Our 7 Top Tequilas — Straight Up

As real estate savants, we’re known to give it to you straight. And, as tequila connoisseurs, we’re known to give it to you straight up. Just as no two properties are the same, no two tequilas are made equal.

 

With all sorts of spirits swirling around, whether that be “reposado” or “añejo,” it can be hard to keep up with the tequila train. And, knowing which types and brands are best? Probably not as simple as you’d like your sipping to be. Nevertheless, with this ballot of seven bespoke tequilas, we’re here to save you from scouring the store aisles and restaurant menu for the smoothest agave out there. It’s about time we set the record straight.

 

• Blanco: tequila in its purest agave form, distilled without any oak aging.
• Joven: blanco that is mixed with a bit of aged tequila for richer flavor.
• Reposado: spends two months to one year in oak.
• Añejo: spends one to three years in oak — made for sipping.
• Extra Añejo: aged for more than three years — for the true tequila devotees.
  
  

Tequila Ocho is one of the few tequilas that’s still produced in a super slow, old-fashioned way. Not only does this attention to detail give each bottle its own unique flavor, but it also serves as a testament to the company’s dedication to authenticity. Every bottle features the year it was produced and exact field from which the agave was family grown in Mexico. We can definitely cheers to that.

 

 

The world’s first extra añejo tequila, Jose Cuervo’s Reserva de la Familia is made exclusively with blue agave harvested after 7–12 years and aged in oak for a minimum of 3 years. The result is a velvety finish with notes of cinnamon and vanilla. Even better? Reserva de la Familia was once distributed solely amongst the Cuervo family, only recently made available to the public. We’re so in.

 

Whether you want a blanco, reposado or añejo, Clase Azul serves up some of the most delectably luxurious and aesthetically extravagant tequila in the business. To give you a bit of a glimpse, the Clase Azul Plata is made from organic blue weber agave, cooked in a brick oven for 72 hours, and the Clase Azul Ultra is produced in numbered batches of 100 bottles, distributed in handmade ceramic decanters hand-painted by Mexico’s most talented artisans. No details left behind.

 

 

Produced in sought-after small batches, this limited edition 100% blue agave tequila is a master blend of blanco and extra-aged tequilas, perfect for sipping on its own or pairing with — you guessed it — tacos. And, if you’re looking to amp up your gift-giving game, personalize a bottle of Casa Dragones Joven for “someone you really, really love” (according to Vanity Fair). Now you know what to get us for Christmas.

 

Casamigos has gained stellar traction by virtue of creators George Clooney and Rande Gerber. But, this isn’t your average celebrity-owned business. Their goal was to make the best-tasting, smoothest tequila that needn’t be covered up with salt or lime. And, we must admit, they’re totally winning the game. Casamigos Añejo is aged for fourteen months in American-white oak barrels, offering subtle hints of spice and sweetness. Yes, all the cool kids are drinking it — but, for good reason.

 

 

Don Julio is a dear friend of ours. He just doesn’t know it yet. Produced in small batches and barrel-aged in American-white oak for eighteen months, Don Julio Añejo defines the essence of beautifully mature tequila, full-bodied and complex with notes of butterscotch. This is a great one to order at a restaurant, ranging from $14 to $17 a glass.

 

This one is a must for collectors. Undoubtedly our favorite tequila to sip with friends, Dos Artes is not only silky smooth with a caramel finish, but also decoratively killer. Limited in quantity and supply, this coveted tequila is distributed in vibrant ceramic bottles and both looks and tastes best on ice…and our office bar cart.