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The Kitchn conducted a blind taste test of nine tequilas priced between $25 and $50, and Hornitos Plata Tequila emerged as the overall favorite, praised for its smooth, balanced sweetness and light floral notes. Runner-up was Tequila Reserva 1800 Silver.
The Kitchn has named Hornitos Plata Tequila the winner of a blind taste test of nine tequilas priced between $25 and $50, with the budget-friendly bottle drawing praise from nearly all of the site’s nine tasters for its smooth texture, balanced sweetness, and light floral notes. The results offer a counterpoint to the assumption that the best tequila carries a premium price tag, at a moment when tequila is a staple spirit for home cocktails like margaritas and palomas.
According to the report by associate groceries editor Ali Domrongchai, the tasting panel consisted of nine employees of Apartment Therapy Media, The Kitchn’s parent company. Bottles were selected based on popularity, availability, and price, with most hovering around $30. Each tequila was poured into shot glasses labeled only with a letter, from A through I, and tasters sampled them in random order without knowing which brands they were evaluating.
Tasters scored each tequila on texture, appearance, smell, willingness to buy, and taste, filling out individual score sheets independently rather than discussing as a group. Scores were tallied only after all evaluations were complete. Hornitos Plata, described by the publication as one of the “smoother” tequilas in the lineup, won over nearly the entire panel. The runner-up was Tequila Reserva 1800 Silver, which one taster called the only bottle she would purchase after the test.
Honorable mentions went to Tequila Ocho Plata (strong and agave-forward, with honey and pepper notes), Casamigos Blanco (described as having a “premium, upscale taste” with fruity sweetness, though some found it harsh), and Patrón Silver (noted as smooth but tasting stronger than its 40% ABV label-mates). All nine tequilas tested were 40% ABV.
Why This Matters for Tequila Buyers
The result is a data point for consumers navigating a crowded tequila market, where celebrity-backed and premium labels often carry prices well above $50. A blind, brand-hidden tasting that favors a widely available, mid-shelf bottle like Hornitos Plata suggests that price and brand recognition may not predict taste preference. For readers building a home bar cart or mixing margaritas and palomas, the test offers a shortcut: a sub-$40 bottle that satisfied a diverse panel of tasters across sweetness, smoothness, and drinkability.
The testing method also adds credibility to the ranking. Because tasters scored each sample independently and without brand knowledge, the results reflect palate reactions rather than marketing influence — though, as with any small panel, they remain a matter of taste rather than an objective verdict.
How the Taste Test Was Run
The Kitchn, a food and home site owned by Apartment Therapy Media, regularly conducts blind taste tests of grocery products. For this tequila evaluation, the editorial team first narrowed a long list of brands down to nine contenders, capping the budget at $50 per bottle. Domrongchai, who has previously worked at Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Allrecipes, poured quarter-shots into lettered glasses and supplied water for the panel.
Tequila is distilled from the blue agave plant in Mexico and serves as the base spirit for classic cocktails including the margarita, paloma, and ranch water. The Kitchn noted it can be difficult for shoppers to choose among the dozens of brands at widely varying price points — the problem the test set out to address. The site disclosed that it independently selects reviewed products and may earn commissions from purchase links, and that prices were accurate at publishing time.
“[It had] almost sweet flavor and light floral notes.”
— Mara, director of groceries and shopping at The Kitchn
Limits of the Ranking
Several caveats apply. The panel consisted of only nine tasters from one company, so the results reflect a small sample of individual preferences rather than a statistically representative survey. Not all bottles received uniform praise: tasters found the runner-up 1800 Silver “a bit too bitter” for casual drinking, and even honorable mentions like Casamigos and Patrón were criticized as too harsh or too strong by some panelists.
The report also does not specify the exact price of the Hornitos Plata bottle tested, describing it only as “on the pricier end” of the lineup while remaining under the $50 cap; the headline’s under-$40 framing comes from the article’s presentation rather than a listed shelf price. The identities of the remaining brands among the nine contenders, beyond those named, were not fully detailed in the published material, and long-term availability and pricing may vary by retailer.
Where the Testing Goes From Here
The Kitchn indicates this tasting is part of its broader groceries review coverage, so readers can expect additional spirit and cocktail-ingredient taste tests in the same blind-format. For consumers, the practical next step is trying the winning and runner-up bottles side by side — Hornitos Plata for its floral smoothness, 1800 Silver for margaritas — to see which suits their own palate. Prices and availability should be checked at local retailers, as the site notes its listed prices were accurate only at publishing time.
Key Questions
Which tequila won The Kitchn’s blind taste test?
Hornitos Plata Tequila was the unanimous favorite, praised for its smooth texture, balanced sweetness, and light floral notes. It is widely available at a mid-range price point.
How much did the tested tequilas cost?
The Kitchn capped its budget at $50 per bottle, with prices ranging from $25 to $50 and most bottles hovering around $30. The exact shelf price of the winner was not listed.
How was the taste test conducted?
Nine employees of Apartment Therapy Media tasted quarter-shots of nine tequilas served in randomly ordered, letter-labeled glasses. They scored each sample independently on texture, appearance, smell, taste, and willingness to buy, with brands revealed only after scoring was complete.
Which tequila came in second?
Tequila Reserva 1800 Silver was the runner-up, described by tasters as smooth and floral and well suited to margaritas, though some found it slightly bitter for casual sipping.
Did any well-known premium brands perform well?
Casamigos Blanco and Patrón Silver received honorable mentions. Casamigos was praised for a “premium, upscale taste” with fruity sweetness but was considered harsh by one taster; Patrón was called smooth but tasted stronger than others despite the same 40% ABV.
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