Though Margaritas are essentially the drinks equivalent of American comfort food, in their native home of Mexico, it’s the Paloma that actually reigns. The appeal of the refreshingly tart drink is evident; it’s effortless in construction and crushability. The best tequilas to use in the classic keep that in mind.
When selecting the base spirit, bartenders say they look for notes that can balance out the drink’s bittersweet grapefruit. For some, that means an expression with pronounced earthy, vegetal and saline qualities. Kristina Magro, beverage director of Chicago’s California Clipper, says these flavors “act as a great backbone to the cocktail without overpowering the grapefruit.” Others, like Resa Mueller, bartender at Philadelphia’s R&D, look to match that citrus flavor via a bright tequila with a clean finish.
So which brands fit the bill? To find out, we asked a handful of bartenders for their recommendations. According to them, here are the five tequilas to seek out, at every price point.
Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila
“Add a little spice to your Paloma,” encourages Brian DuBois, assistant general manager of Billy Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina. While that spice could come from an infusion or a syrup, his recommended tequila, Tanteo, makes it easy to build the drink directly in the glass, with no prep necessary. Tanteo’s tequilas come in a range of flavors designed for spicy Margaritas—jalapeño, habanero and chipotle—but the jalapeño offering is ideal for bringing vegetal flavor to a Paloma.
- Price: $32
- ABV: 40%
Fortaleza Blanco Tequila
Though it’s certainly not infused, Fortaleza Blanco also has a piquant profile, with “really fragrant peppery notes that cut through the citrus” according to Kitty Bernardo, head bar manager at New York’s Donna. The small-batch blanco tequila has also been praised by surveyed bartenders, who previously selected it as a favorite top-shelf option, as suitable for sipping as it is for mixing.
- Price: $50
- ABV: 40%
Mijenta Blanco Tequila
Founded in 2020, Mijenta is a relative newcomer to the tequila market. Aside from its Paloma-friendly flavors—“bell pepper and pink peppercorn notes that complement the grapefruit-lime combination,” according to Magro—for her, what sets the brand apart is the company’s ethos as a B corp focused on sustainability.
- Price: $55
- ABV: 40%
Tequila Ocho Plata
Consistently praised as an excellent Margarita base and an early participant in Tequila Matchmaker’s confirmed additive-free program, Tequila Ocho is an industry favorite. Magro describes the bottling as her “absolute favorite tequila for Palomas,” one that adds depth to the cocktail because it’s “so terroir-driven and so grassy and complex.” Texturally, the tequila has a richer mouthfeel than others, according to Mueller, “which makes for a really fancy-feeling Paloma.”
- Price: $59
- ABV: 40%
El Tesoro Reposado Tequila
While blanco tequila was most called-for by surveyed bartenders, Mueller noted that a reposado option could offer an interesting “bruléed grapefruit vibe.” The only reposado on the list, DuBois’ pick for the very best tequila to use in a Paloma comes from El Tesoro, a bottling aged for at least nine months in ex-bourbon barrels. Once again, this tequila was praised for its peppery character, with the added roundness and body expected of the tequila style, and a subtle sweetness from being aged in oak.
- Price: $69
- ABV: 40%
