Excerpted from Inside Hook.
There are several thousand tequila brands (literally) and seemingly more each week. And no wonder: the agave spirit has passed whiskey in retail sales, and the category grew 11.5% from 2021 to 2022 and shows absolutely zero signs of slowing down. But along with growth comes the nagging question — what are these newer brands actually bringing to the table?
Sure, Cristalinos were fun for a moment. And there are plenty of interesting barrel maturation concepts out there. But hunting down newer tequilas that offer more than just “100% Blue Weber agave” and have bottles beyond the standard blanco, reposado, añejo and extra añejo expressions took a bit of (fun) work. Below, 10 tequilas (and tequila liqueurs) that actually provide something a little special in a market saturated with similarity. If you’re looking for tequila with a new story and an interesting taste profile, we suggest buying one of the following bottles.
Tequila Komos
Inspired by Mediterranean winemaking and presented in ceramic bottles, these tequilas are aged in wine barrels and aerated to finish. Available in four expressions (Reposado Rosa, Añejo Cristalino, Añejo Reserva and Extra Añejo), the Extra Añejo actually scored the first 100-point score ever by The Tasting Panel. Our favorite is the Reserva — aged in French oak wine barrels, bourbon barrels and sherry casks, it achieves a wonderful and sweet jamminess with hints of cocoa and the earthy agave notes intact.
Read the full list on Inside Hook HERE