Store Bought Tequila Brands Ranked Worst To Best

Jose Cuervo may describe itself as "the number one tequila in the world," but it will probably give you the number one hangover in the world, too. Whether you are a tequila drinker or not, you have likely heard of Jose Cuervo.

Jose Cuervo has an extensive product selection, including a recent seltzer addition, Playamar, made with real Cuervo tequila. This brand has a large selection, so we give them kudos in this department; however, the reason they are so far down on the list is due precisely to Jose Cuervo Especial. If you have ever drunk tequila in a frat basement, this bottle was likely on the table. You may be thinking, what separates this tequila from the others? This bottle is a "mixto tequila," so it is not 100% blue agave. According to The Tequila Shop, Jose Cuervo Especial is only 51% blue agave, which is why you could have awful hangovers after consuming it.

Get out your Costco card because the Kirkland Silver Tequila is next on our list of store-bought tequila brands. With so many superior Kirkland signature products, it is a surprise how low the Silver Tequila landed on our list. Kirkland has three tequila varieties Reposado, Añejo, and Silver. The first two are popular among Costco customers, but the Silver does not even come close in comparison.

When you take a sip of Kirkland Silver, you taste the alcohol and nothing else. It would be nearly impossible if you were at a tequila tasting and asked to name the different flavors in this bottle. This tequila is robust and not in a good way — don't even think about taking shots or sipping this silver tequila. It is only tolerable mixed in a drink with a significant amount of other liquid to mask the taste of the alcohol. (We suggest whipping up a spicy margarita.) If you are looking for a great-tasting silver tequila, search elsewhere. If Costco is your primary grocery store of choice, check out the Reposado or Añejo for a better tequila experience. Trust is there are way better silver tequilas on the market, do not settle for Kirkland's.

Introducing Hornitos, Sauza's slightly higher-shelved sibling. Hornitos revolutionized the agave cooking process, which is how it got its name, which means "little ovens" in Spanish. the brand stands behind the tagline, "a shot worth taking." While we can't confidently promote that this is a shot worth taking, we can confirm it's not awful for the price. Spirits Review says it best; essentially, Hornitos tastes on the cheaper end, but not like it's the cheapest one on the shelf. It's your standard mid-shelf bottle that you won't be embarrassed to show up to a party with, but you won't be overspending on either.

As you may have learned from our previous rankings, the label "100% agave" is what separates the good from the bad in tequila terms. While we recognize this label identifies the breakdown of ingredients, we want to acknowledge, although this tequila is 100% agave, it is not at the top of our list for a reason. In the end, we would say this brand is just alright.

If you keep up with the Kardashians, you have undoubtedly heard of 818 Tequila. Kendall Jenner's brand 818 was extremely popular due to its association with the celebrity, forcing sell-outs and store re-stocks. The brand got its name from Jenner's home area code, but the company shares, "The area code 818 is home to me, but the earth is home to all of us." The brand mentions it feels a great sense of responsibility to the community and the environment, sharing sustainability commitments on the website. 

Now, let's get to the critical part, the taste of 818. This bottle is on the more expensive end compared to tequilas we have rated thus far, and it doesn't have the taste to match the price tag. We believe you can find better-tasting bottles for probably $15 less. 818 is smooth, we'll give it that; however, it's sweet and does not have a pleasant aftertaste. If you want to get the best bang for your buck, choose one of the brands coming later in the article. 

Next on our list is Casamigos, another celebrity-backed tequila brand. Casamigos was founded by longtime friends George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman. This crew set out to create tequila and mezcal that did not need to be masked by salt and limes. After years of being tequila lovers, followed by years of perfecting the recipe with a master distiller in Jalisco, Mexico, Casamigos was born.

This brand is perfect for feeling a little classier with minimal effort — and without a hefty price tag. Liquor.com raves about Casamigos, saying the flavors will please a younger audience with their sweeter taste. Thankfully for you, if you like sweeter tequila, this is nothing like the sweetness from 818, in the best way. It is on the sweeter side, but with Casamigos, we can guarantee a smooth tequila every single time.

Sliding into the number three slot, we have Espolòn Tequila. Everything from the name to the packaging is an ode to Mexican culture. Each Espolòn bottles' artwork tells a story showcasing tidbits of the past with a modern twist. The name Espolòn means "spur," referring to a rooster's spur, a "powerful symbol of national pride" in Mexico, shares the brand. As a parallel, Espolòn takes incredible pride in every step of its supply chain journey.

We love Espolòn for its taste and affordable price tag. It snagged the number two spot because, unlike some of the other inexpensive tequilas on this list, Espolòn is sippable and great for shots without leaving you with a crippling hangover the next day. This tequila is more subtle and does not have an awful after-taste like many cheap tequilas. You can find Espolòn for around $20, half the price of other less desirable tequila options. We think Espolòn is one of the best-tasting affordable tequilas, which is why we feel strongly about its top-tier ranking.

Rounding out our store-bought tequila brands list is number one and crowd favorite, Don Julio. Don Julio is one of the smoothest tequilas out there. It is super easy to drink and can be enjoyed on the rocks, in a shot, or a mixed drink. No matter how you fancy tequila, this brand is a great choice. There's an age-old debate over which tequila is the best: Patrón or Don Julio. We can confidently say we feel Don Julio has more depth to its flavor. Cost is not a factor in the debate either, because both bottles are similar in price.

Don Julio's eponymous founder's mission made the brand a trailblazer in the tequila industry. For generations, tequila bottles were large and hidden under the table during gatherings. Don Julio knew his tequila did not belong on the floor and designed a smaller bottle that could easily be passed from person to person. Today, many brands have mimicked this design, and passing the tequila bottle is now part of the experience.