Tequila has spent years trying to escape its reputation as something quickly drunk with salt and lime, with the best bottles on the market making that old ritual feel particularly unfair.Made from blue Weber agave, in designated regions of Mexico, tequila can range from bright, peppery blanco expressions to oak-aged reposados and añejos, to increasingly polished cristalinos. Production methods matter enormously with tequila. Slow cooking, careful fermentation and traditional crushing can preserve the vegetal sweetness of agave, while aggressive processing and heavy filtration can leave the spirit tasting anonymous, often overly sweet.Moreover, price is not always a reliable guide. Some relatively affordable blancos offer far more character than elaborate luxury bottles, while scarcity and striking packaging can push respected names into uncomfortable territory. Smoothness can be pleasant, but it is not the same thing as quality. The best tequilas have texture, freshness and a recognisable agave core rather than just removing every rough edge until the liquid is bland and forgettable.I tested a broad selection spanning traditional blancos, accessible supermarket bottles, experimental cask finishes, reposados, añejos and cristalinos. Whether you want a serious sipping tequila, a dependable bottle for margaritas or something impressive to give as a gift, these are the best tequilas worth buying right now.Read more: Best gins in 2026, taste-tested(Jonathan Hatchman/The Independent)Best overall – Tequila Ocho plata single estate 2025, £29.25, Thewhiskyexchange.comBest value – Tequila Tapatío blanco: £27.24, Masterofmalt.comBest traditional blanco – Tequila Fortaleza blanco: £71.75, Thewhiskyexchange.comBest highland blanco – Tequila Don Fulano blanco: £52.95, Thewhiskyexchange.comBest reposado – Tequila ArteNOM selección de 1414 reposado: £68.50, Thewhiskyexchange.comRead more: Best Scotch whiskies in 2026, taste-tested