A guide to agave spirits and tequila-style brands shaping India’s bar culture

As premium cocktail culture moves past novelty, tequila and agave spirits in India have quietly moved from being niche pours to serious menu contenders. Over the last five to seven years, tequila imports and locally produced agave-based distilleries have gained momentum as drinkers choose to shift toward flavour, provenance, and experience.

“A clear move away from volume-led drinking toward experience-led consumption, has helped. Indian consumers today are far more informed—they care about provenance, production methods, and flavour integrity,” says Sree Harsha Vadlamudi, co-founder and CEO, Loca Loka. Consumers today are more informed, more curious, and increasingly invested in how a spirit is made, where it comes from, and how it performs beyond the shot glass.

“From a palate perspective, agave spirits align naturally with Indian tastes. Tequila offers layered complexity comprising sweet agave, herbal notes, peppery spice, and subtle bitterness, mirroring India’s own flavour vocabulary,” adds Vadlamudi.  “Much like whiskey or rum, tequila rewards slow appreciation while still performing exceptionally in cocktails. As India’s bar culture matures and consumers upgrade categories, tequila fits perfectly into the premiumisation curve that is increasingly evident across urban markets.”

“The entry of globally recognised luxury tequilas has also played a key role in opening up the category and introducing Indian consumers to tequila as a refined, sippable spirit rather than just a celebratory shot. Its natural balance of sweetness, citrus, and gentle spice suits the Indian palate well, while also making it a versatile and easy spirit to mix with,” explains Vikram Ku, Lead, World Class India, a Diageo-led bartending programme. 

“Also, compared to many other spirits, tequila is perceived as a lighter, lower-calorie option, which appeals to consumers looking for cleaner, more mindful choices,” explains Ankur Adhana, Head of Beverage, Kamei City, Delhi. 

Tequila vs agave spirits: What’s the difference and why it matters in India

Tequila and agave are two different spirits, unlike the confusion around it. While agave is the plant, tequila and mezcal are spirits made from agave. “The confusion stems from terminology. Tequila is a specific category of agave spirit, but not all agave spirits are tequila. Tequila must be made exclusively from Blue Weber agave, grown in designated regions of Mexico, primarily the state of Jalisco, and produced under strict regulatory norms governed by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT),” says Vadlamudi.

So, most brands in India import tequila or agave distillate from Mexico and bottle it locally, and a smaller set of Indian agave spirits operate outside tequila’s regulatory framework. Some also use imported agave syrup or alternative fermentation techniques. But these are structurally different from tequila in terms of raw material, ageing, and compliance standards. 

Agave spirits are a broader family that includes tequila, mezcal, raicilla, and other regional distillates, often using different agave species and production styles. “As consumer awareness increases, we’re seeing a clear segmentation emerge between authentic tequila imports and locally produced agave spirits. This mirrors early whiskey and gin trends in India where education, exposure, and premium cues ultimately drive consumers toward globally benchmarked products,” says Vadlamudi.

“In India, the confusion is amplified because many consumers encounter tequila first through cocktails rather than education. As the category evolves, clearer communication around terroir, agave type, and production methods will help consumers better understand and appreciate the distinction between tequila and other agave-based spirits,” adds Vadlamudi, who finds that agave spirits with less defined structure often work better in sweeter or fruit-driven cocktails, where the agave note acts as a flavour base rather than the hero. 

How agave spirits work with Indian flavours and cocktails

“When it comes to Indian flavours, tequila pairs beautifully with bright, zesty and cooling ingredients like lime, Gondhoraj lemon, raw mango, coconut water, mint, coriander, pineapple, and a hint of green chilli. Agave spirits, on the other hand, shine with earthy and robust flavours such as tamarind, jaggery, kokum, roasted pineapple, coffee, cacao, and warm spices, creating cocktails that feel bold and nuanced,” says Ku. 

Adhana pairs tequila with flavours like lime, orange, chilli, cucumber, and mint, in the Palomie No. 30, Spirited Climb, and Mango Tai at Kamei, and mezcal in smokey cocktails and Negroni-style drinks, with ingredients such as pineapple, tamarind, and black salt. 

Best tequila and agave spirits in India right now

Don Julio

Launched in 2023, Don Julio is available in four variants: Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, and 1942. The Blanco is made with pure unaged agave and blended with hints of citrus. The premium Reposado is barrel-aged for eight months in American white-oak barrels. While the Anejo offers a fine balance between agave, wood, and hints of vanilla, Don Julio 1942 is aged for at least two and a half years, with roasted agave at the fore. All their tequilas are crafted in Jalisco using 100% Blue Weber agave, honouring traditional methods. 

Available in: Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, West Bengal, Telangana, Goa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh 

Price: ₹9,350 onwards

Loca Loka

Launched in India in 2024, Loca Loka offers two variants of tequila: the fruity and earthy Blanco and the Reposado, which is aged in oak barrels and has a richer aroma. Created in the highlands of Jalisco, this tequila is crafted under the expertise of a third-generation distiller, in Jalisco, using mature highland agave. Aged for six years and infused with the essence of bold Indian flavours, it brings together the two countries in one bottle. 

Available in: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, major airport duty-free stores

Price: ₹5,250 onwards

Maya Pistola Agavepura

Launched in 2022, Maya Pistola Agavepura is made from wild Agave Americana in the highlands of the Chittoor district in the Deccan that is aged for 11-13 years, and is then blended and bottled in Goa. The brand offers multiple variants: the Reposado, aged for four to six months on average in Virgin American White Oak and ex-Bourbon casks in Goa, with prominent notes of orange marmalade and pineapple and subtle spice notes. The Joven is a blend of unaged and aged 100% Agave layered with notes of herbs and spices. The Rosa, aged in ex-Cabernet Sauvignon barrels made of French Oak, is dry with a lingering finish with notes of fruit and spice. The Añejo, aged for over 14 months in Virgin American White Oak, is oaky on the nose with hints of cocoa and dried figs and a subtle smokey background. The Extra Añejo is aged for over 36 months in American White Oak casks and finished in ex-Bourbon barrels for a complex, long, and decadent mouthfeel. 

Available in: Goa, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Delhi, West Bengal, and Assam

Price: ₹2,695 onwards

DesmondJi

Launched in 2011 in Goa, DesmondJi is made from semi-wild agave from the Deccan Plateau and produced at Agave India's micro-distillery located in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. The brand offers multiple variants: a 51% Agave distilled in small batches in artisanal pot-stills; a 100% Agave; and a 51% Agave Gold finished in charred oak to yield a warm and mellow spirit. 

Available in: Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune

Price: ₹800 onwards

El Gooda

Launched in 2025, El Gooda offers an array of flavours apart from the Silver, which is a blend of aged and unaged agave spirits with gentle floral and peppery notes. The Reposado, aged for four to seven months in ex-Bourbon barrels, is smokey and deep, with notes of vanilla, honey, and spice on the palate. The Cafe, a blend of aged and unaged agave spirits, has the aroma of roasted coffee, creamy vanilla, and toffee; it is sweet and chocolatey with a gentle agave bite. While the Strawberry has hints of toasted oak and caramel on the palate, the Picante is a variant with zingy, fresh notes of citrus and cilantro.

Available in: Goa, Maharastra 

Price: ₹649 onwards

How to choose a good tequila or agave spirit in India

The taste of tequila is unique in itself. “This is because of the soil where the agave is grown. It’s active volcanic soil, where the Blue Weber agave grows for at least seven years before it is harvested. These characteristics  are so unique to the product that the local authorities have GI-tagged it to five regions across Mexico. There are no restrictions on the production of agave spirits and hence they can be manufactured anywhere in the world,” says Vadlamudi. 

A good tequila is defined by the clarity of agave expression, disciplined distillation, and intelligent maturation. “You should be able to taste the terroir, clean agave sweetness, and, in aged variants, the balanced oak influence without masking the core spirit. Consistency and transparency in production are critical benchmarks,” says Vadlamudi. “A good tequila is clean, fresh, and smooth. A good agave spirit is balanced and versatile,” concludes Adhana.