Best tequilas for cocktails: Eight to try

What's your favourite tequila cocktail? Maybe it's a zingy Margarita? Or a tall refreshing Paloma? Or what about that ultimate holiday drink: the Tequila Sunrise?

Personally I'm a big fan of the underrated El Diablo, a devilishly good combo of tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice and ginger ale.

And let's not forget the simple pleasures of a Tequila & Tonic, a thirst-quencher that allows the agave flavours of your favourite tequila to shine.

Choosing the perfect tequila

Whichever drink you prefer, deciding what tequila to make it with can be a tough choice. Flavour, style and price are all important factors.

When it comes to style, there are three main ones to consider: blanco, reposado or añejo. These terms refer to how long a tequila has been aged for.

Unaged blanco tequilas – also known as plata (silver) – are the freshest style and are usually cheaper.

Reposado tequilas are aged in oak casks between two months and a year, which gives them a light golden colour. While añejo tequilas spend one to three years in cask, so the spirit takes on more wood character.

Buying tips

Blanco or plata styles are a versatile choice for most tequila cocktails, working well in a variety of different recipes. Buy the best one that you can afford – don't think that just because you're mixing a spirit you won't still be able to taste it.

To ensure you're getting a good quality tequila look for the words '100% agave' on the label. This tells you the spirit is made exclusively with Blue Weber agave, the only variety allowed for tequila production.

However it's expensive to grow and harvest Blue Weber agave, so some distillers choose to produce cheaper mixto tequila – made with a combination of agave and other sugars, such as cane sugar or corn syrup. A good mixto, such as El Sueno (see below) is a wallet-friendly option, especially if you're mixing up batches of cocktails for a party and need several bottles.

What's your style?

Aside from blancos, other tequila styles can also be suitable for mixing. If you enjoy the flavour of a reposado, using it in a Margarita will give the drink a different taste profile, with more depth. Reposados that have less wood influence, such as El Tequilano (see below), are the best ones to choose for cocktails.

Añejo tequilas, with their aged wood characteristics are a great option for stirred-down cocktails that would usually require whisky. Try replacing bourbon with tequila for a Mexican take on an Old Fashioned.

So however you like your cocktails, there’s a tequila out there for you. Here are a few suggestions to get you started…

Best tequilas for cocktails

Recommendations by Laura Foster (LF) and Julie Sheppard (JS)

Calle 23 Blanco

Calle 23 Blanco is a strong all-rounder in cocktails, and consequently is found as the house pour in numerous cocktail bars. Created by French-born biochemist Sophie Decobecq, who moved to Mexico in 1999, it has a rich palate of agave, apples, pears and pineapple before a waft of spearmint and some spicy black pepper hits. LF Alcohol 40%

Casamigos Añejo

Famed for being founded by George Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, the quality of Casamigos’ products can’t be questioned. Its añejo is aged for 14 months in American white oak barrels, with the oak influence showing through with notes of cocoa, coffee, caramel and pepper, alongside a distinctive hit of vanilla. Great in an Añejo Manhattan. LF Alc 40%

Don Julio Blanco

This distinctive short, rounded bottle was designed by the tequila’s creator Don Julio González-Frausto Estrada to allow his guests to see each other over its top as they drank together around the dinner table. Inside the bottle is a classic blanco tequila with notes of lemon and lime zest that make a zingy Margarita or Paloma, balanced with hints of vanilla pastry, mineral earthiness and spicy black pepper. JS Alc 38%

El Rayo Plata

A relative newcomer on the tequila scene, El Rayo Plata has been designed to specifically pair with tonic water. Citrusy aromas of lemon juice and pulp, chalk and a metallic note give way to a smooth palate of limestone, vanilla, agave, hay and white pepper. LF Alc 40%

El Sueno Silver

Anyone wanting to turn out an array of tequila cocktails without breaking the bank should look to this high-quality mixto tequila. It was created after one of the founders got fed up with having an allergic reaction to other mixtos. A juicy nose of nectarines, peaches and strawberries leads onto a dry, mineral palate with cooling menthol and fresh lime. LF Alc 38%

El Tequileno Reposado

Aged for three months, El Tequileno Reposado wears its oak influence lightly. A creamy yet spicy spirit, with flavours of condensed milk and marshmallows alongside cranberry, orange zest, dried chilli flakes, hazelnut and agave. The fruity, sweet yet spicy hit makes this pop in an El Diablo. LF Alc 38%

Ocho Blanco

Tequilero Carlos Camarena and tequila ambassador Tomas Estes made waves when they launched a single-field, vintage tequila brand called Ocho. Each release is different, but what can be guaranteed with Ocho blanco tequilas is a fabulous agave flavour with distinctive peppery spice that mixes particularly well in fresh, citrus-forward drinks like the Margarita. LF Alc 40%

Olmeca Altos Plata

Created in 2009 by Master Distiller Jesús Hernández and leading London bartenders (the late) Henry Besant and Dre Masso, Olmeca’s Altos Plata is perfect for cocktails. It adds delicious notes of lime zest, lime pickle, lemon sorbet and a crisp green pepper herbaceousness to a Margarita. JS Alc 40%

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