What are the best under-the-radar Tequilas?

Hey, you there. Yes, you, the person who clicked on a blog about under-the-radar Tequila. I’m going to guess that you’re somewhat of a flavour explorer. Someone who loves to try new things. Who abhors people ordering chicken nuggets at a Chinese restaurant. Who doesn’t drown every alcoholic drink they consume in off-brand Pepsi. You don’t just want a drink. You want exquisite new taste sensations. Unique stories. To traverse beyond the well-known brands. 

Or you were just interested to see which Tequilas made the cut. Regardless of what brought you here, we’re confident there’s a delicious Tequila below that will make you glad you checked this blog out. Here’s our pick of the best under-the-radar Tequilas.

Fortaleza Blanco Still Strength 70cl

Fortaleza is respected within the industry for its quality and authenticity but I always feel like I don’t hear enough about it in wider circles and so I like to do my best to spread the good word. This is just properly good Tequila. The higher-strength variation of the Blanco Tequila, in particular, is so pure and rich in flavour it will knock your socks off. 

Pueblo Viejo Reposado 70cl

Reposado lovers will appreciate this delicious 100% agave expression from Pueblo Viejo, which manages to be affordable and tasty. You can really have fun with this one and mix up some cracking Margaritas, but it has enough about it to be sipped neat or on the rocks too.

Pasote Añejo 70cl

A good Añejo, in my humble opinion, is a tricky thing to find. Either the barrels lack in quality and their impact is too tame and muddles with the spirit, or the barrel is far too powerful and ends up swallowing all that’s great about the spirit. Pasote doesn’t fall into either trap, creating a Tequila that spent one year in American bourbon barrels which have mellowed some of the harsher qualities, added new flavours, and brought a sophisticated tinge of colour to the expression, without removing all the Pasote personality. 

Avión Silver Tequila 70cl

At the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this Tequila took home an impressive pair of awards – Best Silver Tequila and Best Unaged White Spirit! But it’s easy to only care about the latest competition winners and overlook those who took home big medals for good reasons in the past. Give Avión a shot. Not literally, of course, we don’t need the salt and lime here. Serve over ice to appreciate the clarity of its flavour, or whip up a bright and beautiful Tommy’s Margarita. 

Campos Maya Blanco 70cl

Generations of agave-growing know-how will typically lead to the creation of a good Tequila and that’s exactly what Campos Maya has behind it. This is the kind of Tequila that good bartenders gravitate to and that’s always a sure-fire sign you’ve got a winner on your hands. Elegantly floral, herbaceous, and with notes of stone fruits and citrus, Campos Maya Blanco is a lovely drink.

Cenote Cristalino Tequila 70cl

Cristalino is the new kid on the block as far as Tequila goes. It’s a style made by filtering Tequila aged long enough to be classed as an Añejo to the extent that it removes the colour, but not the flavour. So it looks like Tequila but has a matured edge to it. Cenote, like many, uses an activated carbon filter to get the Cristalino clarity, after ageing this Tequila for over a year in American oak casks. If you want to see what all the fuss is about with this newer style, this is a great place to start. Because it’s ruddy delicious. 

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