If you’ve ever wondered what actually separates a bargain bottle of tequila from a £50 one, the answer is simple: agave content and ageing. Tequila is a Mexican spirit distilled from the blue Weber agave plant, and by law it must contain at least 51% agave sugars, though the best bottles are 100% agave with nothing else added.
Beyond that one rule, quality and flavour depend heavily on how long the spirit rests in oak barrels, if at all. A clear, unaged blanco tastes sharp and peppery, while a barrel-aged añejo takes on caramel and vanilla notes closer to whisky.
This guide covers what tequila is made from, the five official types, what you’ll pay for a bottle in the UK, how UK alcohol duty affects the price, the right way to drink it, and answers to the questions people search for most.
What Is Tequila Made From?
Tequila comes from the heart of the blue Weber agave plant, known as the piña because of its resemblance to a giant pineapple. The plant takes between 5 and 7 years to mature, sometimes longer, before it’s ready to harvest.
Producers steam or roast the piñas to convert their stored carbohydrates into fermentable sugars, then crush them to release a sweet juice called mosto. Yeast ferments this juice into a low-alcohol liquid, which is then distilled, usually twice, to reach around 55% ABV before being diluted to bottling strength.
By Mexican law, tequila can only be produced in five designated states, primarily Jalisco, and must be certified by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila. This gives tequila Denomination of Origin protection, similar to how Champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France.
Mixto vs 100% agave: if a label doesn’t say “100% agave,” it can legally contain up to 49% other sugars, often cheaper cane sugar. These mixto tequilas tend to taste harsher and give a rougher hangover, so for sipping or a proper margarita, always check the bottle for “100% agave” or “100% de agave.”
The 5 Types of Tequila
Every bottle falls into one of five categories, defined by how long, if at all, it’s aged in oak.
- Blanco (silver): unaged, or aged no more than 59 days. Clear in colour, with sharp citrus, pepper and earthy agave flavours. This is the classic choice for margaritas.
- Joven (gold): a blend of blanco and aged tequila, sometimes with added colouring. Often used as a cheaper stand-in for reposado.
- Reposado: rested in oak barrels for between two months and a year. Takes on a light golden colour with vanilla, caramel and gentle woodiness.
- Añejo: aged one to three years in small oak barrels, giving it a deeper amber colour and a flavour profile closer to a young whisky.
- Extra añejo: aged more than three years. This is the rarest and most expensive category, with rich oak, dried fruit and spice notes.
Tequila vs Mezcal: What’s the Difference?
Every tequila is technically a type of mezcal, but not every mezcal is a tequila. Mezcal can be made from up to 30 different agave varieties and can be produced across a wider range of Mexican states, while tequila must use only blue Weber agave and can only come from five specific regions.
Production also differs: mezcal is often made by roasting agave hearts in underground pits lined with hot rocks, which gives many mezcals their distinctive smoky character. Tequila producers generally steam the agave in above-ground ovens instead, so the resulting spirit is cleaner and less smoky.
If you enjoy tequila but want to try something related, a good quality mezcal is the obvious next step, though be ready for a noticeably different, earthier flavour.
How Much Does Tequila Cost in the UK?
Prices vary hugely depending on brand and quality, but here’s what UK shoppers are seeing in 2026.
Supermarket own-label and entry-level tequila: typically £13 to £22 for a 70cl bottle. According to UK retail price tracking, tequila prices across major supermarkets ranged from around £10 to £20 per litre in July 2026, with Morrisons offering some of the lowest prices and Sainsbury’s at the higher end for value ranges.
Mid-range 100% agave brands: El Jimador, the UK’s biggest-selling 100% agave tequila brand according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis data, typically sits in the £20 to £28 bracket for a 70cl bottle, alongside other established names like Altos and Cazcabel.
Premium and ultra-premium brands: Patrón Silver retails at around £39 to £46.50 for a 70cl bottle at major UK supermarkets, while smaller-batch or older añejo expressions from brands like Casamigos or Don Julio can run considerably higher.
Prices shift regularly with retailer promotions, so treat these as a general guide rather than a fixed price, and check current listings before you buy.
How UK Alcohol Duty Affects the Price of Tequila
A chunk of every bottle’s price goes straight to HMRC, and it’s worth understanding why tequila costs what it does.
Since the alcohol duty reform of August 2023, UK duty is charged per litre of pure alcohol in the product, rather than a flat rate per bottle type. According to GOV.UK’s official rates, effective from 1 February 2026, spirits above 22% ABV are taxed at £33.99 per litre of pure alcohol.
Most tequila is bottled at 38% to 40% ABV. On a standard 70cl bottle at 38% ABV, that works out to roughly £9.04 in Alcohol Duty alone, before VAT is added on top of the duty-inclusive price. That’s a meaningful chunk of a £20 bottle, and it’s part of why cheaper mixto tequilas and premium 100% agave bottles can carry a similar tax burden despite very different production costs.
Duty rates increase annually now, in line with RPI inflation, following the government’s November 2025 Budget announcement, so expect a small rise again around February 2027.
How to Drink Tequila Properly
Forget the salt-lime-shot routine for a moment. Tequila enthusiasts increasingly treat 100% agave tequila as a sipping spirit, similar to whisky, rather than something to knock back quickly.
For sipping: choose a reposado or añejo, serve neat at room temperature in a small tumbler or copita glass, and take small sips to let the flavour develop. No salt or lime needed.
For a classic shot: blanco is traditional. Some drinkers still use the salt-shot-lime sequence, though this developed partly to mask the rougher taste of cheaper mixto tequilas rather than being essential for quality bottles.
For cocktails: blanco works best in a margarita, since its bright, citrus-forward profile holds up well against lime and triple sec. Reposado suits a Paloma or an Old Fashioned-style tequila cocktail, where its subtle oak notes complement other ingredients.
Storage: unlike wine, tequila doesn’t improve with age once bottled. Store it upright, away from direct sunlight, and it’ll keep its flavour for years unopened.
Tequila and Alcohol Units: What You Need to Know
A standard 25ml single measure of 40% ABV tequila contains exactly 1 unit of alcohol, using the UK’s unit system based on 10ml of pure alcohol per unit. A 50ml double measure contains 2 units.
The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week, spread across three or more days, according to NHS guidance. Because tequila is high in ABV compared with beer or wine, it’s easy to underestimate how quickly units add up in a single evening of shots or strong margaritas.
Calorie-wise, a single 25ml shot of plain tequila contains roughly 55 to 60 calories, with no fat, sugar or carbohydrate if drunk neat. Mixers change that picture fast: a sugary margarita or flavoured tequila cocktail can easily contain 200 calories or more per serving.
FAQs
Is tequila made from a cactus?
No, tequila is made from the blue Weber agave, which is a succulent plant, not a cactus, despite the common misconception. Agave belongs to a completely different plant family and looks quite different once you compare the two up close.
What’s the difference between tequila and mezcal?
Tequila must be made only from blue Weber agave and can only be produced in five Mexican states, while mezcal can use up to 30 agave varieties across a wider region. Mezcal is also often smokier, since its agave is typically roasted in underground pits rather than steamed.
Is 100% agave tequila better than regular tequila?
Yes, generally. Tequila without “100% agave” on the label can legally contain up to 49% non-agave sugars, which tends to produce a harsher taste and is more likely to cause a rough next-day hangover compared with pure agave bottles.
How many calories are in a shot of tequila?
A single 25ml shot of plain tequila contains roughly 55 to 60 calories, with no fat or sugar if drunk neat. Cocktails and sweetened mixers add significantly more calories on top of that base figure.
Does tequila get better with age in the bottle?
No, once tequila is bottled, its ageing stops completely, unlike wine. Any barrel ageing that shapes its flavour happens before bottling, so a bottle sitting in your cupboard for years won’t develop further.
Why do people do salt and lime with tequila shots?
The salt-lime-shot ritual largely developed to mask the harsher taste of cheaper mixto tequilas, rather than being essential for good quality spirits. A well-made 100% agave tequila is generally smooth enough to sip without needing either.
How strong is tequila compared with vodka or whisky?
Tequila is typically bottled at 38% to 40% ABV, which is broadly in line with vodka and whisky, both usually sitting around 37.5% to 40% ABV in the UK. It’s noticeably stronger than wine (around 12% to 14%) or beer (around 4% to 6%).
What’s the best tequila for a beginner in the UK?
A 100% agave blanco from an established brand like El Jimador or Altos is a solid starting point, since it shows the true agave flavour without the harshness of mixto tequilas or the price of aged premium bottles. Try it first in a simple margarita before moving to sipping tequilas.
