Updated March 2026.
Under $50 is the shelf tag that day — not a 2022 tasting and not an MSRP we will invent. Blanco is a CRT age class: unaged or only briefly rested. Most US blancos print 40% ABV, so a 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA drink. Want agave? The label should say 100% de agave and show a NOM. Mixto can still say tequila at 51% agave sugars.
Gold / joven plus caramel is a different drink. Related: blanco tequila, silver vs gold, margarita tequila.
How to shop the under-$50 blanco shelf
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Sticker at or under $50 | If it is $51 today, it is not this page today |
| 100% agave vs mixto | Mixto may use up to 49% other sugars |
| NOM | Distillery. Contractors change — read this bottle |
| ABV | CRT 35-55%. US often 40% |
| Widely stocked 100% examples | Olmeca Altos, Espolon, Hornitos Plata, Milagro Silver — distribution, not scores |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks. Four shots are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Hours to buy it are state law. Pour math: tequila drinks.
Sources
- CRT / NOM-006 blanco class; 27 CFR 5.148; 35-55% ABV band.
- Named bottles are grocery-distribution examples, not a ranking or a 2026 price list.
- NIAAA December 2025. No invented MSRP.