Best Substitutes for Tequila

Out of Tequila? Here are the best alternatives that work in cocktail recipes.

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Original Ingredient

Tequila

Other 40.00% ABV Herbaceous agave nose with pepper, citrus, and earthy vegetal character. Palate is crisp with cooked agave sweetness, white pepper, and mineral depth. Clean, spicy finish with warming bite.

Recommended Substitutes

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Mezcal

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

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Pisco

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

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Cachaca

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

General Substitution Tips

  • Match the alcohol level: a 40% spirit needs a similarly strong replacement or adjust volume.
  • For liqueurs, dilute spirits + simple syrup can replicate sweetness and proof.
  • Citrus substitutions: lemon and lime are mostly interchangeable at a 1:1 ratio.
  • For bitters, Angostura is the most neutral substitute for most other aromatic bitters.