The 18 Best Tequila Brands For Sipping And Mixing

With hints of vanilla and citrus that blend with the distinct flavor of sweet agave, this tequila packs a punch with no lingering aftertaste. According to reviewers, it even tastes better the longer it sits out.

"This I can be very helpful about! My father sips Herradura Blanco straight," said Sarah Ceniceros Gomez, Delish's senior designer. "We’re Mexican and this is his favorite."

Don Julio 70 Cristalino delivers incredibly smooth and flavorful sips, with little to no burn or aftertaste. Perfect for sipping neat, it's fresh, citrusy aroma complements a crisp agave and caramel flavor and a subtly peppery finish. Only downside? It's a bit pricey.

"My roommate is from Guadalajara, also the state that Tequila comes from, and she likes Don Julio 70," Ceniceros Gomez added.

Izabela Campos, Delish's assistant social media editor, agrees that this liquor is a winner. "Don Julio 70 is for sure very smooth for sipping on its own."

The brainchild of George Clooney and Rande Gerber, Casamigos Blanco is all about being super classy and refined without trying too hard. This small batch tequila is made with Blue Weber agave and delivers hints of citrus, vanilla, and sweet agave with a long smooth finish.

One of the most luxurious tequilas on this list, Don Julio 1942 sports a steep price tag, making it a great option for special occasions. It's aged for a minimum of two-and-a-half years in American white-oak barrels and is the best choice for the tequila connoisseurs in your life. Oh, yeah—and the Kardashians love it.

Clase Azul is a premium tequila brand that's equally as well know for its delicious flavor as its gorgeous bottles. Each vessel is handmade and hand painted, making each a unique piece of art. The tequila is no snooze, either: It's distilled twice and aged for eight months, which infuses it with notes of apple cider, jasmine, cinnamon, and honey.

Dano (yep, there's actually a Dano behind Dano's Dangerous Tequila) works with one of the oldest family-owned distilleries in Mexico to produce his award-winning tequilas. This Pineapple & Jalapeño Fresh Fruit Infusion is Dano's signature—and it's insanely smooth.

Patrón is a crowd favorite for many reasons, one of which is its versatility. It can be sipped neat, over ice, or mixed into a cocktail. With pleasing notes of oak, vanilla, and roasted agave, it's a safe bet.

Reposado tequilas are rested in different kinds of oak barrels, which gives each a different taste. This Milagro reposado rests in American and French oak barrels, which gives it a smooth, clean flavor and a dry finish.

"I like Milagro!" says Lindsay Funston, Delish's executive editor. "[It's] super smooth with subtle citrus and pepper notes."

This 100-percent agave silver tequila is a great bang for your buck. Its low price point and surprisingly high-quality ingredients make it a bar cart staple. It's fresh and fruity with hints of grapefruit, making Sauza Silver an excellent budget option for summer marg nights with friends.

"I like Sauza Silver tequila," says Izabela Campos, our assistant social media editor. "It's really great for mixing drinks. My dad always made margaritas with it. I make this slushy-type drink with watermelon and lime for summer with it. It's a great affordable option."

Añejo tequila must be aged for just one year, but Avión makes sure its añejo stays in barrels for two years. Doubling that age requirement is what gives this tequila its characteristic amber color and aromas of burnt agave, peach, and persimmons

Hornitos Plata Tequila is a standard mid-shelf bottle, a great buy for any casual occasion where you aren't looking to spend much but don't want to sacrifice taste. You'll definitely the lively floral and herbal notes.

Cabo Wabo Blanco prides itself on being a "thick cut" tequila, which describes how the heart of the agave plant, known as the piña, is cut. Cutting the agave into just four thick quarters infuses the finished tequila with noticeably earthy tones.

Another celebrity tequila brand, Villa One is made with the help of Nick Jonas. It sources agave from the highland and lowland regions of Jalisco, Mexico. With agave from both regions, Villa One combines the herbaceous, earthy lowland notes and the sweeter, fruity notes of highland agave.

Another bottle that won't break the bank, el Jimador is made with hand-harvested blue agave. You can easily sip this silver tequila, but el Jimador has a bunch of tequila-based cocktails they suggest you try out. Hint: We have some great tequila-based recipes, too.

Sarah Ceniceros Gomez, Delish's senior designer's personal favorite is El Tequileño. "I tried it for the first time on my last trip to Tequila, Jalisco. They have little carts that sell cantaritos, and my friends and I were trying to taste as many tequilas as we could and this one was the one that tasted more seamless to me."

Jose Cuervo is a great option if you're providing for a crowd, since it tastes great and won't hurt your wallet. With great taste for those who like to sip rather than just mix, it's also great in cocktails—and in the kitchen.

Everything from the name to the packaging to the taste makes Espolòn an ode to Mexican culture. The name, Espolòn means "spur" and is a reference to a rooster's spur. Roosters are a national symbol of pride in Mexico, and the brand takes a similar pride in how they ferment, distill, and age their product.

The Rock knows what he's doing when it comes to tequila. The liquor is almost always a part of his outrageous chest meals, so he launched his own brand, Teremana. Teremana comes in a reposado and a blanco and has notes of oak and vanilla.