The Short Answer
Siete Leguas Blanco is the best highland tequila in 2026. Made in Atotonilco el Alto using brick ovens and pot stills, it shows highland agave at its cleanest and most honest. G4 Blanco, Tequila Ocho Plata, Fortaleza Blanco, Tapatio Blanco, and ArteNOM Selección 1146 round out an excellent field. Prices below are approximate.
| Rank | Tequila | Category | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siete Leguas Blanco | Highland Blanco | ~$45 | 9.2 |
| 2 | G4 Blanco | Highland Blanco | ~$50 | 9.0 |
| 3 | Tequila Ocho Plata | Single-Estate Highland | ~$52 | 8.8 |
| 4 | Fortaleza Blanco | Highland Blanco | ~$55 | 8.7 |
| 5 | Tapatio Blanco | Highland Blanco | ~$35 | 8.5 |
| 6 | ArteNOM Selección 1146 Reposado | Highland Reposado | ~$55 | 8.3 |
Siete Leguas Blanco
Siete Leguas Blanco is the benchmark for highland tequila, and has been for a long time. Made at NOM 1120 in Atotonilco el Alto, in the heart of Los Altos, it is produced using traditional brick ovens to cook the agave and copper pot stills for distillation. The González family has been running the distillery since 1952, and the consistency over that period is its own argument.
On the nose: sweet cooked agave, citrus blossom, light white flowers, and a soft mineral note. On the palate: round and clean, with agave sweetness leading into fresh citrus and a gentle pepper finish. It is the classic highland profile rendered with precision. Nothing exaggerated, nothing missing. The finish is medium and satisfying without any burn.
For the price it is one of the best tequilas on the shelf regardless of region. At $45, it offers traditional highland quality that bottles twice its price struggle to match. It also works in virtually every context: neat, in a Tommy's, in a Paloma, or in any cocktail where you want the tequila to be the lead rather than the background.
G4 Blanco
G4 is the project of Felipe Camarena, who built El Pandillo distillery (NOM 1579) near Arandas with a focus on water quality as a distinguishing variable. The distillery uses a blend of rainwater and deep spring water for fermentation, a detail Camarena believes shapes the final character of the spirit as meaningfully as anything else in the process.
The G4 Blanco delivers modern precision in a traditional framework. Brick ovens, roller mill crushing, pot still distillation. The result is a blanco that is clean and bright without feeling sterile: there is real agave depth here, with notes of fresh cooked agave, tropical fruit, citrus zest, and a subtle mineral quality that likely traces to the water. It is a technical achievement that still drinks with character.
At $50 it is a serious value among traditional highland blancos, and one of the most respected bottles in enthusiast circles. If Siete Leguas is the classic, G4 is the contemporary benchmark.
Tequila Ocho Plata
Tequila Ocho is the only vintage-dated tequila brand. Every release is tied to a specific estate (rancho) and a specific harvest year, the same way a wine producer would label a single-vineyard vintage. The project, created by the late Tomas Estes and Carlos Camarena of La Alteña distillery (NOM 1139), was built around the argument that tequila has terroir and that the specific field where agave grew matters.
That argument is made convincingly in the glass. Ocho Plata shows highland agave with a specificity that blended-source tequilas cannot match. The flavor varies slightly vintage to vintage and estate to estate, which is the whole point: you are tasting a place and a year, not a standardized recipe. Broadly, it shows cooked agave sweetness, tropical fruit, white flowers, and a clean mineral finish.
For anyone who wants to explore what terroir actually means in tequila, Ocho is the essential purchase.
Fortaleza Blanco
Fortaleza is listed here as a highland-adjacent entry. The distillery sits in the town of Tequila, which is technically in the valley region, but Fortaleza sources agave from multiple regions and its quality earns it a place on any serious tequila ranking. The tahona process, pot stills, and the historical La Fortaleza distillery make it one of the most traditional producers in the entire category.
The blanco is textured and characterful, with fresh agave, citrus, wet stone, and white pepper. The tahona gives it a density and richness that roller-mill productions cannot replicate. It is slightly drier and more mineral than a typical highland blanco, which reflects its valley character more than highland sweetness. For complexity and craftsmanship, very few blancos at any price point match it.
Tapatio Blanco
Tapatio is made by Carlos Camarena at La Alteña distillery (NOM 1139), the same facility behind Tequila Ocho and El Tesoro. The fact that a producer of this caliber also makes a $35 blanco is remarkable. Tapatio delivers real highland character at an approachable price: punchy, clean, and honest agave with the characteristic Los Altos sweetness and some citrus brightness.
It is not as nuanced as Ocho or as elegant as Siete Leguas, but at $35 it is one of the best values in the entire tequila category. For everyday drinking, for cocktails, or for introducing someone to what highland tequila actually tastes like without a significant investment, Tapatio is the answer.
ArteNOM Selección 1146 Reposado
ArteNOM is built entirely around the idea that the NOM number, the distillery identifier, is the most important piece of information on a tequila label. Each expression in the ArteNOM lineup highlights a specific distillery, making the producer rather than the brand the point of the purchase. The 1146 expression represents a highland distillery that would otherwise be invisible to most consumers.
As a reposado, it shows highland agave softened by brief oak aging with light vanilla, cooked agave sweetness, and a clean, rounded finish. The transparency the brand offers, telling you exactly where the tequila came from and how it was made, is rare in an industry that often obscures production details. For anyone interested in exploring the geography of tequila systematically, ArteNOM is one of the most educational brands available.
What Is Highland Tequila?
Highland tequila comes from Los Altos de Jalisco, the high-altitude plateau in the eastern part of the state. The key municipalities include Arandas, Atotonilco el Alto, and Tepatiitlán de Morelos. Most of the highland production is concentrated in and around Arandas, which has more registered tequila distilleries than any other municipality in Mexico.
The defining characteristics of the region are elevation (1,500 to 2,500 meters above sea level), the distinctive red clay soil called tierra roja, and a cooler, more seasonal climate than the lowland valley. Blue Weber agave planted in this environment matures more slowly, typically over eight to twelve years, and the extended growth period combined with the mineral-rich red clay produces piñas with higher concentrations of natural sugars.
Those higher sugar levels carry through fermentation and distillation as a characteristic sweetness, florality, and fruit-forward character that distinguishes highland tequila from lowland expressions. It is not added sweetness. It is the natural result of where and how the plant grows.
Highland vs. Lowland Tequila: The Short Version
Highland tequilas tend to be sweeter, more floral, and citrus-forward. They are often described as bright, elegant, and fruit-driven. Lowland tequilas, from the valley around the town of Tequila, tend to be earthier, more herbal, and slightly savory. The same blue Weber agave, grown in different conditions, produces a fundamentally different flavor profile.
For sipping neat, many people find highland expressions more immediately approachable because the sweetness and fruitiness are crowd-pleasing. For food pairing, particularly with savory or spicy dishes, lowland earthiness can be a better match. For cocktails, either style works depending on what you want the tequila to contribute.
Neither is objectively better. The best advice is to try both and figure out which style fits your palate and your context.
Key Highland Producers and Their NOMs
The NOM number on a tequila label identifies the distillery. Here are the key highland NOMs represented on this list and what they produce:
- NOM 1120 (Siete Leguas): Atotonilco el Alto. One of the most respected traditional distilleries in Los Altos. Also the distillery where Patrón was originally produced before building its own facility.
- NOM 1579 (G4, El Pandillo): Near Arandas. Felipe Camarena's independent highland distillery, known for water sourcing and production transparency.
- NOM 1139 (La Alteña): Arandas. Carlos Camarena's family distillery, producing Tapatio, Tequila Ocho, and El Tesoro. One of the most historically significant highland facilities.
- NOM 1111 (Fortaleza): Town of Tequila, Jalisco. Technically in the lowland region but produces one of the most celebrated traditional tequilas available.
More From The Agave Report
Best Lowland Tequila in 2026: The other side of the regional debate, ranked.
Highland vs. Lowland Tequila: The complete guide to what separates Los Altos from the valley.
Siete Leguas Tequila: Deep dive on our top-ranked highland producer.
G4 Tequila: Felipe Camarena's El Pandillo distillery explored in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best highland tequila?
Siete Leguas Blanco is the best highland tequila in 2026, made at NOM 1120 in Atotonilco el Alto using traditional brick ovens and pot stills. G4 Blanco and Tequila Ocho Plata are close alternatives.
What makes a tequila "highland"?
Highland tequila comes from the Los Altos region of Jalisco, at elevations above 1,500 meters. The altitude and red clay soil produce agave with more natural sugar content, which translates to a sweeter, more floral tequila compared to lowland expressions.
What are the best highland tequila brands?
The best highland tequila brands include Siete Leguas, G4, Tequila Ocho, Fortaleza, Tapatio, and ArteNOM (their 1146 expression). These producers represent traditional and contemporary highland production at high quality.
Is highland tequila better than lowland?
Neither is objectively better. Highland tequila tends to be sweeter and more floral; lowland tequila tends to be earthier and more herbal. The best producers in each region make excellent tequila in their own style.
What city produces highland tequila?
The key municipalities for highland tequila production include Arandas, Atotonilco el Alto, and Tepatitlán de Morelos in the Los Altos region of Jalisco.
Is Fortaleza highland or lowland?
Fortaleza is made in Tequila, Jalisco, which is technically in the lowland or valley region, not the highlands. However, the distillery sources some agave from highland fields. Its character sits closer to lowland than typical highland expressions.