Jose Cuervo Prices & Buyers’ Guide

Jose Cuervo is the most famous and best-selling brand of tequila, and for most people, the association is with lime, salt, and headaches from their college days. Sadly, many people never realize that tequila has so much more to offer, and even Jose Cuervo has some surprises up its sleeves. While most of their products are mixto tequilas, they also produce a few bottlings of 100% agave tequila.

Jose Cuervo Tequila Price List 2022

Below is the list of Jose Cuervo tequila prices along with bottle sizes and ABV.

Alternatives to Jose Cuervo at Comparable Prices

• Olmeca Altos

Olmeca Altos is a great budget tequila. A bottle should be comparable in price to Jose Cuervo Especial, and unlike Jose Cuervo Especial, Olmeca Altos isn’t a mixto tequila. Don’t confuse Olmeca Altos with plain old Olmeca Tequila, which is a mixto and on par with Cuervo in terms of being hangover-inducing frat party fuel.

• Espolon

Affordable, authentic, and solid quality. Espolon won’t break your bank. It’s a fantastic tequila for mixing, and the reposado and anejo are nice enough to sip neat if that’s your thing too. A bottle of Espolon shouldn’t run you too much more than a bottle of Jose Cuervo, and for the extra cash, you get a real 100% agave tequila.

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• El Tesoro

It’s not really an alternative to the Jose Cuervo Especial, but if you were considering footing the bill for a bottle of Jose Cuervo Tradicional or Reserva de Familia, look at El Tesoro as a possible alternative. The brand just recently won a gold or double gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge for every one of its expressions, from Blanco to Extra Anejo. It’s one of the best tequilas on the market today.

• Fortaleza

Fortaleza is another brand that isn’t in the same price range as Jose Cuervo Especial but is a great alternative to the pricier bottles of Jose such as Tradicional or Reserva de Familia. Fortaleza is one of the best tequilas out there. It’s made using traditional methods and high-quality ingredients. It might be difficult to track down in your area, but keep an eye out for their Still Strength Blanco.

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Reviewed: Jose Cuervo Product Line

• Jose Cuervo Especial

The most famous and widely available bottles of Jose Cuervo are either the Jose Cuervo Especial Silver or Gold. Both are mixto tequilas containing added grain alcohol. Found in dive bars and frat houses the world over, these budget bottles are meant more for causing inebriation than for being enjoyed as a spirit. They are bottled at 40% ABV.

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• Jose Cuervo Platino

Platino is a 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila made using a process created by Jose Cuervo that recaptures the steam created during distillation and focuses the flavors back into the tequila. It is bottled at 40% ABV.

• Jose Cuervo Tradicional

Jose Cuervo Tradicional is the Cuervo line of tequila, which is actually tequila, as opposed to mixto. They produce a Plata, Reposado, and Anejo. While none of these are the best available for their price, they are all 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila and respectable as tequila. The Anejo is finished in Irish whiskey casks for a fruitier note of flavor, while the Plata is recommended to be consumed as cold as possible, which is never a good sign regarding tequila.

• Jose Cuervo Reserva de Familia

The bottle at the higher end of the Jose Cuervo product line, Reserva de Familia, claims to be the world’s first extra Anejo tequila.

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Production

Depending on the bottle, Jose Cuervo’s production process can be quite different. Jose Cuervo Especial Silver, Especial Gold, Black Medallion, and Cinge, and many other Jose Cuervo products are mixto tequilas, meaning they are 51% agave tequila and 49% other neutral spirits such as grain spirit or sugar cane spirit. Made by blending low quality tequila with other spirits, they are hangover juice and regarded as garbage by most tequila aficionados.  Jose Cuervo does, however, make a number of products which are 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila, and while not necessarily the best on the market, there are worse bottles out there.

Rather than settle for poor quality mixto tequila, look for a tequila labeled Blanco, Reposado, or Anejo. If you just want to whip up some simple margaritas, there are a lot of affordable options, such as Cazadores, Olmeca Altos, and Espolon. 

Cocktails with Jose Cuervo

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Cuervo Old Fashioned

• 2 oz Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado or Reserve De Familia
• ¼ oz Agave Syrup (1:1 Agave:Water)
• 2 dashed lime or grapefruit bitters

Stir, strain over rocks, and garnish with a grapefruit or lemon twist.

Cuervo Paloma

• 2 oz Jose Cuervo Tradicional Blanco
• ½ oz fresh squeezed lime juice
• 3-4 oz grapefruit soda ( Ting, Jarritos, etc)

Build in a glass over ice, gently agitate, and garnish with a slice of grapefruit.

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