Tequila is a liquor that comes in many different forms. While every type of tequila has its own shining qualities, Blanco tequila is the main ingredient in everybody’s favorite cocktail, the margarita! You have a lot of choices when you’re buying tequila to make margaritas, but which is the best choice?
There are a few factors to consider before choosing which tequila is your favorite, but these choices for the best Blanco tequila for margaritas are the perfect place to start.
Best Overall: Roca Patron Silver
Rating: 5 stars
Patron is one of the most well-known tequila brands and was the first of its kind to bring high-quality tequila to the states. The company took off in 1989 when John Paul DeJoria and Martin Crowley purchased the brand rights with a bright vision for the future and a generous budget.
In 2002 a new Patron distillery was opened. All bottles, corks, and oak barrels used to make reposado tequila are handcrafted at the distillery. The individually numbered glass bottles remind customers how much time and effort goes into ensuring each bottle of Patron is a unique work of art.
While Patron produces añejo tequila, reposado tequilas, and Blanco tequilas, they’re best known for the product Patrón silver.
The Roca Patron Silver is in a class of its own. It’s made at the Hacienda Patron distillery using 100% Blue Weber Agave. After the agave plant is harvested, it’s cooked for 79 hours in a small brick oven. Then, the cooked agave is pressed using a two-ton Tahono wheel made of volcanic stone. Finally, the distilling and fermentation process is done using its own fibers to create a crisp, robust tequila.
Notes of sweet agave make this silver tequila the perfect addition to a margarita. It pairs beautifully with fresh lime juice. Crisp agave flavor will elevate the flavors of your favorite delicious margarita recipe. All Patron recipes are free from additives to maintain authentic flavors and brand integrity.
Silver tequila from Patron is 90 proof and 45% ABV.
Best Budget: Espolon Blanco Tequila
Rating: 4.6 Stars
Espolon is a great option for budget-friendly tequila without compromising on the flavor or quality of the ingredients and production. The brand is a product of Campari America and began selling silver, Anejo, and reposado tequila in 1998.
Blanco tequila from Espolon is made in Jalisco, Mexico. 100% Blue Weber Agave is double distilled using column and pot stills. The result is Blanco tequila with a balanced taste and incredibly smooth flavor. Notes of tropical lemon citrus, black pepper, and sweet natural agave flavors create a soft mouth feel.
Espolon has been named one of the best tequilas in America, and its growing success speaks for itself. The price point for tequila Blanco from Espolon is attractive to customers who want to enjoy tasty cocktails on a budget.
You can use Espolon tequila Blanco when making margaritas without losing the tequila flavors in the strong margarita taste.
This brand has shaken up the tequila industry and has become widely known as one of the best tequila choices to make a refreshing margarita with premium tequila without going over budget.
Each bottle is 80-proof with 40% ABV.
Runner Up: Teremana Blanco Tequila
Teremana Blanco Tequila is another affordable option that’s made in a small Mexican town with handcrafted copper pots for distilling. The smooth, bright citrus flavors pair perfectly with a margarita, and the reasonable price point makes it accessible to more tequila lovers.
Teremana Blanco is 80 proof and 40% ABV.
Best Tasting: Casamigos Blanco
Rating: 4.8 Stars
Casamigos started as a passion project among friends. George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman set out to make the best-tasting, smoothest tequila, and it’s safe to say they’ve succeeded. Casamigos Blanco makes an excellent sipping tequila, but it’s a welcome addition to margaritas and other cocktails too.
This small-batch, ultra-premium tequila is crafted in Jalisco, Mexico. The process starts with agave farmers hand-picking the best 100% Blue Weber agave plants. Each plant is grown for a minimum of 7 years before it can be used to make Casamigos, which gives a whole new meaning to the term aged tequila!
The harvested pure agave is then cooked in traditional brick ovens for 72 hours. This is followed by an 80-hour fermentation process, nearly double the industry standard for Blanco tequila. The tequila then rests for two months before being sold. The result is crystal clear tequila that has notes of vanilla, grapefruit, and sweet agave. A long smooth finish will make you look at unaged tequila in a brand-new light.
The brand has expanded its line with reposado tequila, Anejo tequila, and mezcal tequila. The original brand founders stand by the product and continue to serve it in their Mexico homes to friends and family. This “house tequila” has grown to be a successful brand and a staple for tequila lovers around the globe.
Each bottle is 80-proof with 40% ABV.
Runner Up: Fortaleza Tequila Blanco
Tequila Fortaleza Blanco is another silver tequila that’s full of flavors for tequila aficionados to enjoy. Flavor notes include citrus, cooked agave, vanilla, basil, olive oil, and lime. The finish is long and complex, yet very easy to drink.
Fortaleza Tequila Blanco is 80 proof and 40% ABV.
Best Silver Tequila Gift: Tequila Ocho Plata
Rating: 4.6 Stars
When you’re gifting tequila, it’s important to choose something that has flavors most people will enjoy. By choosing Tequila Ocho Plata, you step away from the most popular brands to allow the tequila lover in your life to try something new too!
This tequila is made using traditional, artisanal practices that can’t be rushed. Overripe agave is harvested, roasted in brick ovens, and fermented with natural airborne yeast. The tequila is then distilled at low temperatures. This makes it take a bit longer, but the outcome is well worth the wait.
Ocho Plata has maximum agave essence with no additives. Tasting notes are bright, with citrus, herbs, honey, pepper, and roasted flavors coming through. If you want to gift this as a margarita kit, add a bottle of Triple Sec orange liqueur, fresh limes, and agave syrup to complete the package.
Each bottle is 80-proof and 40% ABV.
Runner Up: Don Julio Blanco
Don Julio is a well-known brand that you can never go wrong with gifting. Don Julio Blanco has light, sweet flavors and was named one of the top trending tequilas in 2020 at the Drinks International Awards. The clean agave taste is the star of the show, with just the right amount of natural sweetness.
Don Julio Blanco is 80 proof and 40 ABV.
What to Look For in Blanco Tequila
Distilling Process
The distilling process is the most important part of making any good liquor, including tequila. Brands vary in their specific distillation process, which is what brings such different flavors among different brands’ versions of Blanco tequila.
Look for a tequila brand that proudly shares insight into the distilling process. Distilling purifies the liquid from agave juices and concentrates the alcohol. The industry standard is to double distill Blanco tequila. The more tequila is distilled, the smoother, clearer, and crisper it will look and taste.
Agave Quality
Both aged and unaged agave spirits should be made using 100% Blue Weber Agave from Mexico. Brands that produce tequila in small batches tend to have a higher standard of quality for their agave plants, while large-batch productions use lower-quality agave plants to maintain their production.
Agave flavor is what makes silver tequila easily recognizable to your taste buds. If the agave is not grown and picked with care, the agave flavor in your margarita will be less than you’re expecting, while the harsh burn in your throat will be more noticeable.
Clarity
Blanco tequila should be crystal clear. If you compare water next to a bottle of Blanco tequila, they should look the same. A Blanco tequila that doesn’t have good clarity isn’t worth your money or the time it would take to mix margaritas.
There are a number of affordable tequila options that still offer great clarity, the first sign of all-around quality.
Flavors
The tasting notes from one Blanco tequila to the next can vary more than you might expect. One standard flavor you should find in any bottle of silver tequila is blue agave sweetness. Agave tastes very different from artificial sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, so you can start by checking the ingredient label before purchasing.
Other flavors you might find in Blanco tequila include citrus, vanilla, and spicy pepper.
Aroma
When you think of the aromatic properties of your alcohol, your mind probably jumps to wine or even an aged whiskey, but tequila has aromas too. Good quality tequila most commonly has agave notes with earthy undertones and sometimes a hint of vanilla. Typically, the better the aroma of the tequila, the smoother it tastes.
Learn to appreciate the complex flavors of Blanco tequila by taking the time to experience the aroma before sipping.
Making a Margarita
Margaritas can be made with reposado and Añejo tequilas, but they tend to be more expensive due to the extensive aging process in oak barrels to achieve gold tequila. Aged tequilas have more distinct flavors, while Blanco tequilas will adapt to the flavor of your margarita ingredients easier.
Try the best tequilas for margaritas with these recipes, or find more from Cocktails Cafe!
Classic Margarita
by Liquor.com
The classic margarita originated in Mexico and remained one of the most popular cocktails in North America. With simple ingredients and bold flavors, there’s nothing not to love!
This recipe sticks to the basics, so you can craft an authentic margarita using Blanco tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup.
Add salt around the rim and garnish with a lime wedge.
Sunny Orange Margaritas
This sunny orange margarita is close to an original, but a few recipe tweaks make it sweeter with more of a citrus punch. Blanco tequila, freshly squeezed orange juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice are needed to make a Sunny Orange Margarita.
You can add simple syrup or agave nectar to taste and rim with salt.
Prickly Pear Cactus Margarita
by All Recipes
Prickly pear margaritas are a hidden gem that you have to try! Making the margarita is easy and requires just five ingredients. You’ll need your margarita staples of lime juice, Blanco tequila, and orange liqueur to star.
Sweet and sour mix and prickly pear syrup are added to create the delicious prickly pear margarita that shows off all the best things about tequila!
FAQ
Is Blanco tequila aged?
No, Blanco tequila is packaged directly after distilling.
Gold tequilas are aged in oak barrels for varying lengths of time.
What’s the most popular tequila for margaritas?
Patron Silver is the most popular tequila for margaritas and has even been seen in pop culture with references in more than 250 songs!
How strong is tequila?
Most Blanco tequilas are 80 proof and 40% ABV, but some are stronger, including Patron Silver with 45% ABV.
Key Takeaways
- The best tequilas for margaritas are made using authentic harvesting, fermenting, and distilling techniques.
- Margaritas should be made with simple recipes that allow the tequila Blanco and agave flavors to shine through.
- The best tequila for you is one that fits your taste buds and budget; different people can have different favorites!
