17 Best New Tequilas To Drink In 2023

Tequila is one of those spirits that will always have a place in any bar, whether that's at someone's home or in a classy restaurant. Tequila is an agave-based spirit that must be made using blue Weber agave and can only be distilled in some regions of Mexico to make it the real deal. The result is a lively spirit that's great for mixing into margaritas or taking shots followed by a wedge of lime. 

Yet no two tequilas are made equal, even if they come from the same distillery in Mexico. This makes it fun for tequila enthusiasts to explore the intricate nature of the spirit and everything it can be. It likewise means that distilleries are always unveiling new bottles to keep drinkers on their toes, meaning there are typically a few new bottles of tequila worth seeking out every year. 

The following bottles were all released, at the earliest, in 2022, making them the latest and greatest the market has to offer for 2023. Whether it's meant for mixing cocktails or drinking straight-up, we're here to help you find a new tequila to sip on before the year is over. 

Tequila Komos unveiled its line of three tequilas at the end of 2022, and the Añejo Cristalino expression is not to be missed. The bottle features a blanco base that ages in French oak white wine barrels for about a year. Aged tequila typically rests in American bourbon bottles, so the difference is noticeable and welcome. The distillers use charcoal filtration to purify the spirit, making it extremely smooth without losing those deep aged notes. The Jalisco-born tequila is sold in beautiful porcelain bottles that are not just works of art, but also protect the spirit from light damage. 

Tequila Komos Añejo Cristalino is pleasantly dry like a good wine while maintaining slight agave sweetness. The flavor sways tropical with notes of citrus, pineapple, and florals standing out. It's a tequila meant to be enjoyed on its own, especially considering the $120 price tag at Total Wine as of April 2023. While the price is high, the quality is unmatched, making the tequila well worth the splurge.

Calirosa Tequila, known for celebrity partners like singer Adam Levine and model Behati Prinsloo, has added a new bottle to its lineup. Calirosa Reposado is an 80-proof expression that spends nine months aging in wine barrels to develop a deep flavor and distinct color. Calirosa made a name for itself in the tequila market with its colorful tequilas, like the brand's light pink Rosa Blanco, with a hue that's the result of aging in wine barrels. The latest release is another addition to the family. 

The stand-out notes from Calirosa's latest bottle sway tropical with guava and orange flavors. There is a slight spice element to the reposado as you would typically expect from the type, though this is a fruitier reposado than what you'll find in other mainstream bottles at the liquor store. Calirosa Reposado goes for a suggested retail price of $60 as of April 2023. 

Nosotros Tequila was born out of creativity, as a business that started as a college assignment taken on by two friends. Now, the brand is independently owned and self-distributed with a growing reputation for ultra-smooth flavor. Nosotros Tequila also comes from a female-owned and operated distillery in Mexico that puts sustainability at the forefront of its operations.

One recent release from Nosotros that's worth adding to your 2023 must-try list is its Madera tequila. The signature añejo-style tequila spends a respectable 21 months aging in white oak barrels in a process that gives the result a rich and warm flavor that has tasting notes reminiscent of a freshly baked dessert made with butterscotch and cinnamon. Old Town Tequila sells Nosotros Madera tequila for $140 a bottle as of April 2023, making it a great spirit to treat yourself with and keep on your bar for special occasion sipping.

Another añejo-style luxury spirit comes from Tequila Herradura, a widely-recognized brand that's been around for more than 150 years. In honor of its 150th anniversary in 2020, distillers created Herradura Legend. It was such a popular limited release that the brand kept it around for good. The 100% blue Weber agave tequila is naturally fermented and spends a year aging in heavily-charred white oak barrels. The difference here is that the barrels used by Herradura have much deeper grooves than normal. It allows the tequila to come into contact with a wider surface area inside the barrel, developing a more intense oak flavor. 

Herradura Legend, like most top-shelf añejos, is best enjoyed on its own to appreciate its delicate flavors. The oaky flavor notes linger on your tastebuds long after you've swallowed a sip, making it feel luxurious. A bottle sells for about $150 on Drizly as of April 2023, but it's one splurge you won't regret after trying. 

Cierto Tequila has another top-shelf tequila with craftsmanship worth admiring. It's also a great bottle to gift someone for a special occasion. The brand's Private Collection Reposado is an 80-proof tequila that has been aged in French Limousin oak casks which previously held fine wine as well as Cognac and Armagnac brandies. Cierto approaches making tequila in a similar manner to how Scotch whisky is made, as it's twice-distilled in copper pots and column stills. Most importantly, the brand is all about letting the rich agave flavor of the tequila shine through. 

Cierto Private Collection Reposado has a rich flavor that's reminiscent of good French butter. Tasting notes of caramel, cinnamon, and vanilla add to the all-encompassing experience. Sip Tequila sells Cierto Private Collection Reposado for $130 a bottle as of April 2023, making it another bottle to add to your must-try list whenever the opportunity comes knocking. 

Volcan tequila has two basic principles: honor the environmental abundance of the volcano in Tequila, Mexico, and never be afraid to make something new. That ethos is best exemplified in the release of Volcan X.A. Tequila. The spirit is particularly special, as it's a blend of reposado, añejo, and extra añejo tequilas all derived from 100% blue Weber agave. Each tequila is aged for a different amount of time, adding layered depth to the flavor profile. The stand-out notes are chocolate and vanilla, making it taste like an elevated dessert. 

Volcan also uses blends in its distillation process that uses a combination of modern-day milling techniques and those using volcanic rocks. The base of the volcano is also the location of Volcan's distillery, which is unique for being one of the few single-dedicated distilleries in all of Jalisco. There are so many qualities that make Volcan X.A. a special bottle worth appreciating, and you can purchase it for $180 at Old Town Tequila as of April 2023. 

 A very experimental tequila that is worth purchasing in 2023 is Paladar Tequila Destilado de Agave. The spirit is an expression of reposado that starts off pretty normal — the alcohol is twice-distilled in copper and stainless steel pots and aged for two months in former bourbon barrels. However, the following process is where Paladar makes things interesting and stands out from the other reposados on the market. 

The reposado tequila then is aged for two months in an amburana wood cask. Amburana is a wood that is native to Brazil that adds a lot of color and characteristics to the tequila. Paladar Tequila Destilado de Agave has a remarkable sweetness that stays true to the earthy agave flavor but with added notes of baking spices. It's a spirit worth sipping on its own and the brand sells its bottle for $70 as of April 2023. 

Pink tequila is apparently all the rage in 2023. Take Inspiro Tequila Rosa Reposado, introduced by its woman-owned brand in 2022. This blanco tequila is aged in French rosé wine barrels that give it the appearance of a light rosé wine. It sells for $77 a bottle as of April 2023. 

Beyond its similarities in appearance, Inspiro's Tequila Rosa Reposado is also similar to rosé wine in taste. The tequila has a light body that is fruity, floral, and slightly nutty. It's a full-flavored spirit that is well worth sipping and savoring, especially considering its higher price tag. Inspiro is a brand all about giving back. It pioneered the Inspiro Purple Bicycle Project, which supports young women intending to become entrepreneurs. This is a tequila that not only holds its own in taste and quality but Inspiro is also created by a female-founded company with worthwhile initiatives.