The Best Under-$30 Tequilas You Can Buy

The market for tequila is more interesting and diverse than ever — and in honor of Cinco de Mayo — it's a great time to stock up your home bar with a bottle or two. Prices of agave spirits have shot up in the past few years as the bold Mexican liquor has gained recognition for its unique flavor and complexity, and top-tier bottles of tequila can cost easily hundreds of dollars. Frugal shoppers can find a wide range of delicious 100% agave tequila for less than $30, though. We reviewed recent and past results of the recently-ended Ultimate Beverage Challenge and cross-checked with consumer reviews on several sites to find the inexpensive best of the best in three categories: blanco, reposado, and añejo. 

Prices and availability are subject to change.

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Anyone reading this is likely to be a tequila fan — but do you know how it's made and its history? Let's take a moment to appreciate this previously reviled spirit. 

Tequila is made from a cultivated breed of Agave tequilana called "Weber Blue," which is harvested, steamed — a process that is also sometimes called roasted — in an oven or underground pit as part of the production process before fermentation, distillation, aging and bottling. This has been going on in one form or another, to make tequila and mezcal, for hundreds of years, and this particular agave variety can only be found around Jalisco, Mexico.

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It wasn't until about 10 years ago, though, that tequila had a reputation as a covetable liquor. As author Amy Stewart noted in her book, "The Drunken Botanist," at one time tequila was considered a "rough product that in no way compared to a good Scotch or Cognac." A 1897 Scientific American article even likened it to a taste "said to incite murder, riot and revolution."

How times have changed. Americans are now in the know about how exceptional tequila can truly be, and not just on Cinco de Mayo, but all year-round. In 2017, retail sales of tequila bottles — from budget to top shelf — exceeded $9 billion, with Californians, Texans, and Floridians drinking the most. Part of the allure is that it's a very versatile spirit: Enthusiasts can mix it in cocktails, blend it into a margarita, sip it straight, or get right down to business and take a shot of it. 

So, let's raise a toast to tequila — lime and salt optional — and find out more about which bottles you should think about buying on your next trip to the liquor store. 

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Called blanco (white) or plata (silver), unaged tequila is clear in appearance. By law, these tequilas are bottled within two months of production. Blanco or plata tequilas feature fresh agave flavors such as a crisp grassiness, tropical fruit, pepper, and minerals.

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$19 from Total Wine
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This all-star bottle does well throughout competitions featuring tequilas and consumer sites. It is a cheap, workhorse blanco tequila that is good whether you're shooting, sipping, or mixing. The clean crisp agave flavors are light and grassy, with a hint of jalapeño pepper spice on the finish.

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Looking for a silver tequila to add to your liquor cabinet that easily beats some well-known tequilas going for two or three times the price? Here's one with a silken texture that offers flavors of ripe tropical fruit, with clean minerality that finishes dry. At such an affordable price, this bottle serves as an all-purpose blanco tequila for a mixed drink or drinking straight. 

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Used in the wells of high-end cocktail bars across the country, this crisp blanco tequila is a star. With a strong reputation and consumer reviews to back it up, the bottle is a good yet cheap all-purpose silver spirit. The flavors taste of agave forwardness, with notes of citrus, green chili, and pineapple core.

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This traditionally produced blanco is a strong contender for little money. A lower alcohol content means smooth sipping for this highland tequila. Flavors are sweet and salty, combining mango, lime, and a peppery piquancy that makes it excellent on its own or in cocktails. Add it to your list of tequilas to try. 

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This silver tequila over performs given its cheap price. Reviewers agree the flavors here are classic and appealing. The traditional spirit has a lightly creamy texture and flavor that adds to its tropical undertones. Mix it into a cocktail for a hint of pepperiness.

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Tequila that is matured in wood casks for a moderate amount of time — between two and 11 months — is referred to as reposado (rested). These lightly aged spirits take on a natural golden hue and enhanced flavor from the wood, which is most commonly oak. Known for their light caramel and vanilla notes, these soft and rounded tequilas are good on their own and in cocktails. 

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Another gem from the Lunazul label is its lightly aged reposado. Professionals are hot on this bottle, which is on the sweeter side, with cinnamon, vanilla, and baked custard flavors giving way to some darker burnt sugar taste characteristics that make it appealing as an after-dinner sipper. 

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The famed Camarena family produces outstanding tequilas. With this bottling, it offers a high-quality product that's spicy and laced with cinnamon and herbs around an agave core. The price might be slightly north of cheap, but it's well worth it. 

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Jimador is a strong contender in the reposado category, with bright tropical fruits, slight charred pineapple, and a touch of jalapeño spice on the finish making this lighter option particularly refreshing. Jimador puts batches in American oak barrels, where it is rested before bottling it. It's a good choice for mixing into cocktails.

$18 from Total Wine
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This tequila is one of the best values on the market. What makes the Exotico good is a kiss of wood flavor from the aging, though the baked agave flavor is preserved with plenty of fruity and herbal characteristics. Exotico has made some exceptional, award-winning tequilas, including plenty in the reposado category. 

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Liquor enthusiasts know that the longer in the barrel, the deeper and richer the flavor. Añejo (aged) tequila spends 12 to 35 months in wood casks. These spirits take on more color and flavor from the wood, resulting in a deep amber color. Soft flavors and aromas of tobacco and baking spices contribute significantly to the overall flavor profile. Añejos are often enjoyed as sipping spirits but can also be used as a mix in premium cocktails. 

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The most popular aged tequila in Mexico stands up against some of the most expensive alternatives. It has a rich flavor profile offering ripe fruit, dark earthy moss, and sweet baking spices, with a touch of vanilla on the finish. 

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Professionals love this smoky aged tequila, but the flavor can be polarizing, with lots of leathery and spicy elements, leaning toward rustic and woodsy rather than cinnamon and caramel.