Finding the 10 Best Tequilas and Mezcals at New York’s Largest Spirits Convention

Each year, Bar Convent Brooklyn touches down on the shoreline of New York City for a who’s who of spirits industry veterans. Think of it like alcohol Comic Con, except instead of Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., there’s Buffalo Trace, Fortaleza, a hundred different cocktails and thousands of bartenders, brand representatives and distributors. Everyone has a different goal and dream bottle in mind. Whatever their path, the road invariably leads somewhere tipsy by the end of the night.

We arrived on a rainy Tuesday morning with discreet intentions. The plan? Find the best agave spirits that the East Coast has to offer. Though the convention doesn’t claim to boast every spirit known to mankind, the options up for grabs span just about every category imaginable. Mixto tequilas and high-end additive-free blancos; coffee-flavored liqueurs right alongside mezcals distilled with turkey and chicken. We were especially eager to taste some of the never-before-seen stuff — the kinds of bottles hidden beneath a table that you need to ask precisely the right questions to find.

It was a surprisingly difficult task as we pushed our way through coordinated dance numbers and enough frozen margaritas to entice even the most hardened journalist (we don’t claim to be hardened journalists, and those margaritas were delicious). But those secret bottles did reveal themselves, and they were oh-so worth the trek.

For a full tour of the day, check out our video exploring the pandemonium of BCB above. If you’re just looking for tequila and mezcal recommendations, we’ve got more than enough below.

10. Tres Papalote Cupreata ($60)

Buy Now

Backed by professional stoner Cheech Marin of “Cheech and Chong” fame, Tres Papalote is a brand we’ve been hearing about for a while but have never spotted in the wild. Glad that changed sooner rather than later. Its Cupreata bottling, labeled with an agave octopus that looked more Lovecraftian monster than cuddly mascot, was a delight. Bright green aromas of lime zest, tomatillos and agave gave way to a surprisingly chocolatey palate stuffed with cocoa nibs and minerality. The only celebrity-backed mezcal that we’d recommend wholeheartedly, no ifs, ands or buts.

9. Nobleza 33 Legado ($90)

(Photo: Nobleza 33)

Buy Now | Read Reviews

Hidden inside an admittedly gimmicky bottle is one of the latest brands from the renowned Camarena family, responsible for everything from G4 to El Tesoro. Tasting our way through the Nobleza 33 catalog, our personal favorite was easily the Legado, a reposado aged 4 to 6 months in ex-sherry American oak. Though sherry-aged tequila isn’t always our thing, this one hit a sweet spot. Dried fruit flavors of apricot and candied orange rind stole the show, making just enough room for spicier hints of black pepper, fennel and ground earth to shine through the palate.

8. Mezcal Vago Elote ($60)

(Photo: Mezcal Vago)

Buy Now

For any easy-going treat that’s easy to recommend to just about anyone, we always go with Mezcal Vago Elote. Even if its bright-yellow corn label raises a few questions about its mezcal classification. This is a triple-distilled agave spirit produced by Aquilino Garcia Lopez, who adds roasted corn directly to the mash between the second and third distillation rounds. It tastes exactly how it sounds in the best way possible. Unmistakable flavors of sweet corn resemble something closer to a summer salad than a bourbon, pairing with subtle hints of toasted coconut, guava and grass.

7. Pasote Still Strength Blanco ($55)

(Photo: Pasote)

Buy Now

Pasote — once helmed by the Camarena family — recently changed both its label and distillery. Somehow, it managed to come out the other side swinging stronger than ever. The brand’s Still Strength Blanco, bottled at the legal maximum of 55% ABV, dials it up the max with bold flavors of roasted agave, pine needles and sparkling minerality. A must buy for anyone who prefers their tequila on the herbaceous side and doesn’t feel like blowing over 100 bucks at once.

6. Campo Azul 1940 Still Strength ($60)

Buy Now | Read Reviews

Consider this the latest in our enduring fascination with Campo Azul 1940 Still Strength. Debuted a few months back, this is a flavor bomb of everything rich, gooey and caramelized agave. Yet, for whatever reason, it hasn’t picked up the slightest traction with the tequila influencer crowd that tends to heap praise on still strength bottlings. It’s a shame it got lost in the shuffle, because its asking price of around $50 is hands down one of the best deals circulating the market. Priced like a cocktail mixer, drinks like a solo sipper.

5. Tequila Ocho Old Fitzgerald Añejo ($190)

(Photo: Heaven Hill Brands)

Buy Now

We had a chance to try this much-hyped Tequila Ocho and Old Fitzgerald Bourbon collaboration down at the Los Alembiques distillery when it debuted earlier this year. But we haven’t tasted a sip since. Why? Because resellers are pushing the limits of plausibility. Thankfully, we happened upon the last drops of a bottle being poured behind the counter at BCB, and we didn’t even have to take out our wallets. The wheated bourbon influence shines through with tons of sweet maple, charred oak and almond nuttiness, playing ball against a meaty undertone of agave that situates this firmly back in the tequila category. Fingers crossed for a rerelease, though we won’t get our hopes up anytime soon.

4. Wild Common Still Strength ($85)

(Photo: Wild Common)

Buy Now | Read Reviews

Having tried Wild Common Añejo and Ensamble (both excellent), we were eager to get our hands on the brand’s Still Strength Blanco. Founder Andy Bardon was holding court at the table and was kind enough to take us through the entire portfolio. A former National Geographic photographer and mountain guide, Bardon exuded a taste for the adventurous that shone through wonderfully in his unaged tequila offerings. Piquant flavors of spice and pepper took center in the Still Strength, defined by zippy hints of jalapeño, white pepper, leeks, citrus pith and lemongrass.

3. Volans Añejo ($140)

(Photo: Volans)

Buy Now

70% American oak, 20% German oak and 10% French oak is the expertly chosen ratio for Volans Añejo. Aged a total of one year and twelve days, this limited-edition release is one of the latest from a brand that’s already established itself as a force to be reckoned with. We loved every last drop. The biggest surprise came by way of a bold peanut note that lingered from aroma to finish, adding an earthy depth to a spirit stuffed with hints of fresh vanilla, cantaloupe, leather and dark chocolate. Exceptional on the finish as well, shockingly so for something bottled at a relatively standard 42% ABV.

2. Cazcanes No.7 Extra Añejo (Unreleased)

Now we’re getting to the secret sauce. The Cazcanes rep offered us a sip of the brand’s Extra Añejo slated to drop this summer, and we’d have been foolish to say no. He told us that the batch was aged an usually long 37 months — an influence immediately apparent from the burnt-orange hue of the mini-bottle he pulled from his pocket. We didn’t get many more details other than that, though we’d be willing to guess it’s bottled at 40% ABV. The prevailing vibe was super, super oaky in a manner totally unexpected from Cazcanes. While their usual fare offers signature flavors of brine and minerality, this was a bourbon lover’s agave spirit through and through, drenched with a charred oak character that soaked into every cranny. For better or worse, this is another one that will inevitably go bonkers on the resale market after it’s unveiled.

1. Tierra de Ensueño Blanco ($65)

(Photo: Tierra de Ensueño)

Buy Now | Read Reviews

Tierra de Ensueño has been at the top of our bucket list for years. What we didn’t know, however, was that the brand’s flagship blanco is aged a couple of weeks in ex-Weller Bourbon barrels. An incredibly marketable flourish that goes completely unmentioned on the label.

Far from a gimmick, the barrel choice added up to one of our favorite tequilas we’ve tasted all year. On the one hand, there’s the expectedly vegetal flavors of lemon, lime, damiana, jasmine and white pepper. Bright, herbaceous stuff. But lurking beneath the surface is where the true treasure lies, revealing wisps of toffee, allspice, ginger and gobs of honey. Tierra de Ensueño Blanco is a bona fide best of both worlds, and we can’t wait to try everything else that this brand has to offer.