The World’s Best Tequila—According To The 2026 Agavos Awards

The Agavos Awards have just announced their results for the best tequilas and mezcals on shelves today. We’ve got your exclusive look at the big winner for both of those popular categories of agave spirit. But first, a brief explainer on what the Agavos Awards are and why you should care.

The competition was officially launched at the beginning of 2025 by Grover and Scarlet Sanschagrin, founders of Agave Matchmaker (formerly Tequila Matchmaker). For over a decade, the site has existed as one of the preeminent authorities on all things agave. That status was hard-earned; established through the tireless passion and expansive knowledge which the husband-and-wife duo infuse into the project.

It’s the same sort of approach they’ve applied to this nascent competition, helping it achieve industry gravitas even after just two iterations. To do so, Grover and Scarlet have compiled an esteemed panel of judges from every corner of the category: bartenders, suppliers, journalists, authors, distributors and more. Together they blind-taste and evaluate hundreds of entries across all variations of agave spirit including tequila, mezcal, bacanora and raicilla. But, of course, it’s those first two that consumers care about the most. According to the latest data from the Distilled Spirits Council, they account for $6.4 billion dollars in annual revenue here in the US market alone.

Everything tasted at the Agavos is awarded a score out of 100. And this year, no single tequila score higher than 96–an exceptional mark, to be sure. That achievement was hauled home by Lost Lore Tequila Valley Blanco. The “Best In Class” tequila hails from a legendary producer in Arandas, in the Lowlands of Jalisco. It carries the characteristic tonalities of liquid from that region: super vegetal, high in minerality. It fades from the palate with a subtle swirl of salt and sweet.

Here’s what the official tasting notes from the Agavos Awards had to say about the 96-proof blanco:

Though sensational as a standalone sipper, it’s also worth pointing out that this expressive and assertive juice can anchor a Tommy’s Margarita with surprising deftness. With a typical asking price of around $75 a bottle, we can understand if you don’t want to subject it to the cocktail treatment. The real point is, it’ll make an awesome addition to your home bar however you choose to use it.

Joining Lost Lore as the only other bottle to notch a 96 this year is the “Best In Show” mezcal. It was awarded to Aguerrido “Cupreata” Vicencio y Gabina Capón 2 Años, a rare style of the spirit that hails from Guerrero instead of the more traditional Mexican state of Oaxaca. Here are the official tasting notes from Agavos on this 47.5% ABV expression:

That’s some effusive praise right there. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, it’ll set you back around $120 a bottle. And, as always. if you want to see other top-rated spirits from the most respected competitions throughout the calendar year, keep it parked here for the latest news.