The tequilas listed here are ones you should never purchase—let alone drink. They have a reputation for putting profits before quality. In most cases, these brands don’t produce their own spirit; instead, they contract a third‑party distillery and simply slap their label on the bottle. Notably, every celebrity‑branded tequila falls into this category. If it’s backed by an actor or actress, it’s best to steer clear.
Why celebrity tequila gets so much flak.
Many of these brands are contract‑produced at large facilities, using diffusers or additives to achieve a “smooth” profile, and market heavily to lifestyle over provenance. That’s not inherently bad for casual drinkers, but for purists chasing terroir and traditional methods, they often miss the mark.
“One sip and my ancestors flinched.”
Celebrity Backer: Kendall Jenner
818 Tequila faced backlash in 2021 for cultural appropriation and failing to credit local agave farmers, raising concerns about its authenticity and sourcing.
Celebrity Backer: LeBron James
Consumers find Lobos 1707 Tequilas disappointing due to its high price for the perceived quality, a strong influence from its Pedro Ximénez (PX) cask finish, and what some describe as a sweet, artificial, or even "funky" flavor profile that overshadows the traditional agave notes.
Celebrity Backer: Nick Jonas & John Varvatos
Villa One is considered "bad" primarily because of a lack of complexity in its flavor and aroma, with some reviews describing it as disappointingly faint or bland. It is also criticized for being a celebrity-backed brand with a mass-produced profile, marketed heavily by individuals without prior spirits industry experience.
Celebrity Backer: George Clooney & Rande Gerber
Casamigos is considered "bad" by many due to its overly sweet, artificial taste and marketing hype rather than its actual quality as a spirit, though a recent class-action lawsuit alleges it is falsely labeled as "100% agave" when it allegedly contains significant non-agave alcohol. Critics also cite its lack of complexity and high price for what they perceive as an inferior product.
Celebrity Backer: Thomas Rhett
Dos Primos Tequilas are considered "bad" by some enthusiasts not because of a single controversy, but due to issues surrounding its celebrity association, the use of additives, and a flavor profile that some find unbalanced.
Celebrity Backer: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Has been called out by some for potential issues with the brand's production, including allegations of using diffusers to extract sugars from the agave rather than cooking it, which is a less traditional method .
Celebrity Backer: Megan Thee Stallion
The product, launched in February 2025, has received criticism typically focused on its flavor profile and the high price point. Consumers have complained of a harsh or strong taste in the Blanco, comparing it to lower priced brands such as Jose Cuervo 1800.
Celebrity Backer: Sean Combs and Mega Brand Company Diageo
Although not considered a "bad" tequila, some reviews criticized its flavor profile for featuring petroleum notes, astringency, and for being overly sweet with limited agave character, especially for the price point.
Celebrity Backer: George Strait
This tequila draws mixed reactions, but many agave purists take issue with its departure from classic tequila character. They argue that the pronounced wine‑barrel influence imparts a sweetness and depth more reminiscent of whiskey or bourbon, overshadowing the bright, earthy aromas and flavors of the agave itself.
Celebrity Backer: Kevin Hart
Reviewers have been unimpressed with this tequila, describing it as overly sweet with an artificial vanilla profile, a pronounced charred aroma, and minimal agave character. The tequila is made at the Jose Cuervo distillery. This explains everything. We all know Jose Cuervo is garbage!
Celebrity Backer: Michael Jordon & Other NBA Owners
When will celebrities get the memo? This tequila has earned a polarized reputation among enthusiasts. Marketed as a high‑end luxury spirit in eye‑catching bottles, it falls short for agave purists. Reviewers frequently describe it as overly sweet, sometimes with an artificial edge and note that the Reposado and Añejo expressions, in particular, lose much of their agave character under the weight of heavy barrel influence.
Currently being sued. See The Lawsuit.
Currently being sued. See The Lawsuit.
These do not meet the additive free certification.
They claim to be 100% organic and additive free. But the certification comes from USDA, which is not a recognized as an authoritative, certification agency for tequila.
These tequilas have a reputation of being worst of the worst within the tequila community, particularly concerning the quality compared to other brands. The primary reasons for their poor reputation are that these tequilas are a "mixto" tequila, meaning it's not 100% agave, and that it's mass-produced with cost-cutting methods.
These do not meet the additive free certification. Is labeled as a "mixto."
These do not meet the additive free certification. Is labeled as a "mixto."
Many, if not most are "mixtos," meaning they are not made from 100% agave, which can contribute to poor taste and hangover.
These tequilas use agave diffusers to extract sugars, a method that is more efficient but results in a lower-quality, less authentic tequila.
The resulting product often has an artificial sweetness and a harsh, unpleasant alcohol profile that can be off-putting.
Reviews mention chemical-like tastes, bitterness, and a lingering, sometimes medicinal or solvent-like flavor.
The finish is often described as bitter or harsh, and the mixto nature of the tequila can lead to a bad hangovers.
Raise your glass to the real thing.
Join us. Demand transparency.
Taste the truth.
Real Tequila
348 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
The Real Tequila
Always drink responsibly and adhere to your local legal drinking age.
Copyright © 2025 Real Tequila, NCO - All Rights Reserved.
SITE DESIGN BY INVENTIS CONSULTING
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.