El Tesoro Reposado Wins Tequila Trophy
The 40% ABV reposado earned top honors among tequilas at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Cocktails
El Tesoro Reposado was named the highest-scoring tequila at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition, earning the Tequila Trophy and a gold medal with 96 points out of 100. The tequila is bottled at 40% ABV and sells for approximately $70.
Why it matters
The win places El Tesoro among a small group of gold-medal tequilas recognized from more than 4,000 competition entries across all spirits categories. For drinkers and bartenders, it offers an independent benchmark for a widely available reposado.
El Tesoro Reposado scored 96 of 100 points, the highest of any tequila entered in 2026, and is bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). Ten tequilas received gold medals among more than 4,000 total IWSC entries, and the competition awarded 24 spirits trophies overall.
The players
International Wine & Spirit Competition
A London-based international spirits and wine competition that awards medals and trophies to products across categories each year.
Don Felipe Camarena
The founder of the La Alteña distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, which he established in 1937.
The details
El Tesoro is produced at La Alteña, a Jalisco distillery founded by Don Felipe Camarena in 1937. The cooked agave is crushed with a tahona, a large stone wheel, and the spirit is aged in former Jim Beam bourbon barrels made of American oak.
Timeline
1937: La Alteña distillery founded by Don Felipe Camarena in Jalisco.
2026: El Tesoro Reposado wins the Tequila Trophy at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Legacy in the Glass
El Tesoro's win connects a tequila made at a distillery founded in 1937 to a modern international awards system that now evaluates agave spirits alongside global categories. The recognition extends a family-run production tradition into the current era of competition-driven consumer choice.
At roughly $70 and widely available in the United States, El Tesoro Reposado is an accessible option for shoppers looking to try a medal-winning reposado. Its 40% ABV means it can be used in cocktails or sipped as directed by the buyer's preference.
The takeaway
Awards like the IWSC Tequila Trophy can help consumers compare reposados at similar price points when choosing a bottle for home or the bar. Checking medal results alongside personal taste is a practical way to narrow options.
Further reading
For more on how spirits like this are used behind the bar, explore Cocktails.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Food & Wine.
