"The agave notes in Fortaleza are bold enough to be able to withstand heavy oak aging, resulting in a tequila that is still able to balance vanilla, sweet spice, and tannins from the wood with cooked agave notes."

"An innovative release within the mezcal category, the dry coffee notes plays beautifully off of the mezcal’s subtle smoke flavour. Works equally well sipped neat or as the base in cocktail – try it in a Mezcal & Tonic (sounds unusual but trust me,..."

"As an all-rounder, QuiQuiRiQui probably offers the best value for money in the UK. This mezcal has everything going for it: fruitiness, sweet cooked agave, smoke, vegetal notes and citrus. At 45% ABV the alcohol is able to carry lots of flavour."

"Now one of the largest tequila brands in the world, Patron is well suited to those looking for a softer tequila with a more neutral flavour profile."

"Fortaleza is a favourite of tequila aficionados the world over. This tequila is produced in a small batch manner/fashion, right down the the handblown bottles. A great example of 100% tahona-milled tequila."

"Tequila Ocho aims to retain as much agave flavour as possible in their aged expressions. Note the light colour in Ocho’s aged expressions: this is natural colour from the barrel – Ocho is one of the few 100% additive-free tequilas in the market."

"Although purists will assert that mezcal should not be oak-aged, I think Ilegal is a great example of a favourable outcome of aging mezcal. Enjoy it neat, or use it as a base in aromatic cocktail like the Sweet Manhattan or Old Fashioned. "

"Named “World’s Best Tequila” by Forbes and the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Ocho Blanco is a favourite of tequila aficionados and bartenders across the world. Cooked agave, honey sweetness, white pepper, crisp minerality, and lively citrus notes."

"Don Julio is one of the most iconic tequila brands in the world today, and their 1942 bottling is especially unique. Expect dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla, tobacco leaf, green tea, and a soft, smooth and silky mouthfeel/texture."

"Vida is the flagship product from Del Maguey, designed for easy sipping and mixing. Expect a big hit of barbecue smoke, dried meat, citrus and bold fruit notes on the palate. A delectable, versatile, and thoroughly enjoyable tipple."

"Heavy oak aging makes Herradura Añejo a great entry point to the tequila category for bourbon drinkers. Try this neat as an after-dinner sipper or as the base in an Old Fashioned cocktail."

"Sherry cask aging is not common in the tequila world. Patrón Añejo Sherry Cask shows that this aging technique, most likely borrowed from Scotch whisky, can be applied to tequila with great result. Good segue into the tequila category for sherried..."

"San Cosme is a great entry-level mezcal, bottled at a lower ABV than most mezcals (40%), making it accessible for newcomers to the mezcal category, for both sipping and mixing."

"There’s a reason for the higher price tag on this mezcal: tepeztate is a wild agave variety that can grow for up to 30+ years before it is ready to harvest. Trust me, it’ll be worth every penny."

"Bruxo X does everything it’s designed to do: easy to sip, easy to mix, full flavoured without being overly challenging/complex. Great value for money too. Recommended for people just beginning to discover mezcal."