Bartenders Name The 9 Smoothest Tequilas To Drink Straight

For most drinkers out there, the experience of drinking tequila straight usually starts and ends with a shot glass and a squeeze of lime. But for those who've taken time to dive into the wide world of agave spirits, it's also fair to argue that it's easily one of the best liquors out there to drink neat and savor. The haciendas that take special care to adhere to traditional or special production methods, quality control, and prioritizing product over profit can easily go toe-to-toe with — and often surpass — many of the finest bourbons, Scotches, and rums on the market as a solo sipper.

As a New York City bar owner and operator for over two decades, as well as a spirits expert, I've been incredibly fortunate to get to know the agave spirit on an intimate level. And while I'll always appreciate a beautifully crafted tequila cocktail, my regular sampling of new products (and revisiting some of my favorites) has helped me home in on some of the best bottles to drink neat. But I won't go it alone: When you're looking at everything from the best budget tequilas all the way up to the most exclusive añejos, it's important to bring in outside opinions. That's why I reached out to some industry colleagues for their go-to neat options. Here's what came back as the smoothest tequilas that are perfect for sipping neat.

Liquor companies go to some pretty extreme lengths to stand out on the shelves at your local liquor store or bar, in an attempt to influence that last-minute purchasing decision. But in a world brimming with overhyped tequilas that aren't worth the price, La Gritona and its unassuming, utilitarian bottle stand out as an undeniable bright spot. For many who've worked in the industry long enough, it's become a go-to gateway recommendation for customers who are curious about great tequila (and a very common fixture at many after-closing hangouts, if I'm being honest).

It would be one thing if it were just a reposado that happened to cost less than most of the underwhelming celebrite blancos, but this hospitality-industry-adored brand stands on its own merit as an additive-free, well-balanced small-batch reposado produced by an all-female team. With a compelling flavor profile of fruity, earthy, and spicy elements, New York City-based cocktail expert and educator Cristina Martin says she can still hardly believe how accessible it is. "Why are people paying $200 or more for over-manipulated tequilas that taste like vanilla water when this costs $40 a bottle?!" she says. "It's unbelievable!"

The very definition of a spirit worthy of drinking straight is one where its quality shines through on the very first sip. That's why Cyllan Hicks, head mixologist at Nothing Really Matters in New York City, says he reaches for this limited edition release from one of the titans of the agave sector. This isn't the José Cuervo you would use to make a margarita: This product was actually introduced as part of the iconic producer's 200th anniversary and made in small batches, making it distinctly different from the rest of the everyday Cuervo lineup you may know.

Part of what Hicks appreciates is the use of copper pot stills in the distillation process, as well as the company's distinctive barrel-aging method. "Copper stills help provide a bolder flavor to the agave, and the tequila is aged in a combination of [new] American and French oak barrels, which adds layers of complexity," he says.

A smooth and rich neat pour with very little alcoholic burn on the finish, he adds that the aging helps impart notes of lush vanilla, alongside plenty of baking spices and tropical fruit. The bottle will also be classified as organic in 2026 and uses carefully selected mature agave plants that are a minimum of six years old as its base.

Even with the meteoric surge of agave spirit sales in recent decades, it's still surprising how the best-selling and most popular tequila brands still draw plenty of attention away from the new players who've entered the U.S. market. But in recent years, brands like Dano's have managed to start punching through, thanks to their high quality, decent value, and an unmistakable attention to detail during production that yields a memorably great spirit. This bottle first came into my radar a few years ago, and it's become one of my go-tos for curious customers looking to get into agave spirits ever since.

Despite a lack of name recognition, this fledgling tequila has a lot more history behind it than its fresh-faced branding suggests. Produced on a female-owned hacienda with 180-year-old hornos (at the second-oldest distillery in Jalisco), it exudes character in the glass, with a deliciously ripe flavor profile of toasted agave, herbaceous notes, subtle spice, and a supple mouthfeel that isn't overpowered by oaky vanilla. But as with any sipping tequila, it's the rich, velvety finish with hints of charred pineapple and a dash of minerality that makes it worth drinking neat.

There are some tequilas worth sipping neat for their barrel-aged richness and smooth finish. But true agave fans also know that the spirit is capable of more complexity than arguably any other distilled product, making it the perfect sipper when you're looking for truly unique flavor profiles that will excite the palate. That's where Alto Canto Blanco High Proof comes in.

A true agave geek's tequila, this bottle practically took my breath away the first time I tasted it (and not because of the slightly higher ABV). When it comes to authentic and downright interesting production traits, this one has it all: It's made and distilled at a higher altitude than any other tequila in Mexico at 9,000 feet above sea level, starting with 80 hours of spontaneous fermentation in wooden tanks, followed by a malolactic fermentation before distillation.

The resulting product is a wildly dynamic agave spirit that brings creamy caramel, ripe fruit, and briny savory notes together in a way that leaves you savoring each sip as your palate unravels each layer. But don't just take my word for it: If you ever want to give your tasting skills a bit of exercise, I recommend pouring yourself a small glass, grabbing a pen and notebook, and trying to come up with as many descriptors as possible.

There's something special about a blanco tequila that hits the glass ready to drink. And when it comes to sipping something neat, Maycoll Calderón, the executive chef at Cuna, at The Standard East Village in New York City, says it doesn't get much better than Siete Leguas.

Of course, the flavor profile is what tends to bring (and keep) fans of this bottle once they've tasted it. Incredibly balanced on the palate, it's both smooth and complex, with layers of citrus, spice, and earthy agave notes that continue to transform on your tongue with each sip. That's why Calderón appreciates it so much. "It has a refined texture and a depth that makes it especially enjoyable to appreciate neat, because you can taste how the profile evolves," he says.

Part of why this spirit has such complexity likely has to do with the family-owned company's dedication to tried and true production methods over the decades. Working in small-batch releases, to enhance quality control and consistency, workers still use traditional stone ovens to bake piñas before using tahona stones to crush them for fermentation, and then use a true copper still for distillation. "They've stayed true to their roots and values over decades," says Calderón. "You can taste that authenticity in every bottle; it's made with patience and respect for tradition rather than scale."

Some might argue that the beauty of the agave category is its ability to keep you guessing and reward your curiosity. I feel like Volans Blanco is proof of this, as one of those truly unique bottles that can leave you thinking for hours about its intricate flavors and unique characteristics.

For lack of a better term, I would say this is a gin lover's tequila. It showcases plenty of herbaceous and minty notes alongside earthy baked agave and a rich spice cabinet combination before a kiss of minerality peaks through on the finish. Ultimately, this makes it a relatively bright and refreshing flavor profile that stands out for the genre, and certainly gives it all the trimmings of a true sipping tequila. I've found that when warm weather settles in and reposados and añejos aren't hitting the same, this is the precise product that's right at home at the beach, by the pool, or in a backyard get-together.

It's also worth noting that, like many of the other picks on this list, Volans (which is the Spanish word for a constellation that represents a flying fish) is also a small-batch production. The additive-free tequila is made using a specialized agave shredder they've named "Igor," as well as a mechanical tahoma named "Frankenstein" for crushing that was cobbled together from an assortment of parts. Cheeky machine names aside, this unique bottle is worth savoring.

While some die-hard tequila fans might look past the blanco category when it comes to sipping, not everyone agrees it's worth skipping. For Marc Hernandez, bartender at The Bronze Owl in New York City, Esperanto Blanco is a case in point for that argument.

Besides coming in a truly trippy, eye-catching bottle that functions like a high-end decanter, he says the spirit itself is also easy-drinking and smooth. It has a crisp, fruity profile with hints of peach, watermelon rind, and star anise, with slightly earthy notes on the finish that all come together to make it quite pleasant on the palate.

Despite having only been founded in 2005, the product itself is rooted in history by virtue of being made at El Lano Distillery, one of the oldest in Jalisco, dating back more than 125 years. "Interestingly, the water they use in production comes from the Tequila Volcano," notes Hernandez, "which adds a unique touch to the character of the spirit."

If I'm pressed to think of the very first agave epiphone moment, I'd probably have to say it was my first taste of this iconic reposado. There's a widely held admiration for it across the industry, both because it's relatively accessible and also because it has a little something for everyone in its flavor profile. Perhaps most importantly, it's not overpoweringly vanilla-heavy like some aged agave spirits can be, but still brings a rich, rounded, caramel-kissed base that is punctuated by hints of cracked black pepper, butterscotch, spice, and earthy vegetal notes. 

Cristina Martin speaks fondly of this tequila as being instrumental in her early agave education. "When I need a 'touch grass' moment with tequilas, I always go back to this one and sip on a small pour," she says.

The name itself is an overt nod to the NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana), which is a number assigned to distilleries in Mexico to prove their authenticity. It's also worth noting that the ArteNOM company operates as a cooperative among four distillers, helping to ensure that each's distinctive methods and characteristics are preserved from production to the consumer.

It should come as no surprise that tradition and heritage are a huge part of what happens in Jalisco, and few distillers prove this quite like G4. Helmed by master distiller Felipe Camarena, along with his sons Luis Felipe and Alan, it's currently being run by the fourth generation of a family who've been producing tequila there since 1937. The small-batch production has helped it build and maintain a stellar reputation in the hospitality industry, including with Jarett Karlsberg, beverage director of Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, New York, who considers it one of his top sipping tequilas.

All it takes is one taste for most people to realize why it's a hit with professionals. It has a creamy, velvety mouthfeel that helps to buoy an entire assortment of intriguing flavors, from crushed black pepper and orange pith to vegetal jalapeño notes and subtle herbaceous mint. With bottles typically available from $45 to $55, it's also a veritable bargain for the complexity you're getting (and besides being great neat, it's also one of the best tequilas to use for margaritas).

But that intrigue is also what draws Karlsberg to it as a sipping tequila. "It's super bright and grassy but incredibly smooth with rich texture," he says. Ultimately, he thinks the fact that two brothers are involved in production helps expand what the distillery is capable of in its finished products — especially in the case of this blanco. It's even a tequila you can buy at Costco!