If it feels like tequila-based drinks are popping up on cocktail lists everywhere, rest assured, you’re not hallucinating. Tequila, a spirit once consigned to shooters and, even worse, hangovers, is suddenly everyone’s favorite spirit.
As the second most popular spirit in America, only vodka has a larger share; tequila is having its long overdue moment in the spotlight. Much like bourbon, another North American original that has recently been rediscovered by drinkers, a big reason that tequila is booming is the emergence of a plethora of high-quality brands on the market.
These premium and ultra-premium tequilas from Mexico have completely transformed how people view tequila. While it still nicely fits into the party drink category, it is quickly gathering a wide array of fans as an excellent sipping liquor and the perfect base for a memorable cocktail.
The experts at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious events, just released their results from their 2024 event. Held annually in London, it awards a score of up to 100 points from its blind taste-testing format. This year, 107 bottles were awarded a Gold Outstanding Medal for earning a score of 98 points or higher out of thousands of bottles judged. Two of them were tequilas. If you are looking for the best tequila on the planet, look no further. Best of all, both are readily available for purchase.
1800 Milenio Extra Añejo Tequila
First produced in limited quantities back in 2000, 1800 Milenio has consistently wowed judges and drinkers alike every year that it is released. Part of what makes it so special is its deep roots in Mexico. It is produced at the legendary La Rojeña Distillery, the oldest active distillery in Jalisco, the heartland of tequila. This is the same distillery that makes Jose Cuervo and Gran Centenario.
When 1800 Tequila was launched in 1975, it was one of the first brands to solely produce high-end quality tequilas, helping to change people’s perceptions of the spirit. Their 1800 Milenio Extra Añjeo is their creme of the crop. Made with 100% blue Weber agave grown on family-owned ranches and harvested at its peak in Tequila, Mexico, the liquid inside Milenio underwent a long and delicate aging process.
After spending two years in oak barrels, the liquid was then matured for a short period of time in French Oak Cognac barrels. This extra aging created a tequila famous for its balanced, soft flavor. It’s currently retailing for approximately $249 a bottle, and you can pick one up here.
Here is what the judges had to say about it. “Lucious stone fruit and red apple aromas lead to a harmonious blend of alcohol and sweetness on the palate. A delightfully deep mouthfeel with a lingering spice-driven finish.”
Lunazul Primero Humoso Blanco Tequila
When Lunazul Tequila was launched in 2004, there were high hopes for it. Founded by Francisco Beckmann, a seventh-generation descendant of the oldest tequila-making family in Mexico, his mission was to create high-quality small-batch tequilas that introduced the world to the complex flavors of a misunderstood spirit.
To accomplish this, he built Tierra de Agaves, a small-batch distillery located in the heart of the Beckmann family’s privately owned agave plantation, one of the largest in the world. Using only ingredients sourced on-site, they have consistently been turning out tequilas that routinely garner awards and are famed for their robust flavors.
Lunazul Primero Humoso Blanco Tequila is a unique product in that it delivers both a smokiness you might expect from Mezcal with a smoothness one would expect from a traditional Blanco. That makes sense when you realize that the humoso means smoky in Spanish.
Using a blend of mesquite wood-smoked agave alongside fresh blue Weber Agave, Lunazul has created a one-of-a-kind smoked tequila. It’s perfect straight or provides an excellent starting point for a wide array of cocktails. It currently retails for $29.99, and you can pick one up here.
Here is what the judges had to say about it: “Fresh grass and peppermint creaminess with a whisper of smoke. Rounded and earthy, showcasing nuances of root with tropical and citrus aromatics. Smoothly rounded and balanced with vibrant fruitiness and earthy spices, revealing balsamic and citrus on the lingering finish.”
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