10 Best High-Proof Blanco Tequilas to Buy in 2025

This article is a part of Agave Spirits Week, a week of content celebrating tequila, mezcal and other distilled spirits crafted from agave. Click here to check out the rest of our Agave Spirits Week content, which focuses on the best distilleries to visit in Mexico, the best agave spirits of the year, unique agave cocktail recipes and more.

Most tequila sold in the U.S. is bottled at the legal minimum of 40% ABV. This is largely due to import fees (higher alcohol content tends to beget higher costs) and a push for consistency. After all, tequila is a relatively new flavor for most Americans, and distillers don’t want consumers to be overwhelmed by a blast of alcohol at first sip.

But let’s say, hypothetically, you’re looking for something a little stronger. You’ve navigated the world of agave spirits and set your sights on the horizon, eager to taste all those deliciously sweet, peppery and fruity notes that all too often get buried beneath a low proof point.

Never in history have there been more options to choose from. High-proof blancos have experienced something of a renaissance over the past few years, thanks to a trending interest in premium, additive-free tequila that has expanded the palates of casual and experienced drinkers alike.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best blanco tequilas that push the boundaries well beyond 40% ABV. Selections range from $55 to $150.

Cachasol Epic Strength (48% ABV)

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An interesting backstory does not always make for an interesting tequila. Thankfully, Cachasol Epic Strength has more than enough of both. Launched earlier this year by an alum of Dogfish Head Brewery, the brand integrates beer influences through the use of IPA yeast in the distillation process. The result: A spirit rich in all things vegetal and funky. The aroma opens with an unusual combination of crunchy greenery and white vinegar unmistakably similar to pickle brine, while the palate dives headfirst into a hearty mix of tarragon, artichoke, white pepper and black licorice flavors. On the finish, drawn-out hints of dark chocolate shavings and wet grass. This is the rare experimental tequila that turned out 100% right and well worth the $80 price tag if you’re willing to try something new and wholly unexpected.

Herradura Blanco 46 (46% ABV)

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According to Herradura, the recipe for its 46%-ABV blanco has remained unchanged since its invention in 1870. Though the expression has been readily available in Mexico for the past century or so, it was only this year that Americans finally got a taste of this blast from the past. It’s a fun change of pace from one of the biggest names on the market and a solid mixology tequila to boot. A dry, peppery palate packs distinct flavors of roasted agave, jalapeño and white pepper, giving way to an herbaceous finish with subtle hints of rosemary and celery. At $55, Herradura 46 is an easy addition to the summer bar cart, perfect for mixing into your next ranch water or paloma.

Fortaleza Still Strength Blanco (46% ABV)

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No high-proof blanco list would be complete without at least a passing mention of Fortaleza. Not only because it’s the most fiercely hyped tequila in the world, but because the brand purportedly coined the term “Still Strength,” which has gone on to more or less define the category. And for good reason. Fortaleza’s take on the concept was a game-changer when it debuted and continues to be just as innovative in 2025, loaded with a famously rich palate of roasted agave, sourdough yeast, almond, poppy seed and lime zest. Unfortunately, prices for this bottling can vary wildly depending on where and when you buy it. Originally released at a modest $60, Fortaleza Still Strength now demands an average price of $150 and has an upper limit that regularly scrapes $600.

LALO High Proof (54% ABV)

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Up until recently, LALO was synonymous with a single expression: A well-reviewed, additive-free blanco intended as a candid response to a market flooded with aged expressions. That simplicity is what makes the brand’s second-ever bottling, LALO High Proof, just as excellent as its predecessor. Distilled using deep well water, Champagne yeast and highlands agaves, this is a tequila that leans full tilt into tropical fruit influences. Papaya, mango and grapefruit are slathered all across the palate and finish, underlined by a buttery mouthfeel and plenty of honey that never veers into saccharine territory. Though it was technically debuted as a limited-edition release, LALO High Proof is still widely available online at its original price of $80.

Campo Azul 1940 Still Strength (53% ABV)

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Campo Azul 1940 Still Strength is our pick for the most underrated tequila of the year. Debuted a few months back to minimal fanfare, the remarkably cheap expression delivers on one thing above all else: Tons of roasted agave flavor. The palate has this deeply caramelized, almost charred quality that brings out gobs of amber sweetness, as if you were touring a distillery and plucking agaves straight from the oven. But the experience is far from one-note. Delicate hints of honeysuckle, limestone and citrus give this just the right edge of complexity, combining with a soothing finish brimming with herbs and honey. This $60 pick is a fantastic option for amping up the agave in your next homemade cocktail of choice.

Don Fulano Fuerte (50% ABV)

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Whether you’re sipping its 5-year extra anejo or unaged blanco, Don Fulano always delivers high marks. The brand’s Fuerte, bottled at a neat 100 proof, showcases the brand at its very best. The fruity profile of highland agaves makes for a tequila rich in lime zest, papaya and sherbet sweetness. The star of the show rears its head in the finish, drawn out with hints of rainwater, cream, pepper and toasted sesame that are complex but far from overwhelming. Most intriguing of all, the above-average alcohol content is barely noticeable, making this the ideal choice for anyone taking their first steps into the high-proof category. Don Fulano Fuerte is widely available at an average price of $60.

Alto Canto High Proof (48% ABV)

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Alto Canto is a brand defined by its many details. Produced at the highest-altitude distillery in all of Mexico, the tequila is produced using traditional brick ovens, a volcanic tahona and the unusual addition of malolactic yeast in the fermentation process. Hidden within its bag of nerdy tricks, you’ll discover a tightrope of sweet and savory flavor. Breezy aromas of whipped cream, moss, lemon rind and slate make way for a palate loaded with vanilla, pear and honeydew on one hand, and vegetal flashes of bell peppers, mint and leeks on the other. All that plus a silky smooth mouthfeel that’s out of this world. Though distribution for Alto Canto is still rolling out across the country, the brand’s High Proof is available online at $95.

Tapatio 110 (55% ABV)

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If high-proof tequila is the trend, then Tapatio 110 is the icon. Founded in 1937 by Don Felipe Camarena, Tapatio is among a small handful of legacy brands making big moves in the modern additive-free market. So what happens when you combine a nearly century-old recipe with the highest proof point legally available to consumers? A certified cult classic. Hints of buttercream, plum, confectioner’s sugar, berry and papaya combine for a surprisingly sweet sip undercut by the faintest hint of ethanol. Like many other expressions bottled at 55% ABV, the finish is an experience in and of itself, intense and complex with notes of ash, charred agave, spice drops and freshly cracked pepper. For the best truly high-proof tequila on the shelf, prepare to shell out no less than $70.

Lágrimas del Valle Plata – 2024 La Loma (46% ABV)

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Each year, Lágrimas del Valle harvests agaves from a different field in Mexico, paying close attention to differences in elevation, soil, flora and fauna that’ll affect the final product. The brand’s 2024 Blanco, La Loma, sourced its plants from the criminally overlooked agave-growing state of Michoacán, well over 100 miles from where Blue Weber is typically grown in the highlands and valleys of Jalisco. The attention is evident from the first whiff. Dense, floral aromas of orange blossom, cantaloupe, earth and fresh mint bring to mind a spring bouquet. Things get a little grassier on the palate, introducing hints of grapefruit, almond, minerality and the faintest touch of barnyard funk. La Loma Blanco has a little bit of everything for every kind of blanco lover, and it’s one of the best solo sippers that money can buy at $70.

Fuenteseca Tequila Cosecha Blanco (44.8% ABV)

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Fuenteseca is best known for setting records, distilling not one but two of the oldest tequilas ever released to market. Both of those expressions are fantastic in their own right, but our personal favorite in the portfolio is actually its unaged Cosecha blanco. The cork pops open with a waft of maritime brine. Think olives, capers, sage and fresh-squeezed lime — the kind of vibes that could be mistaken for a dirty martini. The palate follows through on that salty promise, all while folding in hints of cream cheese, banana and florals that add a welcome levity. The overall impression is that of a ship in a bottle. Though this is far from the highest-proofed tequila on the list, its complexity is unrivaled. Equally unrivaled is its $150 price tag, which, no matter how far down the tequila rabbit hole you find yourself, might take some getting used to.