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Tequila has come a long way from being thought of primarily as a spirit for shots and margaritas. From expressive blanco bottlings to extra anejos that spend years in oak, producers are finding new ways to showcase the character of agave. The best Tequilas of 2026, include some particularly interesting winners. The Lost Explorer, Mosto, Valdre, Cambio and El Tesoro are among the names to know, with their bottles earning top honours across three international spirits competitions.
The Tasting Alliance brings together winners from its various competitions, including those held in San Francisco, New York, Asia and Latin America, for its annual Top Shelf Awards. This year, the Lost Explorer Tequila Blanco was anointed the best Tequila in the world winning the Best in Show Agave Spirit · Best Overall Tequila · Best of Class Blanco Tequila. This is the highest award for this category at The Top Shelf Awards 2026. We look at this tequila and others too and how they performed at other competitions held by the Tasting Alliance including LAWSC, SFWSC, NYWSC etc.
The Lost Explorer Tequila Blanco secured major honours at the Latin America World Spirits Competition earlier. Made with 100 per cent blue agave grown in Jalisco, the blanco is double-distilled in small batches under the guidance of maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa. The brand describes its profile through fresh agave, citrus, herbs and cinnamon, with pineapple on the nose and a mineral quality running through the palate. Bottled at 40 per cent ABV, it is an expression designed to be sipped slowly rather than hurried through a cocktail.
Mosto Tequila Reposado won Best of Class Reposado Tequila and Best Overall Tequila at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). Made with estate-grown blue Weber agave from Los Altos de Jalisco, it is aged for five months in bourbon barrels. The time in oak brings vanilla, caramel and bourbon spice into the profile, while roasted agave remains present on the nose. Its palate combines semi-sweet chocolate, butter and cinnamon with a lingering finish of vanilla, oak and a touch of black pepper. It is bottled at 40 per cent ABV.
At the 2026 New York World Spirits Competition (NYWSC), Valdre Extra Anejo received Best of Class Extra Anejo Tequila and Best Overall Tequila. Extra anejo is the most mature of the standard tequila ageing categories, requiring a minimum of three years in oak barrels. That extended maturation gives the style its characteristic depth and wood influence, setting it apart from younger blanco and reposado expressions. Valdre's double win makes it one of the standout names to emerge from this year's New York competition.
Cambio's Cellar Series #7 The Hearts Barril Anejo was named Best of Class Anejo Tequila at the 2026 SFWSC. This limited-production release spends 18 months in a combination of gin-spiced rye American oak and toasted French oak barrels. Made using second- and third-fill casks, it is bottled at 100 proof, or 50 per cent ABV, with just 225 cases produced. The unusual barrel combination gives this anejo a different identity from more conventional oak-aged tequila.
El Tesoro Paradiso took home Best of Class Extra Anejo Tequila at the 2026 SFWSC. Created by the Camarena family in collaboration with Cognac producer Alain Royer, it is aged for five years in French oak barrels that previously held Cognac. The result is an extra anejo that balances barrel influence with the character of the agave. Its tasting notes include butterscotch and herbs, with hints of smoke, oak and tropical fruit. The finish continues with butterscotch and a gentle touch of smoke, making it a fitting after-dinner pour.
These 5 Tequila bottles offer a glimpse into the range of styles and they show that there is no single formula for an award-winning spirit. This is clear from the fact that blanco, reposado, anejo and extra anejo expressions all earned recognition.
