The 10 Best Añejo Tequila Brands to Buy Now in 2026
What is añejo tequila?
There are a few specific rules that define tequila as a category overall. It can only be made from Blue Weber agave, with production limited to five states in Mexico—Jalisco, where most tequila is produced, as well as Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. In order to be labeled as 100 percent agave tequila, it must be made from—you guessed it—100 percent agave, as opposed to mixto which can include just 51 percent agave (the rest is some kind of sugar). Finally, there are a few different categories that indicate how long tequila was aged, and “añejo” means that it spends between one and three years in a barrel.
How should you drink añejo tequila?
The short answer is however you like it—there is no wrong or right way to enjoy añejo tequila. That being said, it’s a good idea to at least taste it neat to really discover its character. From there, drink añejo tequila however you like—straight up or over ice, or in any cocktail you can think of where you can swap out whiskey, including classics like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
How did we choose the añejo tequila on this list?
We considered different factors when picking these añejos, with the emphasis being on taste. Because after all, despite a bottle’s availability or the hype surrounding it, that is the most important thing. Tasting añejo tequila involves a combination of sensations, including the nose, palate, mouthfeel and finish. And each category has different characteristics, so part of the process is to consider how an individual pick fits into its style overall. The bottles on this list represent the best anejos based on all of these options, providing a good overview of selections you can easily purchase in person or online that are good examples of each individual category.
Why should you trust us?
Jonah Flicker has been writing about whiskey and other spirits for over a decade, visiting distilleries around the world to meet the people behind the bottles and find out more about their stories. He is a judge for the John Barleycorn Awards and New York World Wine and Spirits Competition and leads private tastings, and his work has appeared in many national other lifestyle outlets besides Robb Report, including Esquire, Food & Wine, Men’s Journal, CNN, USA Today and more.
