Unlike the rest of the tequila and agave trophy processions, Agavos Awards utilizes only blind judging, and solely panelists who are known agave experts.
I was a judge last year, in the first year of Agavos. But now, as Editor of The Tequila Report - the largest tequila newsletter and magazine - I felt it was a conflict of interest to serve as a judge, even in a blind tasting.
Regardless, the lineup of judges this year are a murderer’s row of tequila nerds. You may disagree with some of their picks - I do, too.
But remember two IMPORTANT facts:
Blind tasting is the way. It eliminates all the marketing bias. I have definitely surprised myself tasting things blind that I thought I liked/didn’t like when I saw the label. That’s not a demerit; we’re all human, and we all can be influenced or de-influenced.
Spirits awards are handed out based on the brands that submitted entries. A minority of all tequila brands entered the Agavos Awards. Thus, while the judging process and panel are sound, it’s not the definitive gauge. I’d look at our Top 150 Brands list for that, or our soon-to-be-released Craft Tequila List as a more reliable and comprehensive source of truth.
That said, as tequila awards go, I’d argue Agavos is the most legit there is.
Agavos Awards - like most awards competitions - has several categories of winners. Double Gold is the highest classification, at 90+ points on average. Gold is also noteworthy, roughly a high 80s score on The Tequila Report scale.
Silver and Bronze equate to a low 80s to high 70s score, which is not particularly noteworthy.
Here is the entire lineup of 2026 Agavos Awards.
But what you really care about are the standouts, right? So, here are all the 2026 Double Gold Winners:
BLANCO Tequila Double Gold Awards
Borracho
Campo Azul 1940
Cascahuín Tahona
Caton
Emerald Spear
Escalón Tahona
Esquisito
Francisco Alcaraz
Levanto
Ocasion
Ocho
Point Blank
Rimari
Viamundi
Volcan de mi Tierra
Volcan de mi Tierra Tahona
Zumbador
HIGH PROOF BLANCO Tequila Double Gold Awards
Cultura 100
Espíritu Bramido 1869
Lost Lore High Proof
Mi Casa
Mosto Still Strength
Real Gavelo
Torrente
Trujillo Manifesto 57
Zumbador
STILL STRENGTH BLANCO Tequila Double Gold Awards
Fortaleza
Socorro 110
BLANCO UNDER $30 Tequila Double Gold Awards
Caton
Zumbador
BLANCO Special Release Tequila Double Gold Awards
Esquisito Tahona
Trujillo Cu4tro
REPOSADO Tequila Double Gold Awards
Cayéya
Cutwater
Elevación 1250
Mosto
Nobleza 33
REPOSADO High Proof Tequila Double Gold Awards
Casa Mexico
Lost Lore
Manuscrito Chapter 4
REPOSADO Special Release Tequila Double Gold Awards
Cachasol Whiskey Barrel
Mijenta Symphony Series #2
Música High Proof
Tierra de Ensueño Jamaican Rum Cask
AÑEJO Tequila Double Gold Awards
Carreta del Oro
El Gran Legado de Vida
Fortaleza
Herradura Legend
Rico Royale
AÑEJO Tequila High Proof Double Gold Awards
Enelalma
AÑEJO Tequila Special Release Double Gold Awards
4 Copas
Turincio 28
EXTRA AÑEJO Tequila Double Gold Awards
Cutwater
Fuenteseca Reserva 9-year (2011 edition)
Herradura Selección Suprema
EXTRA AÑEJO High Proof Tequila Double Gold Awards
Alquimia 14 Year
EXTRA AÑEJO Special Release Tequila Double Gold Awards
El Secreto de Don Pilar
EXTRA AÑEJO Single Barrel Tequila Double Gold Awards
Campo Azul 1940 Tennessee Whiskey Barrel
INFUSED Tequila Double Gold Awards
Blue Star Reposado Honey Infused
Ghost Blanco
Ghost Reposado
About the Author
Jay Baer has spent 30+ years studying tequila and agave spirits. He is the co-founder and editor of The Tequila Report. Jay is also the New York Times bestselling author of seven books, a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, and has spent three decades building and advising brands.
In addition to The Tequila Report, Jay and his business partner, Maddie Jager, are co-founders of Slingshot, an invitation-only community of emerging tequila brands. Jay lives in Bloomington, Indiana and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
You can find him on Instagram.
