TL;DR
Get baking supplies delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
The Kitchn conducted a blind taste test of nine tequilas priced between $25 and $50, and Hornitos Plata Tequila emerged as the top pick, praised for its smoothness, balanced sweetness, and light floral notes. Tequila Reserva 1800 Silver was the runner-up. The results are editorial opinions from a nine-person panel, not a definitive industry ranking.
The Kitchn has named Hornitos Plata Tequila the winner of a blind taste test of nine tequilas priced between $25 and $50, with tasters describing the bottle — typically sold for under $40 — as one of the smoothest in the lineup, with balanced sweetness and light floral notes. The results, published by associate groceries editor Ali Domrongchai, offer shoppers a budget-conscious pick in a crowded spirits market ahead of the summer cocktail season.
According to The Kitchn, nine tasters employed by Apartment Therapy Media, the outlet’s parent company, evaluated nine tequila brands selected for popularity, availability, and price. Bottles ranged from $25 to $50, though most cost around $30. Tasters sampled each spirit blind and in random order, scoring them on texture, appearance, smell, taste, and eagerness to buy, with each participant filling out an independent score sheet. Brand identities were only revealed after all scores were tallied.
Hornitos Plata earned praise from nearly every taster. The Kitchn’s CEO Maxwell reportedly liked it enough to add it to his home bar cart; people operations manager Greg called it one of the smoother options in the group; and Mara, the outlet’s director of groceries and shopping, highlighted its almost sweet flavor and light floral notes. The bottle is 40% ABV, like every tequila in the test.
The runner-up was Tequila Reserva 1800 Silver, which associate editor LJ called the only one she would buy after tasting — most others, she said, were harsh and burned going down. Honorable mentions went to Tequila Ocho Plata (agave-forward, with honey and pepper notes), Casamigos Blanco (a “fancy” pick with fruity sweetness, though some found it harsh), and Patrón Silver, which Ali said was the only tequila in the group she would drink on the rocks.
The result is a reminder for consumers that price is not a reliable proxy for taste preference. Celebrity-backed and premium-positioned brands like Casamigos and Patrón were outperformed, in this panel’s blind scoring, by a bottle that typically costs less. For shoppers stocking a home bar, the test suggests a sub-$40 plata can serve well both for sipping and as the base of classics like margaritas, Palomas, and ranch water.
The blind, randomized format also carries weight: because tasters did not know which brand they were drinking, brand marketing and label recognition could not influence the scores, addressing one of the most common critiques of casual spirits recommendations.
Products Worth Considering
KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, Onyx Black
Vitamix Propel Series 750 Professional-Grade Blender, 4 Programs, Black
Instant Pot Vortex Plus 10-Quart 7-in-1 Air Fryer Oven
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Taste Test Was Run
The Kitchn is a food and home site owned by Apartment Therapy Media, and its groceries desk regularly conducts comparative product tests. For this tequila evaluation, Domrongchai poured quarter shots into shot glasses labeled A through I to hide brand identities, and tasters were encouraged to sample in random order with water available. The outlet noted that its editorial team helped narrow a longer list down to the nine contenders.
The Kitchn disclosed that products are independently selected and that it may earn a commission on affiliate links, with prices accurate at the time of publishing — a standard disclosure for its reviews.
“It’s not too strong.”
— Ali Domrongchai, associate groceries editor, The Kitchn
Limits of a Nine-Person Panel
The findings reflect the preferences of nine individual tasters, not a large-scale or professionally judged competition, and should not be read as a definitive ranking of tequila quality. Several results were contested within the panel itself: Celia found 1800 Silver too bitter, Greg found Casamigos too harsh, and multiple tasters considered Ocho Plata and Patrón Silver too strong.
The exact prices and availability of each bottle at publication were not itemized beyond the $25–$50 range, and prices can vary by retailer and region. Hornitos Plata’s precise price in the test was not stated, only that it fell within the budget cap and under $40 by the outlet’s characterization.
What Shoppers Should Take Away
Readers looking to apply the results can look for Hornitos Plata or the runner-up 1800 Silver at their local liquor store, comparing prices against the test’s roughly $30 average. Those who prefer bolder, agave-forward spirits may prefer Ocho Plata despite its divisive strength.
The Kitchn’s reviews desk continues to run comparative grocery and spirits tests, so additional category roundups — including other spirit types and cocktail staples — are likely to follow. As always with alcohol, these products are for adults of legal drinking age and are best enjoyed responsibly.
Key Questions
Which tequila won The Kitchn’s taste test?
Hornitos Plata Tequila was the unanimous favorite, praised for its smoothness, balanced sweetness, and light floral notes. Tequila Reserva 1800 Silver was the runner-up.
How much does Hornitos Plata cost?
The Kitchn’s test capped bottles at $50, with most hovering around $30. The outlet characterizes Hornitos Plata as an under-$40 bottle, though exact retail prices vary by store and region.
Was the taste test conducted blind?
Yes. According to The Kitchn, tasters sampled nine tequilas labeled A through I in random order without knowing the brands, and scored each independently before results were tallied.
Did expensive brands like Casamigos or Patrón do well?
Both received honorable mentions. Casamigos was praised for a premium taste with fruity sweetness but criticized as harsh by some, while Patrón Silver was noted as smooth but tasting stronger than the other 40% ABV options.
Is this ranking definitive?
No. The results reflect the preferences of a nine-person panel of company employees and were contested within the group on several bottles. Individual taste will vary.
Source: rss
