The Worlds Best Tequila—According To The 2026 World Tequila Awards

El Jefe Luis Extra Añejo

Photo illustration: Brad Japhe

The World Tequila Awards are an annual competition originally launched in 2019 by the World Drinks Awards. That's the same organization who run the World Whiskies Awards out of the UK–an industry powerhouse with two decades worth of prestige. Earlier this season, the distinguished tasting panel revealed its results for this year and it's time we take a closer look at the big winner: El Jefe Luis Gold Edition Extra Añejo.

The top-scoring expression matures for an astounding six years in white American oak barrels. We say “astounding†because extra añejo, by definition, only has to age for three years in order to earn the classification. It's very rare for tequila to see double that amount of time in oak. And that's usually for good reason: the agave distillate at its core can be overpowered by so much time in wood. It's the main reason why unaged Blanco, and lightly-aged Reposado styles are far and away the most popular iterations of the liquid in their native Mexico.

But El Jefe Luis's example is simply built different. Yes, it noses with big barrel hallmarks, including toasted vanilla and caramel creme. But on the palate there's an earthy elegance indicative of top tier 100% blue weber agave, sourced from the dark volcanic soil of the Jaliscan lowlands. The finish is warming and tickles the back of the mouth with a lingering thread of saffron spice.

In naming it the best tequila of 2026, the judges at WTA had this to say in their official tasting notes:

“Rooty with cedar and oily notes, some pecan and crumpet. Floral woodiness and a lovely harmony between the spirit and the wood.”

Again, it's the harmony that really sets this premium spirit apart; a hand-in-glove communion between top-notch distillate and well-administered cooperage. Enjoy this one at room temperature out of a brandy snifter in order to maximize those complexities. The brand team even recommends pairing it with smoked ribeye in order to accentuate its umami-rich intricacies.

Priced at around $325 a bottle in Mexico, this qualifies as an ultra-premium top-shelf expression, of course. It was distilled at NOM 1459 – Tequila Selecto de Amatitan, a facility that also produces a number of vaunted labels, including Don Azul and Sr Disanty Tequila. And clearly the folks at El Jefe Luis are doing something special with their particular bottlings here. This same Extra Añejo was also just named the world's best example of that subcategory at the 2026 Latin American World Spirits Competition.

The only gripe we have with the liquid at this point is its limited availability on US shelves. In fact, it's not really directly sold north of the border, at all. The company's website says that they're able to ship it internationally by way of DHL. But we're certainly hoping that the sort of international recognition afforded by the World Tequila Awards will help encourage wider distribution in the immediate future. One hurdle that will have to be overcome, however, is proof point. The award-winning Extra Añejo is bottled at 35% ABV, which is entirely fine for tequila in Mexico. Federal law in the US requires a minimum of 40%.

Follow along for more award-winning expressions of tequila and how to find them in the US and beyond.