The Best Tequila for Margaritas

A margarita is the quintessence of summer: a perfectly balanced trifecta of sweet, sour, and salt. Like tasting the ocean if it were sweetened with simple syrup and spritzed with lemon juice. A traditional margarita isn’t like the diluted, sacchariferous, margaritas in buckets often served in restaurants. By contrast, it has a potent tequila flavor, tart with only three simple ingredients — high-quality tequila, orange liqueur, and freshly-squeezed lime juice served on the rocks, with or without a salted rim. So, what is the best tequila for margaritas? We’ll tell you.

The History of the Margarita

Margarita is the Spanish word for “daisy.” The Daisy was a popular category of cocktail in the early 20th century. The July 19, 1939 edition of the Albuquerque Journal described the Daisy as being “ubiquitous.” The first ever mention of a tequila-based Daisy appeared in the Moville Mail in 1936 in a piece titled “Graham’s Sightseeing.” James Graham was the owner and editor of Moville Mail. In it, he describes his visit to Tijuana and Agua Caliente, Mexico:

When we parked, the driver told us of places of interest that are now not so interesting as in the days of Prohibition in the states. Then there were 150 bars open, now there are nine. One of these is run by an Irishman named Madden. The driver had told us of his skill in mixing drinks. One of his inventions has given his saloon the name of “The Home of the Famous Tequila Daisy.” As a newspaperman seeking information, I entered the joint and told Mr. Madden my curiosity was aroused regarding The Daisy. He was not as talkative as his prototype, Mr. Dooley, but I imagine he looks like that gentleman, the creation of the imagination of the late Peter Finlay Dunne. After a while, he told me The Daisy was an invention, as no skill was employed in its creation, it was a mistake. “In mixing a drink I grabbed the wrong bottle and the customer was so delighted that he called for another and spread the good news far and wide,” said Mr. Madden.

And spread it did! The margarita is now the most popular cocktail in the United States.

Spread the good news! The margarita was invented by an Irish bartender in Mexico! How’s that for a history lesson?

There are five types of tequila:

• Blancos
• Joven
• Reposados
• Añejos
• Extra añejos

Traditionally, blancos are used in margaritas due to their pure flavor but we chose a reposado tequila because of its nuanced flavor. Reposado tequilas are aged in oak barrels and retain the original agave flavor, with notes of citrus, honey, and complex flavors like cinnamon.

#1 Gran Dovejo Reposado Tequila

Tequila Gran Dovejo is a small-batch puro (“pure”) tequila produced in the highlands of Jalisco by the Feliciano Vivanco family. Gran Dovejo Reposado is a bright, honey-colored reposado, aged an average of 9 months in used bourbon barrels and bottled at 80 proof. The distillery, Feliciano Vivanco, uses the Mozart Method. It’s exactly what you think it is: classical music plays during fermentation to optimize sugar conversion and intensify the flavors.

Gran Dovejo has notes of cooked agave, vanilla, orange, and spice. You’ll taste the nuance of its flavor, a delicate balance of vanilla, wood, dried fruit, and cinnamon on the palate with a long, warm finish. It’s the perfect base in a margarita.

#2 Vuelo del Aviador Reserva Plata Tequila

Going back to the traditional margarita route, the Vuelo del Aviador is a silver tequila or “plata” tequila perfect for a margarita. It’s the youngest type of tequila produced and exhibits the purest flavor. Vuelo del Aviador is produced in the lowlands of El Arenal, Jalisco, Mexico. Plata tequilas are bottled within only two months of distillation. It’s age shouldn’t fool you though as this tequila has a sweet pear and honeyed flavor.

Taster’s Tips: A Quick Guide for Choosing the Right Tequila for Margaritas

Next time you go tequila shopping, here are a few guiding principles:

• Reserve expensive tequilas for sipping. Higher-end bottles are alluring, but margaritas have ingredients masking the nuances of tequila so it’s best to reserve those expensive tequilas for sipping.
• Mid-priced tequilas taste great in a margarita. Price indicates quality. 750ml bottles in the $20–35 range are ideal for margaritas, but anything cheaper works if you’re on a budget.
• Look for reposado or blanco tequilas for margaritas. Reposados are smooth and blancos have a simple agave flavor with a hint of spice. They’re also less expensive than their añejo counterparts.

So, as the weather cools down in the Northern hemisphere, make yourself a margarita and bring back those summer-y feelings.