We haven’t spent as much time with tequila as we should, and it’s time for us to remedy that. So we took all our tequilas and decided to test them side by side for our 2021 Blanco Tequila Rankings for Cinco De Mayo. We put them through their paces, testing them on their own for sipping and in Margaritas. All of our Tequilas are blancos (sometimes refered to as Plata), and their price points range from $25 to $50, and most of these tequilas are widely available (depending on your state’s liquor controls).
The Tequilas
- Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila
- Casamigo Blanco Tequila
- Gran Centenario Plata Tequila
- Siete Leguas Blanco Tequila
Before We Start – Don’t Buy The Other Stuff! (Mixto / Non 100% Agave)
Prior to our round up, there was exactly one tequila on our site, a mixto. If you wanted to have a last place finisher on our round up, it’s that one.
Mixto tequilas are made up of a minimum of 51% blue agave by law. That sadly means that up to 49% of the bottle can be something else. Additives, neutral spirits, etc. The resulting products lack the depth, smoothness, and depth of flavor that exists from their 100% agave relatives. While it makes a serviceable cocktail, it’s not going to give you the special depth you’ll find with the rest of our list.
If you buy a bottle of a great tequila, you can still find other uses for your mixto. We’ve been slowly using up ours in margarita cheesecake bites and making peppers and onions for tacos.
2021 Blanco Tequila Rankings for Cinco De Mayo
4. Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila
Coming in at 4th place is Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila. Despite it’s ranking, this is a great tequila for the price and our go to bottle for cocktails. While Olmeca’s isn’t quite nice enough to sip on it’s own, it does great at standing up to citrus and liqueurs. This balance allows it to convey it’s tequila characteristics to a drink without getting lost.
Tasting Notes:
Sight: Clear
Smell: Roasted pepper – with salinity. Hints of hay and lime pith. Heavy on the lime – touches of minerality.
Sip: Smooth body, mildly flavor, agave hangs out as a base. Layers of lime and earthiness come forward.
Savor: The finish is short lived, but gives a smooth agave character with a hint of vanilla and black pepper
Olmeca is smooth if perhaps a little underpowered. In a margarita, Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila gives off its earthiness, agave notes, and green layers evenly against the brightness of the lime and the sweetness of the orange. The result is a balanced and tasty margarita that meets the ideal expectations, but doesn’t highlight the tequila or add anything extraordinary.
Price: $25
Website: https://us.altostequila.com/our-tequilas/
3. Gran Centenario Plata Tequila
Gran Centenario Plata Tequila just edges out Olmecas Platas, but there’s not a lot of daylight between these Tequila. The process is somewhat different than the other tequilas on our list. Blended in oak, there’s a subtle imparting of oak character not typically found in blanco tequilas. The resulting tequila is nicely balanced, a little edgier and certainly tinted with a hint of oak.
Sight: Slightly tinted yellow, but ever so lightly.
Smell: Salinity and fruity caramel play out. Agave hides in the background with spices and lime zest.
Sip: The body is a little coarse feeling, with a bit of edginess. A darker sort of woody character leans into salted agave. There are aggressive notes of minerality, hints of ferrous, and char.
Savor: The ending is a bit more burnt wood and agave.
Although Gran Centenario Plata isn’t the most appealing tequila to sip, it does well in cocktails. Peppery and more floral in character, it brings touches of spice and minerality. There’s a hint of bitterness, and the lime stands out more prominently than orange notes. The overall experience is a little less smooth, but makes up for it by showcasing the tequila in an enjoyable way.
Price: $29
Website: https://grancentenario.com/our-tequilas/
2. Casamigos Blanco Tequila
George Clooney’s Tequila pulls up in the ‘if you’re not first, you’re last’ position on our rankings. Casamigos Blanco Tequila loses out on the top spot not for being short of delicious, but just because of how un-tequila like it is. The heavy notes of non-tropical flavors and vanilla give this tequila a character unlike many others.
Made of blue agave aged 7-9 years, their pinas are roasted for 72 hours before a longer than usual 80 hour ferment. Casamigos also claims propriety yeast blend and rests the tequila for two months.
Sight: Clear.
Smell: Smells like George Clooney’s musk (don’t ask how we know – we know a guy). Just kidding, there’s a little bit of a nuttiness, leaning into walnut /almond. There are touches of vanilla, citrus, and other fruits layered behind a moderate lime and agave note. The nose is layered and shifts slightly.
Sip: The flavor starts off – shallow – then builds into coconut and black forest cherry with agave mixed with lime and a hint of burnt vanilla sugar and cedar. The body is smooth and thinner than might be expected.
Savor: The finish is kirsch cherry and vanilla with hints of agave, citrus, and black pepper.
In a margarita, Casamigos Blanco Tequila is beautifully balanced with a natural salinity. The vanilla and fruit flavors noted in the tasting notes come forward, working harmoniously with the Cointreau’s orange and fresh lime juice. The finish is somehow almost caramel like. As margaritas go, Casamigos produces one that’s head and shoulders about the others on our list – if not the most traditional.
Price: $47
Website: https://www.casamigos.com/en-us/our-tequilas/blanco/
1. Siete Leguas Blanco
It took us seven years to find a bottle of Siete Leguas Blanco. This is ironic given the name of the product translates to seven leagues. This is commonly known as the name of General Villas horse, which according Siete Leguas’ website, would fearlessly traverse the distance. Further compounding the difficulties of locating a bottle of this tequila is the change of importer. While the box claims it’s Sazerac Company, they list no mention of Siete Leguas on their site. There’s also no English version of their site readily available.
Difficulty in finding this tequila aside, the actual tequila itself is wonderful. The nose is perfumed with spices and smooth agave notes. On the palate it dances gracefully, with touches of floral and nutty notes mixed with agave. Sipping it is quite nice, if a little spicy.
Sight: Clear
Smell: Pure vanilla extract and strong soaked cherrywood come to the forefront with hints of spice, honey, and pecan wood.
Sip: The body is moderate. It shifts gradually to a nutty and floral laced body with touches of agave. It runs slightly hot, and brings in a good about of spice and wood.
Savor: The ending lingers on the woody side, bringing in touches of cigar box and vanilla.
In a margarita Siete Leguas worked gorgeously. Cinnamon and spice leap off the page with hints of candied oranges. Touches of herbs and bell peppers gradually emerge. The end result is slightly sweeter than expected, but extraordinarily fragrant and spicy. The end result is an exceptional margarita where Siete Leguas really shines.
Price: $50
Website: https://tequilasieteleguas.com/
The Tequilas Overall and the Margarita
To be clear, even the lowest ranking tequila on our 2021 Blanco Tequila Rankings for Cinco De Mayo is good in our opinion. In fact, we happen to recommend you keep any of them on your shelf as your go to tequila as part of our recommended bottles for beginning a home bar. While there is a definite connection between price and quality here, don’t let that dissuade you from trying Olmecas or Centenario. Both offer a lot of value for the price, and are delicious in cocktails without doubling the price per cocktail.
Final Ranking:
- Siete Leguas Blanco Tequila ($50)
- Casamigos Blanco Tequila ($47)
- Gran Centenario Plata Tequila ($29)
- Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila ($25)
Don’t forget to make a margarita – click on the picture for our recipes, and have a great Cinco de Mayo!
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