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What’s the Worst Tequila? 7 Brands Reviewed (2023 Updated)

Last Updated on November 5, 2023 by Lydia Martin

What makes a tequila drink undrinkable? Is it the taste? The burn? Or is it the splitting headache it gives you the next morning? 

Let’s find out what’s the worst tequila and discover why these are considered such.

7 Most Voted As The Worst Tequilas 

7. Cazadores Blanco

Cazadores Blanco on desk with cocktail

Average Alcohol Content: 40%

Cazadores Tequila is a trusted tequila brand. However, Cazadores Blanco is not considered one of their quality tequila variant.

It has very strong alcohol and medicinal presence. To the palate, it is superiorly bitter with unflattering vanilla sweetness.

For around $17.99 per 750 ml (Total Wine), this agave spirit is not worth your money.

6. El Toro Silver Tequila 

El Toro Silver on table with shot glass and shrimps

Average Alcohol Content: 40%

El Toro Silver Tequila is a bad tequila that gives a nasty hangover. The bottle of this Blanco tequila states that it is made of 100% Blue Agave.

However, the flavors are not evident. It is not the best tequila for sipping or mixed. Its cheap price of around $12.09 per 1L (Drizly) represents its cheap quality. 

5. Bribón Silver

Bribón Silver on desk with cocktail

Average Alcohol Content: 40%

Bribón Tequila Blanco has spicy hotness that is overwhelming, and the sweetness of the vanilla is off.

This drink is not for tequila shots. Including this in tequila tasting is not advisable because of its unpleasant blend of flavors.

For roughly $23.99 per 750ml (Drizly), it is overpriced for its caliber. 

4. Bandolero Tequila

Bandolero Tequila on table with cocktail

Average Alcohol Content: 40%

Bandolero tequila has flavors that can tickle taste buds with the full agave flavors, alcohol with the right spice, and earth notes.

However, the alcohol smell and the burn are not very pleasant. If you do not mind obvious harshness, 750 ml tequila bottles are roughly $7 only (Wine Searcher).

3. Tres Generaciones Silver

Average Alcohol Content: 40%

Many tequila enthusiasts have seen Tres Generaciones Silver as a diffuser tequila since La Perséverancia released this. Most spirits made by them are not pure.

Tres Generaciones Silver lacks strength and flavor. A 750 ml is roughly $36.99 (Drizly), and that is a very high price for a non-complex Blanco such as this spirit. 

2. Sauza Hacienda Reposado 

Sauza Hacienda Reposado on desk

Average Alcohol Content: 40%

Since this is rested, Sauza Hacienda Reposado should have been one of the best cheap tequilas. However, despite being aged and rested, it has a harsh alcohol flavor.

Each 750ml tequila bottle of Sauza Hacienda Reposado is around $18 (Wine Searcher), but you can get other reposado tequila at a cheaper price with a better flavor.

1. Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado

Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado on desk

Average Alcohol Content: 40%

Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado is the biggest disappointment among Jose Cuervo tequila variants. The taste may even be worse than cheap silver tequilas.

Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver and Extra Añejo, on the other hand, prove to be high-quality tequila.

For roughly $17.99 (Drizly) for every 750ml bottle of these agave spirits, you can find excellent tequilas at a much lower price. 

What Makes People Hate Tequilas 

What Makes People Hate Tequilas 

Taste

Cheap tequila is always associated with bad taste. Either the alcohol is harsh or overpowering, or the flavor profile is everywhere.

Some are too sweet, like sugar cane juice infused with alcohol. 

Top shelf tequila such as Don Julio is one real tequila that offers great flavors and is considered one of the smoothest tequilas in the market.

The worst spirits allegedly do not possess the qualities of premium tequila. But what’s the tequila on Queen of the South?

Hangover Effects

Avion 44 Extra Añejo

Congeners cause bad hangovers, and these are common in tequilas overflowing with additives.

The likes of Milagro Silver, Tequila Partida Blanco and Tequila Ocho Plata has lesser congeners.

Corn syrup and sugar cane-infused tequilas cause a hangover. Extra Añejo variants stayed in barrels longer, causing them to acquire more congeners [1] than Blancos.

Read: 512 Tequila & 818 Comparison 

FAQs 

Are cheap tequilas worse than premium tequilas?

No, cheap tequilas are not worse than premium tequilas since some affordable brands are also known for their flavor and smooth texture.

Sauza Silver Tequila is hailed as the Best Budget Tequila, the same as Camarena Reposado and Olmeca Altos Plata by many tequila drinkers. These are a few of the best tequila brands you can drink neat.

Are “mixto” tequilas the worst?

No, Mixto tequilas are not the worst because some of these variants are flavorful and smooth, especially the Añejo barrel blend. You can even find high-quality Mixtos that qualify as the best sipping tequilas.

However, the best tequila bottles are the pure ones such as Espolòn Reposado, Don Julio Reposado Tequila, and Casamigos Blanco. 

So, What’s The Worst Tequila? 

The worst tequilas on this list either have the worst flavor, overwhelming alcohol burn, or are insanely priced. Top-shelf brands like Don Julio, Casamigos Blanco, and Clase Azul Reposado Tequila come with a higher tag price because of their quality smoothness and remarkable flavors. 

However, price is not the basis for being part of the best tequilas. You can drink cheaper brands than Don Julio Tequila that possess impeccable taste. There is quality tequila even in the lower parts of the shelf, too. 

Reference:

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041008X14001562

Lydia Martin

Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [email protected] or learn more about us here or feel free to give Lydia a tip.

5 thoughts on “What’s the Worst Tequila? 7 Brands Reviewed (2023 Updated)

  • May 19, 2022 11:14 pm at 11:14 pm
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    Check out the price of Don Julio 1942. Within a year , the price has gone up 40%.
    Why? I have heard so many stories. I would like to know the truth straight from the distillery.

    Reply
    • May 20, 2022 1:08 am at 1:08 am
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      I heard it was issues with the supply chain but let me try and reach out to get a better answer.

      Reply
  • June 7, 2022 6:14 am at 6:14 am
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    Besides all the crap on your list, which I agree with, please let’s not forget Adictivo, Cava de Oro, Casamigos, Casa del Sol.. and the worst I’ve ever tasted 818.

    Reply
  • June 8, 2022 9:27 pm at 9:27 pm
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    Try the New Carabuena Tequila Blanco. Pretty good.

    Reply
  • June 8, 2022 9:54 pm at 9:54 pm
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    What about Patron or Dos Hombres Mezcal. Where do they fall, in this equation?
    Thanks

    Reply

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