The Top 10 Tequila Brands with the highest volume of sales includes both the very old, and the very new. There’s no disputing who the highest selling tequila is though, that’s Jose Cuervo, who is also the oldest tequila brand in the world. Jose Cuervo is over 220 years old while the youngest brand to make the top 10, Casamigos, is just 10 years old.
Here we look at highest selling tequila brands globally by volume and price. We also look at the most popular tequila brands in the USA by volume.
Read on for some interesting facts about the world’s best selling tequila brands and learn more about the brand histories and what they offer.
Table of Contents
World’s Biggest Brands of Tequila by Volume
Jose Cuervo is by far the largest selling brand of tequila by volume. Sales of Jose Cuervo were 2.6x its nearest competitor Patrón.
World’s largest brands of tequila by volume
- Jose Cuervo
- Patrón
- Don Julio
- Casamigos
- 1800 Tequila
- Hornitos
- Gran Centenario
- El Jimador
- El Espolòn
- Olmeca (including Altos)
- Cazadores
World’s Biggest Brands of Tequila by Sales Value
Patrón is the world’s highest selling tequila by sales value, with sales of just over $2 billion retail in 2022. Jose Cuervo has third highest value sales of any tequila brand. This is despite having the highest volume by far, reflecting the lower price point of Jose Cuervo tequilas.
World’s largest brands of tequila by sales value
- Patrón
- Don Julio
- Jose Cuervo
- Casamigos
- 1800 Tequila
- Gran Centenario
- Hornitos
- El Jimador
Most Popular Brands of Tequila in the USA
The most popular brand of tequila in the USA is Jose Cuervo, followed by Patrón. The USA is the biggest market for tequila globally, so it’s no surprise sales trends for the USA generally reflect global sales. Lunazul and Teremana are two brands in the USA top 10 that don’t make the world top 10. Dwane “The Rock” Johnson’s tequila Tereman has been growing very fast. Expect it to climb the tequila brand ranks in 2023.
America’s most popular brands of tequila by volume
- Jose Cuervo
- Patrón
- Casamigos
- Don Julio
- 1800 Tequila
- Hornitos
- El Espolòn
- El Jimador
- Lunazul
- Teremana
Facts about the biggest selling brands of tequila:
- The top 10 tequila brands account for 62% of all tequila sold.
- Three of the top 10 tequila brands are owned by Mexican companies (Jose Cuervo, 1800 and Gran Centenario, all owned by Becle).
- The oldest brand in the top 10 is Jose Cuervo, over 220 years old, while the youngest brand, Casamigos is just ten years old.
- There are no independent tequila brands in the top 10, all are owned by companies with multiple tequila and other spirit brands.
- The fastest growing tequila brand in the top 10 was Casamigos, growing by 42% in 2022, and adding one million cases. Jose Cuervo added 1.3m cases and grew by 16%.
- Total sales volume of the top 10 brands of tequila grew by 18% in 2022, adding 52 million more bottles than in 2021
- All brands in the top 10 grew sales year over year. The slowest growing brand was Olmeca, which grew by 3.6%.
- All of the top 10 brands are produced in the Mexican state of Jalisco. While tequila can also be produced in the states of Nayarit, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas and Michoacán, no brands from these states made the top 10.
#1. Jose Cuervo
- Founded: 1795
- Owner: Becle (sometimes known as Grupo Cuervo)
- US Distributor: Proximo Spirits (Owned by Becle)
- Owner headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
- Cases sold in 2022: 9.2 million
- Bottles sold: 110 million
- Value of retail sales 2022: US$1,760M
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1104, NOM-1122
- Distillery: La Rojeña, Tequila, Jalisco
- Region: Lowlands
In 2022 110 million bottles of Jose Cuervo were sold worldwide, an increase of 15.9% from 2021. Jose Cuervo is the world’s highest selling tequila brand, accounting for almost one in five bottles sold. It is also the oldest tequila brand, tracing its history back to 1758. In 1795 it was given the first license to produce tequila.
The Jose Cuervo range includes:
- Jose Cuervo Especial (mixto)
- Jose Cuervo Tradicional (100% agave)
- Jose Cuervo Reserva de La Familia (super premium)
Learn more about Jose Cuervo.
#2. Patrón
- Founded: 1989
- Owner: Bacardi
- Owner headquarters: Hamilton, Bermuda
- Cases sold in 2022: 3.5 million
- Bottles sold: 42 million
- Value of retail sales 2022: US$2,080M
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1492
- Distillery: Hacienda Patrón, Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco
- Region: Highlands
In 2022 42 million bottles of Patrón were sold worldwide, an increase of 10.1% from 2021. Patrón has the highest dollar value of sales of any brand of tequila worldwide. Patrón is the second highest selling tequila brand in the world by volume.
Patrón is owned by Bacardi, following its acquisition in 2018 in a deal valuing the company at US$5.1 billion. Bacardi had held a significant minority position in Patrón since 2008. Bacardi has the third largest tequila sales of any company worldwide.
Patrón has three brand categories with variants for each, the categories are Patrón, Gran Patrón and Patrón El Alto. Patrón also carries a range of limited edition variants, including a 10 year extra añejo and a number of special edition bottles. Its Patrón en Lalique series make up three of the five most expensive tequilas available for sale.
Learn more about Patrón, its history, line up and production process.
#3. Don Julio
- Founded: 1942
- Owner: Diageo
- Owner Headquarters: London, UK
- Cases sold in 2022: 3.2 million
- Bottles sold: 38 million
- Value of retail sales 2022: US$1,910M
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1449
- Distillery: Diageo Mexico Operaciones, Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco
- Region: Highlands
In 2022 38 million bottles of Don Julio were sold worldwide, an increase of 16.9% from 2021. Don Julio is the third highest selling tequila brand in the world and has the second highest sales by dollar value.
Don Julio was founded by Julio González-Frausto Estrada in 1942 when he was just 17 years old. Diageo now owns Don Julio, taking full control in 2014 after first investing in 2001. Diageo has the second largest tequila sales of any company worldwide.
Don Julio’s product range are all 100% agave and include: blanco, reposado (aged eight months), reposado (aged 10 months), añejo (aged 18 months), añejo (sold as “1942”, aged two and a half years), extra añejo (Ultima Reserva), añejo cristalino (aged 18 months). Don Julio 70 is the world’s #1 selling cristalino.
Discover more about the Don Julio brand’s history and product line up.
#4. Casamigos
- Founded: 2013
- Owner: Diageo
- Owner Headquarters: London, UK
- Cases sold in 2022: 3.2 million
- Bottles sold: 38 million
- Value of retail sales 2022: US$1,530M
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1609
- Distillery: Diageo Mexico Operaciones, Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco
- Region: Highlands
In 2022 38 million bottles of Casamigos were sold worldwide, an increase of 42.5% from 2021. Casamigos is the fourth highest selling tequila brand in the world.
Famously founded by actor George Clooney and friends Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman, Casamigos is one of the original celebrity tequilas and a true success story for the founders, and for current owner Diageo.
Casamigos’ product line includes: blanco, reposado (aged seven months), añejo (aged 14 months). In 2023 Casamigos launched a cristalino version of its reposado. All of these expressions are 100% agave. There is also a mezcal which was launched in 2018, made in Oaxaca from espadin agave.
Learn more about the Casamigos brand.
#5. 1800
- Founded: 1975
- Owner: Becle (sometimes known as Grupo Cuervo)
- US Distributor: Proximo Spirits (Owned by Becle)
- Owner Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
- Cases sold in 2022: 2.5 million
- Bottles sold: 30 million
- Value of retail sales 2022: US$835M
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1122
- Distillery: La Rojeña, Tequila, Jalisco
- Region: Lowlands
In 2022 30 million bottles of 1800 tequila were sold worldwide, an increase of 22.5% from 2021. 1800 is the fifth highest selling tequila brand in the world.
1800 claims to be the #1 super-premium tequila in the US, the world’s first premium tequila, as well as the world’s most awarded family of tequilas.1800 tequila is owned by Becle, or the Cuervo Group, who founded the brand in 1975.
1800 tequilas come under two product lines, Classics and Luxury. Classic variants include blanco, reposado and añejo. The Luxury line has a cristalino and an extra añejo. All 1800 tequilas are 100% agave.
Learn more about 1800 tequila and its history.
#6. Hornitos
- Founded: 1950
- Owner: Beam Suntory, which is owned by Japanese based Suntory Beverage & Food
- Owner headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Cases sold in 2022: 2.1 million
- Bottles sold: 25 million
- Value of retail sales 2022: US$490M
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1102
- Distillery: Tequila Sauza, Tequila, Jalisco
- Region: Lowlands
In 2022 25 million bottles of Hornitos were sold worldwide, an increase of 10% from 2021. Hornitos is the sixth highest selling tequila brand in the world.
Hornitos sits under Casa Sauza which is owned by Beam Suntory and ultimately by Suntory Beverage & Food. Suntory has the fourth highest sales of tequila of any company worldwide.
Hornitos tequila products include blanco, reposado, añejo, cristalino and another añejo further aged in charred barrels aimed at whisky drinkers called Black Barrel Tequila. There is also a salt and lime infused version called Lime Shot. All the tequila products are made from 100% agave.
Read more about the history of the Hornitos tequila brand.
#7. Gran Centenario
- Founded: 1857
- Owner: Becle (sometimes known as Grupo Cuervo)
- US Distributor: Proximo Spirits (Owned by Becle)
- Owner Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
- Cases sold in 2022: 1.9 million
- Bottles sold: 23 million
- Value of retail sales 2022: US$685M
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1122
- Distillery: La Rojeña, Tequila, Jalisco
- Region: Lowlands
In 2022 23 million bottles of Gran Centenario tequila were sold worldwide. Gran Centenario is the seventh highest selling tequila brand in the world by volume. It is the sixth highest selling tequila by value globally. Gran Centenario is the biggest selling tequila by volume in Mexico.
Gran Centenario is owned by Becle.
#8. El Jimador
- Founded: 1994
- Owner: Brown-Forman
- Owner headquarters: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
- Cases sold in 2022: 1.7 million
- Bottles sold: 20 million
- Value of retail sales 2022: US$420M
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1119
- Distillery: Owned by Brown Forman Tequila Mexico, Amatitán, Jalisco
- Region: Lowlands
In 2022 20 million bottles of El Jimador were sold worldwide, an increase of 21.4% from 2021. El Jimador is the eighth highest selling tequila brand in the world.
El Jimador is owned by Brown-Forman. Brown-Forman has the fifth highest sales of tequila of any company worldwide. Its products also include Herradura tequila.
El Jimador products include blanco, reposado, añejo and a cristalino available only in Mexico. All products are made from 100% agave.
Learn more about the El Jimador brand.
#9. El Espolòn
- Founded: 1995, Los Altos de Jalisco, by Cirilo Oropeza
- Owner: Davide Campari-Milano (Campari Group)
- Owner headquarters: Sesto San Giovanni, Italy
- Cases sold in 2022: 1.3 million
- Bottles sold: 16 million
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1440
- Distillery: San Nicolas, San Ignacio Cerro Gordo, Jalisco
- Region: Highlands
In 2022 16 million bottles of El Espolòn were sold worldwide, an increase of 19.8% from 2021. El Espolòn is the ninth highest selling tequila brand in the world, overtaking Olmeca from 2021.
Espolòn is owned by Campari Group. Campari Group has the eighth highest tequila sales of any company worldwide. Its other major tequila brand is Cabo Wabo.
Espolòn products include blanco, reposado, añejo, cristalino (all 100% agave).
Learn more about the history of Espolòn.
#10. Olmeca (including Altos)
- Founded: 1967
- Owner: Pernod Ricard
- Owner headquarters: Paris, France
- Cases sold: 1.1 million
- Bottles sold: 13 million
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1111
- Distillery: Colonial de Jalisco, Arandas, Jalisco
- Region: Highlands
In 2022 13 million bottles of Olmeca and Olmeca Altos were sold worldwide, an increase of 3.6% from 2021. Olmeca is the tenth highest selling tequila brand in the world.
Olmeca and Olmeca Altos tequila brands are owned by Pernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard has the seventh highest sales of tequila worldwide, with sales of its Avion brand also contributing.
Olmeca has two brand categories, Olmeca (mixto tequila) and Olmeca Altos (100% agave). The Olmeca range has Blanco, Gold (mix of blanco and aged tequila), reposado and añejo. In the Olmeca Altos line are blanco, reposado and añejo.
Learn more about Olmeca and Olmeca Altos and their intriguing linkage with Patrón here.
#11. Cazadores
- Founded: 1873
- Owner: Bacardi
- Owner headquarters: Bermuda
- Cases sold in 2022: 1 million
- Bottles sold: 12 million
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1487
- Distillery: Bacardi, Arandas, Jalisco
- Region: Highlands
In 2022 12 million bottles of Cazadores were sold worldwide, an increase of 32.5% from 2021. Cazadores is the eleventh highest selling tequila brand in the world, overtaking Sauza in 2022.
Cazadores is owned by Bacardi.
Sauza (just outside top 10)
- Founded: 1873
- Owner: Beam Suntory, which is owned by Japanese based Suntory Beverage & Food
- Owner headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Cases sold in 2022: 0.9 million
- Bottles sold: 11 million
- Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM): NOM-1102
- Distillery: Tequila Sauza, Tequila, Jalisco
- Region: Lowlands
In 2022 11 million bottles of Sauza were sold worldwide, a reduction of around 10% from 2021.
Sauza has dropped in the rankings somewhat, in 2003 it was the world’s biggest selling tequila by volume. In 2005 it was the 15th highest selling of any spirit.
In 2007 Beam Inc, the company behind Jim Beam, acquired Sauza. In 2014 Japan based Suntory Holdings acquired Beam for US$16 billion. Suntory has the fourth highest sales of tequila of any company worldwide.
Sauza products are: blanco, gold and añejo. The blanco and the gold are mixto tequilas, the añejo is 100% agave.
Learn more about Sauza, one of the pioneering tequila brands.