You walk into a liquor store, and the wall of glass is blinding. It’s all gold and silver, flashy stoppers, and celebrity names you recognize from Instagram. You’re looking for the "best" bottle, but honestly, looking at tequila ratings by brand is a minefield. One site says a brand is a 95-point masterpiece, while a purist on a forum calls it "vanilla-flavored battery acid."
Who do you trust?
The truth is that most commercial ratings are bought, paid for, or heavily influenced by marketing budgets. If you want the real story, you have to look at the "additive-free" movement and the data coming out of places like the Tequila Matchmaker (TMM) database. As of 2026, the gap between what's popular and what's actually high-quality has never been wider.
The Great Additive Divide: Why High Ratings Can Be Fake
Most people think "100% Blue Weber Agave" on the label means there is nothing else in the bottle.
Wrong.
Mexican law allows for "abocantes"—additives like glycerin for mouthfeel, caramel coloring, oak extract, and jarabe (sugar syrup)—up to 1% by total weight. That sounds small. It isn't. One percent of a bottle is enough to make a harsh, young spirit taste like a marshmallow. This is why brands like Casamigos or Clase Azul often get high "smoothness" scores from casual drinkers but lower ratings from agave experts.
If you see a tequila rating that mentions "cake batter" or "strong vanilla" in a Blanco, that’s a red flag. Real agave tastes like earth, pepper, citrus, and roasted vegetables.
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Brands That Actually Walk the Talk
Expert ratings in 2026 are shifting toward transparency. Brands that are verified additive-free are the new gold standard.
- Fortaleza: This is the unicorn. It’s crushed by a stone wheel (tahona), and the ratings stay consistently in the 90s because it tastes like old-school Mexico. Olive, brine, and butter. It’s hard to find, which honestly makes people rate it even higher.
- Tequila Ocho: They do "vintages." Like wine, they pick agave from a single field (ranch) each year. Their 2026 releases continue to dominate the ratings because they don't hide the terroir. If the soil was mineral-heavy, you’ll taste it.
- G4: Distilled by Felipe Camarena, this brand uses rainwater in the process. It’s crisp. It’s like drinking a thunderstorm. Ratings for their Blanco and Reposado are almost always at the top of the charts for people who hate "fake" sweetness.
Tequila Ratings by Brand: The 2026 Leaderboard
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty. If you’re looking at the current landscape, here is how the big players are actually stacking up when you strip away the celebrity hype.
Don Londrès has surged in the 2026 rankings, often taking the top spot for "best value for quality." It’s managed to hit that sweet spot of being incredibly smooth—something beginners crave—without using the chemical shortcuts that make purists angry. It’s a rare win-win.
Cascahuín is another heavy hitter. Specifically, their "Tahona" expression. If you look at community-driven ratings, this distillery (NOM 1123) is basically the Harvard of tequila. Everything they touch turns to gold.
Then there is LALO. Founded by the grandson of Don Julio González, this brand only makes a Blanco. Their rating is high because of their "minimalist" philosophy. No barrel aging to hide behind. Just agave, water, and yeast. It’s a solid 88-92 point bottle depending on who you ask, and it’s become the "bartender's secret" for a clean Margarita.
What About the Big Names?
You’ve probably seen Patrón and Don Julio everywhere. Their ratings are... complicated.
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Patrón is actually very well-made and additive-free, despite being a massive corporate brand. It’s consistent. It’s the "safe" bet. It might not get the 98-point "wow" factor from snobs because it’s designed to be approachable, but it’s a respectable spirit.
Don Julio, especially the 1942, is a lifestyle product. In blind tastings? It often loses to bottles half its price. But in "prestige" ratings, it’s a titan. You’re paying for the tall bottle and the vibe. If that’s what you want, great. Just don't expect it to win a purity contest.
How to Read a Tequila Review Without Being Fooled
When you’re scrolling through ratings, you need to look for specific keywords.
"Smooth" is the most overused and useless word in spirits. Everything is smooth if you drink enough of it. Instead, look for "agave-forward." This means the producer didn't cook the plant too fast in an autoclave (a giant pressure cooker) and didn't strip the soul out of it.
Check the NOM. Every bottle has a four-digit number on the back. This is the distillery code. If you see five different brands with the same NOM, they might all be the same juice with different labels. Brands with their own dedicated distillery, like Siete Leguas or El Tesoro, almost always have higher authentic ratings because they control every drop.
The "Burn" Factor
A lot of low ratings come from people who complain about the "burn."
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Newsflash: It’s 40% alcohol. It’s going to have some heat.
The best-rated tequilas don't lack heat; they have "integrated" heat. It’s a warm glow in your chest, not a scratchy fire in your throat. If a brand is rated highly for being "like water," it’s probably been filtered to death (like a Cristalino) or loaded with glycerin.
Practical Steps for Your Next Buy
Don't just buy the bottle with the coolest label. That’s how you end up with a $150 headache.
- Download the Tequila Matchmaker app. It’s the only place where the "Additive-Free" filter actually means something.
- Look for NOM 1139, 1474, or 1123. These are "gold star" distilleries. If you see these on a bottle, the tequila ratings by brand are almost guaranteed to be high among experts.
- Try a "Still Strength" Blanco. If you want to know what a brand is really about, try their 46% or 50% ABV versions. It’s the rawest expression of the plant. If it tastes good at that strength, the brand is legit.
High-end tequila isn't about the price tag anymore. It’s about the process. In a world of fake flavors, the brands that stay honest are the ones winning the long game.
Stop chasing the "smooth" dragon. Start chasing the agave. Your palate (and your morning-after self) will thank you.
Your next move: Pick up a bottle of Tequila Ocho or G4 Blanco and sip it neat alongside a mass-market brand. You’ll see the difference in the first five seconds.