Highest-Scoring Tequilas of 2026 (so far)
Of the more than 200 reviews we’ve published since our debut in January, these are the 86 bottles that scored 90 points or above.
Note: Scroll down, below the list, for more about how our scoring system works.
Look at these 86 top-scoring bottles. There is no pattern.
There are blancos, and extra añejos. Legendary expressions from long-time tequila makers, as well as new releases from emerging brands.
Some are $30 at retail, others approach $300.
The commonality? A trusted member of our reviews team think they are excellent, worth putting on a shelf, and putting in your mouth.
Note, these are NOT strictly the “best” tequilas of 2026. We don’t review everything. We’re a newsletter, not a definitive database. But these ARE the best we’ve scored so far this year. Click below for links to the review for each bottle.
How We Do Ratings at The Tequila Report
As Reviews Editor, I see all our reviews and feel all of the feedback. Here are some thoughts and insights after six months, and nearly 200 reviews published.
I often hear from consumers they think our rating scores are high. But we sometimes hear from brands that our scores are too low. Maybe that means we’re doing it just right?
Here’s how our system actually works.
We Use Individual Reviews, Not Aggregate Scores
Each review is written by one person from our experienced Reviews Team. The score is not an average from our staff, or an official position from The Tequila Report as an entity. Think of it more as an editorial in a newspaper. It’s one (knowledgeable) person’s opinion, of one bottle, of one batch, usually tasted on one day.
Our reviewers have slightly different palates, just like our readers do. Here’s a tip: find the reviewer whose palate you identify with most closely and follow more of their reviews.
We Use All 100 Points
You might be familiar with the online database and mobile app Agave Matchmaker. We love them, work with them, and aren’t trying to imitate or replace them.
Our ratings are intentionally different. While both are on a 100-point scale, you’ll see a wider distribution of scores from our individual reviewers on some of your favorite tequilas than the average Panel score on Agave Matchmaker. Partially because when Agave Matchmaker panelists (I’m one of about 100 of them, as are many of our reviewers) go to review a tequila, they can see the scores everyone else already gave. That tends to create a bit of mathematical conformity. It’s human nature.
On Agave Matchmaker you won’t find many average Panel scores above 91 points, for just about any bottle, period. There, a 92 pretty much functions like a perfect 100.
But when we started The Tequila Report, we wanted to use all 100 points (or at least 98 of them, since that’s our highest so far).
Currently we are seeing around 30% of our reviews rated Excellent (91+), 60% rated Good (81-90), and 10% a Pass (80 or below). Our lowest and highest scores are 57 and 98, as of June 2026.
We think that is a fair representation of the tequila market overall, and also accurately reflects the bottles we choose to review.
Our Points are Based on Different Criteria
Another differentiator here is that our ratings are built on an assessment of Aroma, Flavor, Finish, and Character. Notably, there is no “Value” component to our ratings, as there currently is at Agave Matchmaker, and other sources.
We believe the value of a tequila is separate from its quality and highly personal in its subjectivity. We don’t give extra credit for affordability, and we don’t mathematically scold expensive bottles. If it’s good, it’s good. Whether you want to pay for it is your call, not ours.
Ratings with a Story
Ratings are just one component of a review. We believe the narrative about who makes it and why is even more valuable, especially for the bulk of our tequila-curious readers.
Our reviews aim to educate by providing elements of brand story and production highlights, in addition to our tasting notes. This augments our weekly long-form brand features, and dedicated education articles.
In short, The Tequila Report reviews are:
Individually signed reviews by a member or our Reviews Team, who stand behind their opinions
Based on a true, 100-point scale
Not impacted by price or “value”
Include narrative to help you understand how and why the tequila was made.
I hope that helps clear up why our reviews are unique, educational, and add something new to the world of tequila.
As we say in our motto: Celebrate Your Spirit!
About the Author
Mike Barad is passionate about agave and community. He founded the Great Lakes Tequila Club and proudly serves on the board of the Tequila that Cares Foundation. He is also the reviews editor at The Tequila Report. Find him on Instagram.
