filtered to remove the colour before spending a year in American oak.

Though our panel would have preferred a little more pronounced agave for an older tequila, it does open up with some time in the glass, offering briny olive and vegetal notes with some sweet vanilla.

Aged four times longer than required for a reposado, Don Julio is a cocktail classic for those in the know. Well-balanced, yet warming, you can expect bold oak, maple syrup and brioche sweetness, and a touch of pepper.

Rita Ora has jumped on the tequila bandwagon with her brand Prospero, backed with the expertise of Master Distiller, Stella Anguiano.

There's a subtle earthiness and a hint of honey, plus some brown sugar flavours, to this one. We'd try it in a sidecar (traditionally made with cognac, orange liqueur, plus lemon juice). Or if you're after something fresher, the brand's blanco has racked up a lot of awards too.

What is it with celebrities and tequila? Presumably, when George Clooney isn’t drinking Nespresso, he’s pouring himself a measure of Casamigos, a brand he co-created with high profile friends Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman (and has since sold to Diageo for a reported one billion dollars).

With buttery caramel, juicy orange and sweet cinnamon notes, our serving preference would be in a tequila old fashioned that’s as smooth as the main man himself.

VIVIR is a British brand doing things properly. It uses traditional production methods, 100% blue weber agave (no nasty additives) and natural volcanic spring water found at the distillery — and trust us, you can taste it.

Matured in ex-bourbon casks for six months before bottling, it’s a top-class reposado. With notes of oaked caramel, butterscotch, vanilla and a vegetal earthiness, try it in a highball, or simply as a good ol’ sipping spirit.

If the Don Julio (above) sounds too sweet, small-batch Mijenta strikes the perfect balance between that and a fresh blanco. Intense and warming, it’s like a bonfire in the mouth due to the use of three different types of oak.

Bags of flavour — including vanilla, smoked agave and lemon — make this best suited to a tequila negroni or other short serve.