Discover the top 10 tequila brands for 2024, handpicked by America's leading bartenders, who emphasize the importance of high-quality and unique selections in today's thriving tequila market. Featuring esteemed judges like Julieta Campos and Damian Langarica, the Bartenders Spirits Award competition ensures that these winning tequilas will enhance bar businesses' appeal and profitability, setting them apart from the competition.

In today's market, where tequila is experiencing a remarkable surge in popularity, it is essential for bar businesses to offer carefully chosen, high-quality, and unique tequilas. With consumers increasingly seeking distinctive and premium tequila experiences, having a diverse and thoughtfully curated selection can significantly enhance a bar's appeal and profitability. High-quality tequilas, crafted with precision and embodying unique flavor profiles, not only satisfy discerning palates but also elevate the overall drinking experience, fostering customer loyalty and repeat business. Moreover, featuring unique tequilas sets a bar apart from competitors, positioning it as a destination for connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike. In a competitive landscape, the right tequila offerings can be a powerful differentiator, driving sales and establishing a bar's reputation for excellence and innovation. 

Fortunately, the judges of the 2024 Bartenders Spirits Awards have tasted and tasted to select the best Tequilas. Who are these judges?  

The judges of the Bartenders Spirits Award competition represent a pinnacle of expertise and influence in the beverage industry, making their role crucial in selecting winning spirits that significantly enhance bartenders' bottom lines. 

For example, Julieta Campos, Beverage, and Bar Operations Director at The Fifty/50 Group in Chicago, brings unparalleled operational acumen, ensuring that selected spirits are both innovative and commercially viable. Damian Langarica, celebrated in the TOP 100 World Class 2023, contributes his top-tier bartending skills from Philadelphia, ensuring that the chosen spirits meet the highest standards of quality and appeal. Mike Ryan, Global Beverage Director at Acurio International, offers global insights that help identify spirits with broad market appeal. Trudy Thomas, Corporate Director of Beverage at Southworth Development in Nashville, infuses the panel with her extensive knowledge as a spirits educator and mixologist, ensuring that selections are not only excellent in taste but also educational for bartenders. Additionally, Guillermo Bravo, Beverage Director at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, brings his visionary leadership, and Danny Shapiro, a founding partner in Scofflaw Group, ensures that innovative and trend-setting spirits are recognized. And these are just a few of the 2024 panel of judges who reviewed a myriad of intriguing Tequila entries.

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This elite panel's choices are grounded in a deep understanding of market trends, quality, and profitability, ensuring that the awarded spirits will boost sales and elevate the drinking experience in bars worldwide. 

Here’s the list of the top 10 best Tequilas according to America’s top bartenders.  

1. DeLeón Añejo Tequila (Double Gold) from Diageo: Charred red bell pepper comes through in a lovely way! Softness from the barrel aging really shines without taking from the agave flavor and ends in a strong bold finish. Wonderful iteration of an añejo.

2. Reserve Collection Añejo (Double Gold) by Cierto Tequila: Well-crafted, solid flavors of agave on the nose and palate. Tastes and feels like luxury, with notes of butterscotch toffee adding to the rounded mouthfeel. Hint of smoke.

3. Familia Camarena Tequila Añejo (Double Gold) from Spirit of Gallo: Underripe bananas with some grassiness that’s surprising and impressive. A semi-sweet palate that ends in a short finish.

4. Casa Noble Añejo: Robust agave, smokey oak flavors, along with spice from pepper, make up the nose. Cooked agave, vanilla, as well as tropical fruits on the palate and a strong finish.

5. Authentico Organic Tequila Cristalino available from Freshie Imports: Clean nose with a creamy soft body of caramel, agave, butter oak, and black pepper, followed by a caramelized and clean finish.

6. Pantalones Organic Tequila Blanco: Vegetative and herbal with a slight peppery note on the nose. Sugar on the palate with noticeable cooked agave notes, and hints of melon.

7. Gran Centenario’s Añejo: Cooked agave, fruity aromas, and pleasant aromatics open the experience. Some spice on the palate and dried fruits on the long finish.

8. Southbound Tequila’s Blanco: Pleasant notes of spring meadow and oak that lead to a good mouth feel. Long finish offering spicy, woody, and peppery notes. Great texture overall.

9. 1800s Blanco: Aromas of grass, vegetables, and cinnamon lead the way for a pleasant mouth feel of citrus, meadow flowers, and vanilla. Medium finish with lingering bitterness from notes of grass, vanilla, and cinnamon.

10. Jose Cuervo Tradicional Añejo: Light smoke on the nose with a strong hint of agave and some peppery heat. This anejo tequila has vanilla and hints of sherry on the palate. The finish is quick, with drying oak and barrel aging notes as well. 

These are all Gold Medal winners, with the top three capturing Double Gold. The top 10 Tequila list maintains a mix of silver and añejo styles, with two notable organic Tequila winners. 

Header Image: 2024 Bartender Spirits Award - Gold Winners