Within the world of agave cocktails, and by extension the domain of agave spirits enthusiasts, it is blanco tequila that reigns supreme. Not only does it form the base of tequila’s most beloved classics, but, if you ask those enthusiasts, it is also the most transparent lens through which to understand the agave plant and the spectrum of earthy, mineral, green flavors that make tequila, tequila.
For many, the addition of barrel-aging threatens to mask these flavors, requiring a deft hand when it comes to marrying the vanilla and spice flavors imparted by oak to this more linear, austere greenness. Reposado tequila is a good category through which to examine this perceived conundrum. Aged at least two months, but no longer than 12 (añejo requires a minimum of 12 months, by contrast), the style is defined by a producer’s ability to capitalize on the aforementioned tension. So, how are some of tequila’s most respected additive-free producers doing? To find out, we assembled 15 reposado bottlings under $50 for a blind tasting. The questions that guided our process were, principally: Is this good? Do we like this? Is this a spirit that represents the category well? Is this something you’d sip solo and mix into cocktails? Utility is key.
Taken as a whole, the 15 bottles we tasted represent a wide range of expressions, from those that felt barely aged and thus read almost like blancos, to those that clearly allowed the barrel to lead the way. The five we chose below were simply our favorites, but they also offer a complete snapshot of this incredible range.
Editor’s note: Because prices vary by market, certain bottles listed below may retail for slightly above $50.
Cimarron Reposado Tequila
With an umeshu-like tang and a salty finish, Cimarron’s reposado tequila is singular in flavor. Because of its relatively short aging time compared with others in this tasting (the tequila is rested in American white oak for four months), it maintains the briny flavor of a blanco while offering the rounded, light oakiness of reposado—the best of both worlds. This bottling would work well in very simple preparations—topped with soda, for example—but is otherwise best neat so its distinct profile can really shine.
- Price: $38 (1 liter)
- ABV: 40%
Confianza Reposado Tequila
If a good blanco tequila conjures green (think pepper, brine, cilantro), this reposado’s color and taste are tinted yellow. Among the typical barrel and leather notes that are characteristic of the category, soft, yellow floral and tealike flavors showcase the nuances, and breadth, of the style. To make this bottling, Confianza’s blanco tequila—an affordable favorite of ours that is sourced from Highlands agave—is aged in ex-bourbon barrels for at least six months.
- Price: $48 (1 liter)
- ABV: 40%
Arette Artesanal Suave Reposado Tequila
Made by brothers Eduardo and Jaime Orendain at one of the oldest distilleries in Jalisco, Arette’s Artesanal Suave Reposado is the higher-end of the producer’s two reposado expressions. Aged for 11 months in ex-bourbon barrels, the tequila has a round, oily mouthfeel—the most texturally complex in our tasting, described by one taster as having “good heft.” While aged tequila can be versatile in stirred drinks and richer serves like this contemporary carajillo recipe, this expression shines just as brightly when sipped neat.
- Price: $45 (750 milliliters)
- ABV: 40%
Tequila Ocho Reposado
Produced by Carlos Camarena at Los Alambiques, a new distillery in the Highlands of Jalisco, this reposado from Tequila Ocho has among the shortest aging times of all bottlings in our tasting—about nine weeks. (Reposado, by definition, must be aged for at least two months.) As a result, it had one of the palest colors and, like Cimarron’s bottling, maintained its vegetal flavor at the forefront. It was deemed a good gateway for blanco tequila drinkers, but, for those looking for more barrel flavor, others on this list may be a better choice. Its greener notes, however, make it ideal in season-spanning sours like the Baby Turtle.
- Price: $50 (750 milliliters)
- ABV: 40%
El Tesoro Reposado Tequila
Also distilled by Camarena at La Alteña, a family distillery, El Tesoro’s reposado tequila is aged in ex-bourbon barrels for at least nine months. This expression offers a woodier take on the style: earthy, with caramel flavor, yet still offering that peppery bite typical of blanco tequila. It was dubbed, appropriately, “tequila under an autumn sweater” by one taster.
- Price: $50 (750 milliliters)
- ABV: 40%
