It is HARD to find cheap tequila, much less cheap tequila that actually tastes good. To find out what the best cheap tequilas are, I tasted 13 bottles under $20 that are available at a Costco liquor store or any discount liquor store. You read that right; I invested over $200 in solving this problem. I’ve tasted all 13 tequilas and judged them based off price, taste, shoot-ability, mix-ability (all tequilas were mixed with Jose Cuervo margarita mix), and classiness. Also, all tequilas are 750 milliliters and 80 proof. Here are the six bottles of tequila actually worth your money.
1. Exotico Blanco / $10.00
Classiness: 2.5/5
Mix-ability: 5/5
Taste: 3/5
Shoot-ability: 4.5/5
When I tasted this tequila, I was really impressed with how smooth it was. It did not burn my throat. It also had a buttery popcorn smell, which made it a little more bearable to drink straight. Even the most novice drinker could take a shot of this no problem. What I like most about this tequila though is it that it’s just $10 dollars.
2. Exotico Reposado / $13.60
Classiness: 2.5/5
Mix-ability: 5/5
Taste: 4/5
Shoot-ability: 5/5
In my opinion, Exotico’s Resposado offering was much better than their Blanco. It has a very pleasant, almost scotch-like flavor and you can really taste the oak barrels used in the aging process. Also, it was extremely easy to shoot. At $13.60, you can’t go wrong with this bottle.
3. Sauza Gold / $16.20
Classiness: 1/5
Mix-ability: 3/5
Taste: 4/5
Shoot-ability: 3/5
Despite the random chicken on the bottle, this was actually a pretty great option. After the first taste, this bottle totally redeemed itself with its pleasant apple, caramel, and oaky flavor. All those flavors, gave it a nice, sweet taste. I would definitely recommend sipping it rather than shooting it, since the flavors are actually enjoyable.
4. el Jimador Reposado / $17.60
Classiness: 4/5
Mix-ability: 2/5
Taste: 4/5
Shoot-ability: 5/5
This bottle is super authentic, because it shows the Jimador (the person who collects the agave) harvesting the agave plant. When you show up to a party holding this bottle, you can impress all your friends by explaining what a Jimador is.
As I cracked open this bottle, I instantly smelled cinnamon. Once I tasted it, it was a little sweet and I tasted a little bit of that cinnamon flavor. It was very oaky and gave me a warm feeling, almost like a scotch. I recommend sipping on this tequila rather than taking a shot of it.
5. el Jimador Silver / $17.60
Classiness: 3.5/5
Mix-ability: 2/5
Taste: 3.5/5
Shoot-ability: 4/5
This one was strange, but not in a bad way. Upon first sip, I immediately noticed a refreshing minty flavor. Despite tasting different from your average tequila, it was super easy to take shots of this.
6. Espolon Reposado / $18.10
Classiness: 3.5/5
Mix-ability: 3.5/5
Taste: 3.5/5
Shoot-ability: 4/5
The Espolon bottle is creepy AF. It’s a great bottle to bring to a Halloween party or any spooky get together. When I tasted this, it was extremely smooth and had little to no burn. It has a sweet and smokey taste, which I really enjoyed. I would definitely take a shot of this because there’s no burn after, which is awesome.
These are the six best cheap tequilas I had in my taste test, and I highly recommend them. Next time the occasion calls for tequila, you’ll be better prepared on choosing the tequila that’s the most bang for your buck!