8 Worthy Alternatives to Tequila Clase Azul

Known for its signature white-and-blue bottle design but beloved for its easy-drinking spirits, Clase Azul is one of the sought-after premium tequila brands on the market. Founded in 1997 by tequilero Arturo Lomeli, Clase Azul went on to produce some of the first ultra-premium tequilas in the category, and now it offers some of the most expensive: The brand’s bottles retail for anywhere from $150 to a whopping $30,000.

While many tequila brands prefer to launch with a blanco for its approachability, Clase Azul broke the mold by first releasing a reposado, which would become its most popular expression. Thanks to eight months spent aging in American whiskey barrels, Clase Azul’s reposado delivers a robust, naturally sweet flavor with notes of vanilla, papaya, and banana. Part of the liquid’s allure is that it captures the intensely rich vanilla and caramel oak qualities typically reserved for cristalinos, despite the fact that it’s only aged for eight months.

Though the brand may have debuted some of the finest tequilas available at the time of its launch, a number of brands produce tequilas of the same caliber today — often at a fraction of the cost. If you’re looking to explore the wonderful world of reposados and cristalinos, here are eight worthy alternatives to Clase Azul.

 Tequila Partida Cristalino Añejo