Are Red Wine-Aged Tequilas Worth the Hype? Ranking the Options from Worst to Best

It’s impossible to deny the appeal of a pink bottle of liquor.

As the rosé wine craze continues to climb to extravagant, billion-dollar heights, the alcohol industry has toiled long and hard finding ways to expand its colorful appeal into other categories. It’s proved an unexpectedly tough task. Red wine-finished whiskeys — love them or hate them — can all too easily find themselves in bitter, overly tannic territory. Wine barrel-aged beers are still something of a wild west, and though a few gins have taken stabs at the concept, none has emerged as a market-defining force.

It was only a matter of time before the technique found its way to tequila. Variously dubbed “rosas” or “rosados,” these are agave spirits typically aged for a short period in ex-red wine barrels that imbue an eye-grabbing tint alongside airy flavors of berries, chocolate and flowers. From that definition alone, it should be easy to understand why the subgenre has taken off like fireworks. Established names and up-and-coming brands have leapt on the idea, crowding shelves with enough orchid-pink tequilas to fill out an entire liquor store of their own.

We figured it was time to round up the options. The below list is by no means exhaustive, limited to releases that we’ve tasted or that have accumulated sufficient reviews from trusted critics. A handful of releases that didn’t make the cut that we’ve heard high praise for include Montagave Blanco Heritage, Inspiro Rosa Reposado and Dos Ángeles Caídos Blanco Rosa.

5. Don Julio Rosado

(Photo: Don Julio)

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It was only a matter of time before Don Julio, the undisputed king of glitzy, premium-priced tequila, got in on the red wine barrel game. For its take on the concept, the brand finished a reposado in Ruby Port wine casks recruited from the Douro region of Northern Portugal. From its slender decanter to its bubblegum hue, it’s easy to see how this one was designed with social media feeds in mind. For its part, Don Julio certainly leaned into the vibe, partnering with celebrities like “Real Housewives” star Lisa Rinna and “White Lotus” alum Lukas Gage to promote the launch at star-studded parties across the country.

Ruby Port wine — much like Don Julio — is known for its decidedly sweet flavor profile. As such, the palate on this one doesn’t pack many surprises, nor may it necessarily be everyone’s cup of tea. We found that it had big, potently sugary aromas of cotton candy, pear, gummy bears and sweet cream. Its flavor repeated many of the same notes, adding in hints of apple, orange and light agave. This is a summertime sipper for anyone who likes their tequila on the glacé side. That said, we’d be willing to bet it’s already a bestseller.

4. Calirosa Rosa Blanco

(Photo: Calirosa)

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One of two celebrity-backed tequilas to find its way onto this list, Calirosa was launched in 2021 by Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and his wife, Behati Prinsloo. Fun fact: this is technically Levine’s second tequila launch to date, following his collaboration with Sammy Hagar on Santo Mezquila back in the late 2010s. Though the “Moves Like Jagger” singer would eventually leave that venture (to be replaced by Guy Fieri), it wasn’t long before he splashed back into the market with a showy offering.

Every expression in the Calirosa portfolio is matured in wine barrels, imbuing a pinkish tint that ranges from cherry blossom to caramel based on the age statement. That includes its blanco, which, contrary to popular belief, is legally allowed to be aged up to two months. It’s an interesting twist on expectations. Reviewers have, for the most part, grown fond of this one, praising its floral flavors of hibiscus, lemon oil, strawberries and white chocolate. This is once again a tequila that tastes exactly like it looks, and should be a perfect fit for anyone whose expectations were met by its inviting hue.

3. El Mayor Rosado

(Photo: El Mayor)

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El Mayor loves a specialty cask finish. Since its inception in 1998, the Gonzalez family-helmed brand has aged its tequila in a variety of unexpected barrels spanning port, sherry, rum and chardonnay. One of the few that became a permanent addition to its portfolio was a Rosado Reposado, matured for a minimum of nine months in Cabernet Sauvignon casks said to imbue a unique Napa Valley-inspired flavor.

We found it to be a nice change of pace within a category that usually leans cloyingly sweet. The aroma brimmed with welcoming hints of potpourri, blackcurrant, rose petals and pie crust that could easily be mistaken for a Moscato wine if you left your eyes closed. On the palate, a mix of raisins, peach, roasted agave and macadamia that continued into the finish with fleeting hints of nuttiness and white pepper. Sometimes, a subdued take on the concept is all you need to let the finer details shine. At a modest price of $45, this is an easy recommendation if you’re looking to stir up a tequila spritz, paloma or otherwise bright and seasonal cocktail.

2. Cazcanes No. 9 Rosa Reposado

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Cazcanes has developed a stellar reputation for additive-free tequilas over the past couple of years, finding its niche within the agave influencer community and its fair share of “buy this, not that”-style roundups. We’d argue that the hype is well deserved. Tasting our way through its portfolio, we’ve developed an enduring love for its Still Strength No. 10 Blanco, a blisteringly high 54%-ABV release that hits you with a tightrope of salty and vegetal flavor right at home within the best solo sippers. Alas, that’s a tequila for another list.

Today, we’ll be talking about its Rosa Reposado aged 82 days in ex-Cabernet Sauvignon French oak barrels from Ona Vineyards. Unlike most variations on this concept, Cazcanes made the bold choice of bottling this at 50% ABV. A tricky choice for an expression that should hypothetically excel in delicate flavors, but one that pays off nonetheless. Reviewers have heaped praise on its warming palate of cooked agave, orange blossom, dried fruit and cherry. Stone fruits, especially plums, are a common theme in tasting notes, as are mentions of its draw-out finish peppered with dry and spicy tannins.

The only caveat: Cazcanes Rosa Reposado has so far only been released in limited-quantity drops. This is far from the most readily available tequila on the market, with prices ranging from $90 to $130 depending on where you buy your spirits.

1. Codigo 1530 Cowboys and Dreamers Edition Añejo

(Photo: Codigo 1530)

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Back in 2017, “King of Country” George Strait partnered with ex-Crocs CEO Ron Snyder to introduce Codigo 1530 —an expected meeting of minds if there ever was one. Though a Grammy Award-winning musician and a foam shoe specialist might be the last people you’d trust for liquor advice under normal circumstances, there’s no denying that their tequila brand has knocked it out of the park again and again. For Codigo, the name of the game is a peppery, mineral-forward flavor profile drenched in the influence of lowland agaves. They’ve released a boatload of bottlings in their short time on the market. And none has tickled our fancy quite like its Cowboys & Dreamers Special Edition Añejo dropped earlier this year.

Aged for two years in Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels (in case you’re counting, that’s the third in a row), this is a tequila that strikes a perfect balance between potently oaky flavor and springtime sweetness. The nose greets you with bold notes of baking spice, apple pie and cocoa nibs reminiscent of an extra añejo, minus a few years and change. The palate, chock full of chocolate, cloves and thickly layered cinnamon, still manages to leave breathing room for all those red wine influences — cherry, perfumed rose petals, vanilla and a nice serving of raspberry. Things take a turn for the dark and earthy on the finish with hints of black pepper, charred agave and raisins.

Amid a sea of lightly aged reposados, Cowboys & Dreamers dives headfirst into wine barrels and never looks back. However, it clocks in at around $130, arguably making it more of a collector’s item than a bar cart essential. A must-buy for the country music completionist.