Cheap vs Luxury Tequila | The Ultimate Margarita & Paloma Showdown!

Today we’re answering an age old question: do you need a top shelf tequila to make a good cocktail? We’ll figure that out by tasting 3 tequilas side by side, in two of the most popular tequila cocktails, the Margarita and the Paloma.

We’ve chosen three 100% Blue Weber agave tequilas, so it’s an even playing field, no mixtos. And while the industry is buzzing with debates about additive-free labels, transparency, and censorship, today we’re focusing solely on how they’ll taste in cocktails in regards to their price.

First up we have 1800 Tequila—a solid mid-shelf option that offers consistency and good value. It delivers smooth, reliable flavor without breaking the bank, and it’s a staple in many cocktail bars. Next it’s Patrón Silver, a globally renowned blanco known for its smooth, sweet, and slightly spicy profile. It’s handcrafted from 100% agave in small batches, with distinctive handmade bottles.

Finally, we have a bottle of Clase Azul, a luxurious, ultra-premium tequila often wrapped in controversy. It's most known for the hand-painted ceramic bottle, the Reposado, but some say the taste doesn’t match the image, calling it overly sweet, almost like “vanilla syrup”–we’ll see if our judges agree with that.

Thankfully we have some professional help today, alongside the Cocktail Time crew, as we’ve invited two honorary guests: Jan and Gal. This year they opened Silk & Fizz, a cocktail bar in Ljubljana that's become a go-to for expertly crafted drinks in the heart of Slovenia’s capital. It’s even been granted the title of ‘Paloma Embassy’, so they’re the perfect judges for today’s tequila tasting challenge.

Now, here’s how today’s test is going to work. I’ll prepare three versions of each cocktail, Margarita and Paloma, with three tequilas. I’ll mark them A, B, and C, but only I’ll know which is which. The judges will taste each version, scoring them on aroma, flavor, aftertaste, and how likely you’d be to order it again with a score from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest score.

I’ll wear a blindfold when it’s my turn to score, and at the end we’ll reveal the scores to see if the price matches the quality. So let’s get into it, it’s Cocktail Time!

Margarita

● 45mL · 1.5oz Blanco Tequila

● 22.5mL · 0.75oz Cointreau

● 22.5mL · 0.75oz Lime Super Juice

● 1 barspoon Agave Syrup

● 2 drops 20% Saline Solution

Into a chilled shaker add in the tequila, Cointreau, lime Super Juice, agave syrup, and saline solution, along with plenty of ice. Give the cocktail a shake, then strain into a chilled coupe glass–no garnish, focus on the tequila. 

We’ll now give the 3 Margaritas a taste, and if you want to see our reactions in full make sure to check out the video in full. I’ll also reveal the scores each tequila got in the end, so let’s move on to our next cocktail after a quick word from our sponsor: Vegg White!

For beautiful foams or airy bubbles, this vegan egg white substitute also works instead of soy lecithin, so one less thing to stock. It’s neutral in taste and smell, but feel free to add flavor or color. For example, for a vibrant mint foam, blanch fresh mint for 15 seconds, chill in ice water, place in a towel, then blend with cold water, and fine strain. Now add Vegg White, a dash of saline, and froth, or use an iSi siphon, for a green, foamy Mojito topping.

For something lighter go with pineapple juice, Vegg White, saline, and blue spirulina. Then use a foaming pump and scoop the blue edible air onto a tropical Daiquiri–simple, beautiful, delicious. Get Vegg White here, and get ready to take your cocktails to the next level. Now, the Palomas are calling!

The Paloma

● 45mL · 1.5oz Blanco Tequila

● 15mL · 0.5oz Lime Super Juice

● 90mL · 3oz Pink Grapefruit Soda

● 2 drops 20% Saline Solution

We’ll build these straight in the glass filled with ice, giving the cocktail a gentle stir with a barspoon to bring everything together. Again, no garnish, no salt rim—just the tequila, stepping up to the plate. Remember you can see our unedited thoughts in the full episode down below, but with the hard part over it’s now time to reveal the scores. 

The lowest score for the Margarita actually went to Clase Azul, second place was Patron, and the winner is 1800, but they’re only separated by 1 point, and the score was quite heavily influenced by Robi’s score. On the flip side, for the Paloma, last place went to 1800, second place was Clase Azul, and the winner for this round was Patron.

Now combining the scores from both cocktails, the winning tequila is Patron. Congrats, and a huge thanks to our judges. If you want to see the full breakdown of the scores from each judge, across aroma, flavor, aftertaste, and how likely they’d order it again, you can find the full scoring sheets on our Patreon page.

And speaking of Patreon, I am happy to welcome a new member to the Cocktail Time Wall of Fame, Doctor L. Thank you for your support, and we hope you enjoy becoming a part of all Cocktail Time episodes moving forward. Now we’d love to hear from you, so drop a comment to tell us what’s your go-to tequila for your favorite cocktails. Cheers, and I’ll see you in the next one, Friends of Cocktails!