It probably doesn’t matter to most people why they enjoy Mexican food, beer, mezcal, and tequila on Cinco de Mayo. Just like everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day (and therefore is free to imbibe myriad Guinness’, green beers, plates of bangers and mash, and countless shots of Jameson) regardless of their actual genetic makeup, everyone agrees that Cinco de Mayo is pretty much the unofficial start of summer (maybe not, but the weather is finally warm for much of the country) and the perfect day to celebrate by drinking a lot and eating just as much.
But, the actual reason for the holiday is to celebrate the Mexican army’s victory over France on May 5th 1862. In the years since then, the holiday has morphed into more of a celebration of the food and drinks of Mexican rather than paying homage to a battle.
Regardless of why you celebrate Cinco de Mayo, you probably don’t want to pay a month’s salary for a bottle of tequila that will likely be consumed by your party animal friends before noon. Lucky for you, there’s a few really good bargain tequilas available to keep the good times going well after 12 o’clock. Check out some of our favorites below:
This is one of the best value tequilas on the market. For around $20 it’s hard to find a tequila as well-balanced as El Jimador Reposado. For those who are unfamiliar with tequila terms, reposado means “rested” in barrels. This tequila is double distilled before it’s rested in American oak barrels for two months. That makes this 100% agave tequila perfect for sipping or mixing into your favorite Cinco de Mayo cocktails.
Price: $20
This tequila is so good, people are often surprised at the reasonable price. Made by using the tradition Tahona production process (using a giant stone to crush the agave fibers). The result is a smoky, agave-forward tequila that really doesn’t need to be mixed with anything else to be enjoyed. Throw a few ice cubes into a glass and sip on this tasty juice all day long. Or, if you choose, mix it into a simple cocktail. Just don’t overpower it or you’ll waste the outstanding flavor.
Price: $25
Created by well-known tequila maker Enrique Fonseca, this tequila is really cheap in price, but not in quality. It was designed for bartenders and cocktailing. It’s smooth, sweet, light, and subtly spicy. You could sip it on its own, but it really shines when mixed into Margaritas, Palomas, and any number of Cinco de Mayo cocktails. It’s not overly complex by any means but should be on your shelf if you consider yourself to be an amateur mixologist.
Price: $20
Milagro has made a name for itself in the tequila world in the last few years. The brand’s silver might be one its younger tequilas, but for the price, it’s definitely not to be missed. Made with 100% estate-grown blue agave, Milagro Silver is smooth and has a good vegetal, agave flavor. It’s likely not a tequila you buy to drink neat. It’s best when mixed into cocktails or enjoyed as shots with friends and family with a side of salt and lime.
Price: $29.99
Espolon has been in the news lately because of its unique marketing with the new Deadpool movie. But, this brand (and this particular tequila) is much better than a comic book movie gimmick. Like all reposados, this one is rested (or aged) before it’s put into a bottle. Espolon ages its tequila for 6 months to give it a sweet, smooth, balanced flavor with the oakiness of the wood pairing nicely with the vegetal flavors of the agave.
Price: $25
