Cinco de Mayo first staked its flag in 1862, when Mexico declared victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla. In the century and a half since, the historic occasion has developed the unlikeliest of cultural legacies. Truth is, the holiday doesn’t get much fanfare south of the border. Much larger annual celebrations are regularly dedicated to Mexican Independence Day, Día de Los Muertos and even Children's Day, which falls about a week earlier on April 30.
Thanks to a potent combo of activism and commercialization, however, the holiday has taken on an identity entirely its own in the U.S. Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a three-word phrase synonymous with mariachi and folk dancing, festive eats and — more often than not — a fair share of drinking.
In honor of this most quintessentially American of Mexican holidays, we've put together a list of eight excellent tequilas and mezcals that knock the socks off the competition. Selections range from $30 to $200, providing a little bit of something for everyone, both in terms of approachability and price point.
Suerte takes a low and slow approach to its ultra-herbaceous, ultra-affordable Blanco. Agaves are roasted for an above-average 52 hours before being tahona-crushed for nearly a day. The resulting spirit pops with bright green aromas of tarragon, grass and lime peel that give way to tons of raw agave, minerals and mint on the palate. On the finish, a touch of white pepper and anise wraps up everything with a bow. It's a true springtime sipper. Whether you toss this into a Ranch Water or sip it solo, Suerte Blanco's asking price of $30 won't steer you wrong.
One of the latest mezcal launches to hit the market comes in a funky, pastel-hued bottle with a big pink chicken on the front. Inside, you'll find Mezcal Güey. Dreamt up by mezcalero Euleterio Garcia Martinez, this blend of Espadin and Cuishe agaves checks all the boxes for a bar car ol' reliable. Bold aromas of ash, pineapple and lime zest pave the way for subtler flavors of grapefruit, lemon and the lightest trace of bell peppers. In other words, it's classic smoky mezcal from start to finish. We'd recommend this inside any cocktail that demands a straightforward splash of ash, whether it be a Mezcal Margarita or an Oaxacan Old Fashioned. Retails at just under $55.
Following 25 years of fine dining experience in the Chicago area, Chef John Des Rosiers made the jump from eats to sips with the launch of Cambio Tequila. His background in French cuisine shows through in spades; the brand’s expressions are rested in a combination of White Bordeaux, White Burgundy and French oak chardonnay casks that add a distinctly sweet and aromatic finish.
Those intricate barrel influences are best captured in the brand’s Reposado. Swirling with orange peel and tannin on the nose, the palate gives way to flavors of oak, ginger, honey and a noticeable fresh sourdough aftertaste. Best of all, the bottle comes in just under $60, a rarity within the high-end, confirmed additive-free agave spirits category.
Though we still have a good way to go, we can guarantee that Wild Common Añejo will be near — if not at — the top of our Best of 2025 list. Forged at the much-loved Cascahuin distillery, this is a bottle that may seem innocuous at first glance. Lowlands agave, a combination of tahona and roller mill, aged in ex-bourbon barrels... all great stuff, but nothing that leaps off the page.
The same cannot be said for the liquid itself. The experience is a melting pot of everything dark orange and sweet, brimming with flavors of apple pie, apricots, Butterfinger candy and toasted coconut. A long, brown sugar-laden finish evidences the welcomingly high 47% ABV. It's sweet but not cloying, autumnal but not remotely pumpkin spice. For the best-of-all-worlds balance between oak and agave, Wild Common Añejo clocks in at $100.
An unwieldy combo of bureaucracy, restrictive guidelines and fees had led some mezcal distillers to abandon their namesake spirit. The trend, which kicked off commercially in the mid-2010s, has given birth to the umbrella term "Destilado de Agave," a catch-all for everything fun and funky that falls between the cracks of regulatory authorities.
Paquera Ancestral Cuishe is evidence of the great possibilities. Distilled from 16-year-old agaves hand-mashed with a wooden mallet, this is a spirit drenched in lactic aromas of lemon, tree bark and clay. The palate introduces equally unexpected flavors of overripe fruit, namely pineapple, guava, calamansi and papaya. Buried within you'll also find a vaguely umami note, limestone minerality and a handful of pine needles. It's a wild ride from start to finish and perhaps not the easiest introduction to the world beyond traditional mezcal. If you're willing to take the plunge, bottles cost $135.
For years, LALO was known as the brand with a single bottle: an additive-free, 40%-ABV blanco that appealed to newcomers and die-hard enthusiasts alike. Last November, the distiller caved to fans and introduced a second offering. Dialing the alcohol content way up to 54% ABV, LALO High Proof is an evolution of everything the original excelled at. Buttery aromas of agave, mango and baking spice hint at a palate stuffed with mouth-coating sweetness, complete with hints of lavender, honey, fresh-squeezed grapefruit and pepper. It's a summertime sipper through and through and easily one of the best offerings in the competitive high-proof blanco market.
Though its label is stamped with the words "Limited Edition," this expression is still widely available at its initial retail price of $80. We'd suggest picking it up while supplies last.
Cazcanes has hit shelves with a boatload of bottlings over the past few years, all worthy of recommendation in their own right. The brand's Rosa Reposado appeals to the sweeter side of the palate, while its recently unveiled Nuestras Raices presents an unexpected foray into the uncertified genre. In our opinion, however, the cream of the crop would have to be its No. 10 Still Strength Blanco.
Bottled a touch below the legal maximum, the expression is rich with a supremely briny, mineral-forward character that pervades the nose, palate and finish. Hidden throughout, you'll discover subtler flavors of white pepper, lemongrass and jalapeño alongside a surprising caramelized note not unlike butterscotch. If we had to describe it as a place, we'd say Cazcanes No. 10 is where the ocean meets the garden patch. Well worth the $100 price of entry.
Volcan de Mi Tierra X.A. is the epitome of ostentatious liquor bottles. Clocking in at nearly a foot-and-a-half tall, this black-and-gold obelisk of agave was clearly designed for the nightclub and luxury occasion. It even has a toggleable light switch on the bottom. It should come as no surprise that it's the inaugural tequila venture from LVMH, the French conglomerate behind Hennessy Cognac and Christian Dior.
Whatever your opinion on any or all of the above, it can't be denied that this decanter contains some shockingly tasty juice. Distilled under the oversight of Marcelino Lucke, the tequila contains a blend of reposado, añejo and extra añejo reserves aged in proprietary Grace Oak casks. The end result is delicately sweet in a rose petals and potpourri kind of way. Aromas of apple, cherry, nutmeg and allspice segue into an equally warm palate of dried apricots, raisins and vanilla. It's a profile that should appeal to everyone, all while evolving the concept beyond the saccharine sweet offerings that club-friendly bottles usually contain. If you're urged to splurge, Volcan de Mi Tierra X.A. costs a cool $190.
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(Photo: Mezcal Güey)[/caption]
(Photo: Wild Common)[/caption]
(Photo: Paquera)[/caption]
(Photo: LALO)[/caption]
(Photo: Cazcanes)[/caption]
(Photo: LVMH)[/caption]