The Best Tequila Bars in Chicago
Where the lists are deep, the staff can guide you, and the agave comes first.
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Editorial
Chicago Tequila, Written by People Who Drink It
Our publishing slate. Articles go live as they're reported and fact-checked — we'd rather publish late than publish filler.
Bars
Bars coverage
Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods coverage
The Best Tequila Bars in Little Village
La Villita is the center of gravity for agave drinking in Chicago.
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Best Tequila in Pilsen
Where to drink agave in one of Chicago's defining neighborhoods.
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Bottle Shops
Bottle Shops coverage
Where to Buy Great Tequila in Chicago
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood retail guide for people who read back labels.
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A Tequila Lover's Guide to Moreno's Liquors
How to shop one of the city's most important agave retailers.
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Chicago Tequila
Chicago Tequila coverage
Chicago Tequila Brands You Should Know
Chicago-founded brands, Mexican-made spirits, and why the distinction matters.
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Best Tequila
Best Tequila coverage
Best Additive-Free Tequila in Chicago
What additive-free actually means, and which bottles to look for locally.
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Best Blanco Tequila in Chicago
Unaged, unhidden, and the clearest window into a distillery's work.
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Best Tequila for Margaritas in Chicago
Bottles that survive lime, ice and citrus without disappearing.
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Best Tequila Under $50 in Chicago
Real agave character at a weeknight price.
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Best Premium Tequila in Chicago
When spending more actually buys you something in the glass.
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Cocktails
Cocktails coverage
Best Margaritas in Chicago
Fresh citrus, honest tequila, and no sour mix.
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Best Margaritas in Pilsen
The neighborhood's strongest arguments for a well-built margarita.
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Best Margaritas in Little Village
26th Street and the surrounding blocks, glass by glass.
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Agave Education
Agave Education coverage
Tequila Ocho vs. El Tesoro
Two traditional blancos, two different ideas about what agave should taste like.
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Why Serious Tequila Drinkers Love Blanco
Aging adds. It also subtracts. Here's what you lose.
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How to Read a Tequila Bottle
NOM, category, ABV, agave percentage — the label tells you more than the front.
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What Does a Tequila NOM Number Mean?
The four digits that tell you which distillery actually made your bottle.
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Does Additive-Free Tequila Matter?
A sober look at what regulations permit and what your palate notices.
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Tequila Valley vs. Los Altos
Two regions, two soils, two very different agave profiles.
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