2. (Rule number one: Never buy tequila that . I will go from this list next time I am picking a tequila to taste and buy. 1) Yes, there are many tequilas that are additive free, but have not gone through our process. A small sip reveals aromas of roasted agave with woody notes, before the tequila opens up with hints of caramel, coconut and oak. El Pandillo (G4, Terralta, etc.) In addition to auditing the production, we ask a lot of questions and perform a sensorial analysis throughout various stages of the tequila-making process. Technically a barrel which has not been overused, will not need to have additives or essences. The company says it sources naturally filtered water from an artesian well located at their distillery, which sits at the base of the Jalisco volcano. In 2020 we launched our Tequila Matchmaker Additive-Free program for brands and distilleries that want to be super transparent about their production processes and their non-use of additives. They, and 14 other brands from that distillery, have requested our process. 2) Both Pasote and El Tesoro de Don Felipe are additive free in their entire lineup. Your email address will not be published. This tequila is great on its own or with a splash of soda. We like what the brand is doing with the no-for-profit S.A.C.R.E.D too, which re-invests 100% of proceeds from merchandise and a portion of tequila sales back into the local Mexican communities where agave spirits are made to identify and support vital needs. Editors picks Use this form to receive email alerts of any changes to this list. I am totally independent & honest. Excited to be launching the World's Most Awarded Tequila - Cierto! I have been told that unless you get to see the CRT production logs, you'll never know if they have additives, and brands don't even have access to that information, it's something that only the distillery has. The List: Additive-Free Tequila Brands | TasteTequila Popular Brands. Organic Tequila vs. Regular - Drinking the Best Tequila - Aldez Tequila View more. Why mess with a good thing? With most quality brands, especially ones in which the distillery owns, you may not have to worry as much about this next practice. Cenote Tequila, $41+, Olmeca Altos tequilas are made from 100% blue agave grown in Los Altos, the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. "Bribon is a solid tequila for its price," says Fallon. There are plenty of other websites, YouTube channels, Instagram and TikTok accounts that happily promote additive-filled tequila. Thankfully for you, we're breaking down store-bought tequila brands and ranking them from worst to best to help you find the perfect bottle for your taste preference and budget. This is an unpretentious, no-nonsense tequila with nothing added, just 100% blue Weber agave. ABV/PROOF: 54% abv (108-proof) Confirmed Additive Free Tequila. Using only the best ingredients and a meticulous process, we are inspired by a vision of what tequila should be: complex, balanced and gastronomic. What does YOUR nose and taste tell YOU? DO NOT get fooled by the 1% rule, as this may not sound like a lot, BUT IT IS!! Have you heard anything from their distillery? Patrn, one of most well-known tequila brands in the world, actually offers a diverse portfolio of authentic tequilas that you wont find in nightclubs or seedy bars. Answers: Thanks for a complete list and for clarifying about Blancos and the NOM loophole, as well as everything else you do. Cazcabel. Comparing the difference between a retail bottle and testigo sample. Keep in mind I only mention brands that make rested and aged expressions that I have personally tasted. Give it a try! Grover and Scarlet, So excited to confidently try some expressions that are verified free of additives. It would be a handy reference when shopping. I find that the extended barrel aging pulls out any astringent qualities that may have been in the originally distilled juice, making this the easiest to sip on its own., The best type of tequila for sipping is the one in which you can taste the complexity given by the best agave source, along with a good elaboration process, providing the smoothness and sweetness you can obtain from the agave, says Martinez. 1. Everything is made in with 100% blue weber agave and is confirmed all-natural and additive-free for a tequila that goes down smooth and silky. Thank you for all the info. Olmeca Altos has won quite a few awards over the years and are worthy of a place on your bar cart. All that aside, the tequila is good, made using traditional methods with no additives, according to the brand. Thanks so much for this list and all your efforts to be able to share your research with us all. And fun fact: It was created in tribute to the year Don Julio Gonzlez started his tequila-making journey. Tequila Matchmaker on the App Store We review which brands of tequilas are free of additives. Youve also probably seen flavored tequila, which is tequila infused with things like coconut, lime, strawberry or jalapeno. 6. Now confused. Santo specializes in high-end old-style tequila, but the brand is anything but old-fashioned. The story you mention is from 2017: Each tequila has its own "flavor fingerprint," and each person has his or her own flavor preferences. Syrup, or "jarabe", is a mixture of different ingredients, primarily for the purposes of creating a sweeter product. Reuters There is a "proper" way and no, it's not in a shot. It quickly became a staple then and is a mainstay still today. No additives . They can also use glycerin to make the mouthfeel 'rounder', slicker, thicker, oilier, sweeter and different altogether. no headache-inducing fillers). So what do you think? Tequila Matchmaker We like the Maestro Dobel 50, a smooth and complex Extra Aejo Cristalino thats aged in American and Eastern European oak barrels, then twice-distilled in copper pot sills. Hornitos, $29+, Founded by Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Teremana Tequila crafts their tequilas in a small Mexican town up in the highest peaks of the Jalisco Highlands. Donate Bitcoin here: 3B6B2eV1Sg8myRJUi2hikD19nE32pxpLT9, ADDITIVES IN TEQUILA & MY PERSONAL LIST OF ADDITIVE-FREE TEQUILA BRANDS, http://tastetequila.com/2017/the-lowdown-on-tequila-additives/, https://www.facebook.com/Long-Island-Lou-Tequila-641682619241422. Diffuser-made products *can* be additive-free, but as of this writing there are no products made with a diffuser on the list. JAJA is a small batch Tequila that is best enjoyed with friends and family. You can taste the additives in Kirkland tequilaThe best option is to not buy what doesnt disclose. I just dont see us going there, even if we come off as snobby or elitist. German Gonzalez of t1 explained he is "free of additives" for t1 products as well as his 'Tears of Llorona' as well as David Suro, who as an early believer of tequila transparency, said at 'Siembra Spirits' "we don't use any additives or artificial flavors in any of our expressions". Is there something that taste like theirs which is better for you? It has a smooth, even finish. You can enjoy them neat, over ice or mixed into a cocktail. In fact it was after I bought it that I even discovered tequila could have added sweeteners including things like aspartame and saccharin. Inspections are done on-site and can last from a few . Tequila - No Additives - Page 3 - Old Town Tequila The additive-free spirit retails for $125.99 and is currently available for presale on ReserveBar. The 10 Best Blanco Tequilas Money Can Buy These days, some of the best tequilas in the world are actually more comparable to a fine bourbon or robust glass of wine than jello shots and beer pong. Tequila's popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, and the top bottles now command cultish prices formerly reserved for the rarest of Scotches and small-batch bourbons. 18 Best Sipping Tequilas You Can Buy Right Now - Delish Now available! David Lindley, Multi-Instrumentalist Who Shaped the Sound of Soft Rock, Dead at 78 Named after the Spanish word for diamond, Diamante was created with no additives. When aejo tequila is done right, its at once rich and flavorful, smooth yet complex. What do you think about that do you agree? While they may be fun for a party or to use in mixed drinks, we recommend skipping these bottles the rest of the time and just drinking tequila straight up. Whats more, they were one of the first brands to use certified organic agave, and theyre committed to doing good for the environment. A complete one stop tequila review app/web site. Its a very special blend elaborated with agave that is grown on our property and was aged in a combination of our best hand-selected American oak and new French oak barrels. Of course they know they are using them though, as they actually have to put them in, but most will deny to me or anyone who asks them point blank, if they use additives. Thank you! Pros. So, what exactly should you consider when shopping for tequila? Tequila Patrn, for example, has a NOM of 1492. The tequila finishes with a little heat before going down smooth. Types of Tequila: Just like whiskey, there are different types of tequila, that run the spectrum in terms of flavor, color and potency. These are some images taken during our additive free visits. You can read more about our methods and program goals, here. Certain producers like Felipe Camarena wouldn't dream of doing any of this, and Camarena told me "it's about credibility, not about promises from the producer". When El Bandido Yankee Tequila founders made the decision to delve into the rich and storied world of handcrafted tequila, they knew one thing for certain: Their tequila would be authentically crafted the right way with zero additives. Martinez adds that a reposado tequila can also work well in a margarita. Kendall Jenner's 818 Tequila Brand Is Problematic - InStyle A carefully handcrafted tequila produced in small batches, the Chamucos Blanco features notes of vanilla, citrus, cinnamon and fennel. Thank you so much for putting this together and committing to keeping it updated! Hi Luis. What you get is pure flavor thats perfect for sipping or adding to cocktails. Grover & Scarlet January 9, 2021 Blog. Don't believe us? Its best sipped slow for a warm, inviting mouthfeel. Their distillery (NOM 1480 Las Americas) has denied their request. Its like a fine wine thats been aged to perfection. Now that you know the basics, here are nine more things you should know about the supermodel-approved premium tequila brand. A final proprietary filtration process gives the cristalino the sparkling crystal-clear appearance from which it gets its name. Our propietary matching algorithm uses nine different characteristics to find the best matches for you. In the world of spirits, tequila is currently having a moment. Drink experts agree tequila is best had in cocktails or by slowly sipping so you can enjoy the complexity of the spirit. This was confirmed when producers directly told us (off the record) that they were making use of this confusion within the NORMA. Initially launching in California, Florida, Texas, New York . So in the end I would say, do one of two things. Clase Azuls tequila comes in this instantly recognizable (and supremely collectible) bottle, which you see on the top shelf of high-end bars and restaurants. Inspections are done on-site and can last from a few hours to a few days, depending on how many brands and products we are reviewing at the distillery. $46 at Reserve Bar. Additives in Your Tequila? Here's How to Test It Yourself Santaleza Tequila will be sold in the United States, with the . If Casamigos is what you serve at your party, Clase Azul is what you break out for the select few invited to stick around after the crowd leaves. Before being triple distilled, this silver tequila had the tropical fruit cooked in traditional stone . Each carefully harvested pia is steamed in an autoclave and fermented in steel tanks, resulting in beautifully clean tequila. Additives can greatly change the color (SEE ABOVE- again thanks to Taste Tequila), making the appearance of longer aging, with caramel coloring. Both tequilas are smooth, complex and crafted from hand-selected pias that are harvested at peak maturity. The 6 Best Margarita Mixes of 2023 - The Spruce Eats Im really into making the greatest tequila in the world, says Hagar in a recent interview with Rolling Stone. I am passionate about tequila and I will keep this list close. It's made with 100 percent Blue Weber agave (i.e. In the spirit world, pure vodka is earthy and mildly sweet, whereas vodka containing rye is bland and sweet. Thanks to investment and refinement from some pioneering brands, long gone are the days when Tequila was known only for its harsh palate. Guillermo Erickson Sauza (Fortaleza), or Felipe or Carlos Camarena are easier to believe, when they say they are additive free. A silky and savory tequila, Chamucos goes as well with Baja fish tacos as it does with a simple lime slice. This list is awesome! But if you want a drink that is a little smoother, vodka may be the way to go. Choose from blanco, aejo, reposado and more. Meeting the organic certification requirements of two separate regulating bodies isn't easy, and we take tremendous pride in it. Surprise Surprise. This is tequila thats only aged for a few weeks, so it doesnt have time to develop the color and characteristics that come from a longer aging process. Agave nectar, corn syrup, cane sugar, aspartame, sucralose (Splenda), and stevia could all be used as a sweetening . The Aejo variety is aged in American oak bourbon barrels for up to three years, which results in a nice blend of warm agave and oak flavors. You dont get the same distinct flavor profile as some of the other bottles on our list, but for a refreshing, straightforward Blanco, this one is a no-brainer to pick up. Of course you can taste the ones that use these natural additives- as they are too sweet, too candyish, too oily etc, and it's even easier to tell the ones that really 'go to town', and totally abuse this rule. Patrn is the world's number one super-premium tequila brand to receive the verification. Checking production records at NOM 1123 (Cascahun), Checking production records at NOM 1492 (Tequila Patrn). (They even make their own compost!) LALO only makes one tequilaan additive-free blanco. I mean Jimador is a diffuser product, so this is quite interesting and hard to believe for sure. Each bottle is hand-crafted and hand-painted, so no two are alike, making Clase Azul a great gift idea as well. Codigo 1530 Barrel Strength Limited Bottling Anejo Tequila. Lightweight and well balanced, it's a great option for both new and experienced tequila drinkers alike. Roy adds that shes a fan of Patrns Roca collection because the brand uses juice from the tahona rolling process, which pulls only the most flavorful liquid from the pias they roast for almost three days.