Tequila has come a long way from the days of only being drunk soley as shots in sticky-floored bars. Today, the agave spirit is sipped and appreciated by those seeking real depth in flavour, whether enjoyed neat or mixed into a cocktail. Even complex considerations like terroir are now mentioned in the same sentence as Tequila, showcasing just how far the spirit has come in recent decades. And following the lead of George Clooney, celebrities are practically falling over themselves to have a Tequila to put their name to.
Tequila is made from the agave plant and is part of the wider mezcal family. While mezcal can be made from a variety of plants, Tequila is made exclusively from blue weber agave. The clear style is known as blanco or silver Tequila, and is best enjoyed at 100% agave when selecting for sipping.
Meanwhile, some have a deeper colour thanks to ageing in oak barrels. Reposado Tequila is rested in cask for between two months and one year, while añejo expressions are aged for up to three years. Extra añejo Tequila, the most mature style, spends over three years in barrel before bottling.
At this year’s IWSC, all styles were on show with top scores awarded to blancos through to extra añejos. An impressive seven tequilas received a Gold Outstanding medal, the IWSC’s highest medal for spirits. In the blanco category, three tequilas were spotlighted by the judges, including expressions from Tequila Cascahuin and Tanteo Tequila, alongside the iconic Sierra Blanco Tequila.
Three reposados were awarded 98 points. Campo Azul 1940 Reposado Tequila impressed with its layers of spice and florals, while Lagrimas “la Loma” Reposado Tequila was described by the judges as possessing a ‘grassy and zesty character’ and Pancho Datos Reposado Tequila was highlighted for a ‘robust herbaceous backbone’. Intriguingly, Samson & Surrey’s Ocho Anejo Tequila was the only extra añejo to take home a Gold Outstanding medal.
Every tequila in this year’s IWSC was judged blind, with a top-class panel tasting each one, including The Connaught bar manager Oscar Angeloni, spirits consultant Jimmy Harris, and owner and director of Wine & Such Stephanie DiCamillo-May. The judging panels were overseen by Deano Moncrieffe, founder of Hacha Bar and Mirror Margarita.
Read on to see our pick of the top tequilas from the IWSC’s 2025 tasting.
The best Tequila from the IWSC 2025
HOW ARE SPIRITS JUDGED?
Each spirit sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges as part of the rigorous tasting process. IWSC spirit judges are experts in their field, from critics to buyers. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE SPIRITS?
Only the best spirits sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
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