Best Tequila, Mezcal From 2023 SF World Spirits Competition
How do you choose your tequila? Do you let a celebrity tell you what to drink? Or pick the least familiar name while trying not to spiral into traumatic memories of bad nights in college?
If you’re smart, you’ll take some buying advice from the judges of the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition—one of the most prestigious names in assessing the quality of liquor.
Each year, the SFWSC blind tastes hundreds of spirits and awards accolades from honorable mention to double gold. Finalists are selected from this pool for the “Best in Show” awards and others.
Related: Best Añejo Tequila to Drink in 2023
This might be a good time for an adventurous purchase. Agave spirits aren’t limited to the blue weber agave and the signature tequila produced from it. Mezcal and several other types of spirit are also produced from various agave species, in various parts of Mexico, the U.S., and other countries.
For convenience, the SFWSC has divided agave spirits into the following categories:
- Silver/Gold (Unaged) Tequila
- Reposado Tequila
- Añejo Tequila
- Extra Añejo
- Mezcal
- Other Agave Spirits
Between these, you’ll have little trouble finding a margarita-approved unaged tequila, reposados for shooting and mixing, añejos made for sipping, and mezcals and more for any drinking strategy under the sun.
Best Tequila and Mezcal of 2023, According to the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Silver/Gold (Unaged) Tequila
- Acre Largo Tequila Acre Largo Blanco
- Baluarte Tequila Blanco
- Cava De Oro Gran Cava De Oro Blanco Tahona Cosecha 2021 El Arenal
- Cierto Tequila Reserve Collection Blanco
- Lana Tequila Blanco (Finalist)
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- Próspero Blanco Tequila
- Regalo Ancestral Tequila Blanco (Finalist)
- Tequila Ocho Plata
Reposado Tequila
- Cierto Tequila Private Collection Reposado
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- El Tequileño “The Sassenach Select”
- Hotel California Tequila Reposado Tequila
- Tequila Campo Azul Selecto Reposado
- Tequila Ocho Reposado
- Renegade Rum Single Farm Origin: Hope
Añejo Tequila
- Baluarte Tequila Añejo (Finalist)
- Black Sheep Tequila Añejo
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- Casa Don Ramón Tequila Platinium Cristalino Añejo
- Clementina Añejo
- Dos Armadillos Tequila Añejo (Finalist)
- Dos Primos Anejo (Finalist)
- Hotel California Tequila Añejo (Finalist)
- Tequila De La Gente T
- Tequila De La Gente 3D (Finalist)
Extra Añejo
- Avión Reserva 44 (Finalist)
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- Cierto Tequila Private Collection Extra Anejo
- Cierto Tequila Reserve Collection Extra Anejo (Finalist)
- Don Vicente Extra Añejo (Finalist)
Mezcal
- 9 Reinos Mezcal
- Akul Espadin & Tepeztate
- Akul "Madrecuishe Tobala Arroqueño"
- Alma de Judas Espadin Mezcal
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- Catedral de mi Padre Tobala Mezcal
- Cutwater Spirits Mezcal Joven
- Del Maguey Vida de Muertos "San Luis del Rio
- Del Maguey Single Village® Mezcal Las Milpas "Las Milpas
- Del Maguey Single Village® Mezcal "Santa Catarina Minas
- Del Maguey, Minero Single Village Mezcal (Finalist)
- Dona Vega Mezcal Doña Vega Mezcal Espadín
- Ilegal Mezcal 7 Year Añejo (Finalist)
- Mezcal MAL Bien "White Tape" Espadin (Finalist)
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- Mal de Amor Ensamble Cuishe/Tobala Mezcal "Santiago Matatlán
- Mestiza Negra Mezcal Espadin Joven
- Mezcal Amarás Mezcal Amarás Logia Azul
- Mezcal Amarás Logia Horno
- Mezcal Amarás Logia Mexicano
- Mezcal Amarás Logia Coyote (Finalist)
- Mezcal Amarás Logia Cenizo
- Mezcal Don Amado Don Amado Largo "Santa Catarina Minas
- Mezcal Hacienda Oponguio Hacienda Oponguio Joven Agave Inaequidens
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- Toro Muerto Mezcal
- Mezcal Vago Ensamble en Barro
- Mezcales Casa Armando Zignum®
- Añejo Mocel Mezcal Artesanal
- Cupreata Joven Mocel Mezcal
- Artenanal Ensamble Joven (Cupreata Inaequidens & Espadincillo)
- Mr. Mezcal Cuiche
- Paquera Mezcal Barril San Agustín Amatengo (Finalist)
- Perro de San Juan Cirial – Maguey Cuishe/Cirial San Dionisio Octepec
- Salvadores Mezcal Aresanal Mezcal Destilado con Elote (Finalist)
- Se Busca Joven Maguey Madrecuishe (Finalist)
Other Agave Spirits
- AQARÁ Agave de los Andes Rito
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- La Travesia Espadin Santa Caterina
See more results from the 2023 San Francisco Spirits Competition
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