The 10 best tequila brands you need to try, according to 6 experts

The best tequilas can add different flavors to your margaritas.Bodega Taqueria y Tequila

• Cinco de Mayo is a great day to open up a bottle of tequila, whether you're mixing margaritas or tasting it straight.
• These six experts explain what makes a tequila good — and all the different types for various occasions, including Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, and Extra Anejo.
• Pure tequila must be produced from the Blue Agave plant that has matured for a minimum of six years and be 100% agave; cheap tequila is often only 50%.
• Their top 10 picks are straight from regions in Mexico where tequila hails from, including Calle 23 and Arette tequila from Jalisco.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Any margarita lover worth their salt is warming up the blender for Cinco de Mayo — the day when the entire world seems to celebrate Mexico. Fun fact: Cinco de Mayo is actually not that big of a deal in Mexico itself. Many people think it's Mexican Independence Day, but in fact, the holiday commemorates the Mexican victory in a battle against the French in the Franco-Mexican War. Still, many countries use the day as an excuse to blend up frosty margaritas and tuck into tacos.

As a travel journalist with an expertise in Mexico, I usually spend half the year living south of the border — except, of course, for this particular year amid the pandemic. So instead of sampling tequila in its birthplace, I reached out to six of the top tequila experts in Mexico to unearth their favorites.