As with all things in life, not all tequilas are created equal. Some are perfect for Margaritas while others are meant for sipping neat, and some tequilas aren’t actually tequila at all (looking at you, Jose Cuervo). No matter what purpose they serve, there is no denying that tequila’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. And with an abundance of labels available on shelves, tequila drinkers have no shortage of options to choose from.
To determine where the tequila market stands, magazine Drinks International rounded up the top 10 best-selling tequila brands at 100 of the world’s top bars. Rather than displaying raw sales figures from each global market, the Drinks International Brands Report reflects responses to a detailed questionnaire completed by a targeted list of bars featured on major accolade lists and a small percentage of bars chosen by the Drinks International’s editors.
While a handful of brands have continued to dominate the sector, recent years have seen celebrity influence drastically alter the top-shelf tequila scene. The tides, though, seem to be turning. As celebrity tequila brands become more associated with diffuser production and artificial additives, many agave aficionados — including those at the world’s top bars — are turning to more traditionally produced spirits. Casamigos is the sole celebrity tequila on this year’s list, a possible indicator that high-end bars have brought it onto their back bars as a familiar bottle for guests. Its 10th-place position also challenges the withheld narrative that the celebrities are controlling the tequila
