Now, the Red Rocker is throwing his hat back in the ring with Santo, a joint effort tequila brand with Guy Fieri. It truly is a paragon of the subregion and doesn't get much better given its price point. Tequila Fortaleza, $47+, One of the top five selling tequilas in the world, Hornitos is a premium tequila brand crafted with 100% blue agave. Notes of pepper and vanilla balance the buttery profile along with hints of citrus. Arandas, in the Jalisco mountains of Mexico, is home to Cazcabel. Although not technically tequila, Revels Avila should be on every tequila and mezcal fans radar. I only start drinking Patron because of they were additive free. significant growth in bars and restaurants. One percent today, with condensed additives are enough to change things. Fortaleza Blanco, Reposado and Aejo are all fantastic sipping tequilas from the Los Valles region, says Lavenue. All we can do is taste ourselves, to the best of our ability, and to believe these brands. The margarita has always held a place in our hearts as an excellent sunny-day drinkmainly because it's refreshing and super simple to make. With notes of fresh-cut grass and tropical fruit, you can always have it in a cocktail, but this is a fantastic tequila to pair with dinner, or a good cheese plate. I love that some of my favorites are already here and some that I need try. We are legit worried that the sweeter, more vanilla, candy-like additive products will change the publics idea of what a natural tequila is. Inspections are done on-site and can last from a few . It is an opt-in program, which needs to be renewed each year. I do believe it's safe to say that products made by the quality brands mentioned below on my favorites list, seem to be completely additive free. Another best-selling brand, Don Julio launched in 1942 and was named after Don Julio Gonzlez, the brand's first Jimador. Do they have additives? Gran Coraminos tequilas are roasted in traditional stone ovens and barrel-aged. ABV: 46.3%. Buy Casa Noble Marqus de Casa Noble $175.99. Diffuser-made products *can* be additive-free, but as of this writing there are no products made with a diffuser on the list. The 12 Best Sipping Tequilas to Drink of 2023 - Liquor.com 6. Or is there a separate list for non-diffuser made tequilas? Want to upgrade your bar cart, but not sure where to start? none of the artificial additives that make you pucker); try it over ice for a refreshing summer tequila tasting too. I couldnt even drink it in Margaritas. The 14 Best Tequilas to Drink in 2023 - Liquor.com Aejo cristalino is aged at least one year in white oak barrels then is filtered to remove its color and specific components to make it mellower, while conserving the sensory qualities of an aejo tequila we want to preserve, says Martinez. 1) No, some blancos definitely contain additives. Tasha . I want to teach others what I know about ALL Agave spirits, keeping it simple and fun! 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. Jaja Tequila Aejo (750 ml) Delivery or Pickup Near Me - Instacart Tequila Casa Del Sol. I respect people that want quality and are not cutting corners, and promise they will never use any additives. Its aged in oak barrels for three weeks, and delicate notes of bright citrus, greens and pepper lead to a crisp and smooth finish. The flavors are complex and sophisticated while still being approachable and easy to drink. So what do people think about all these claims? ), just want to know what kind of additives they would use. 15 Bartender-Approved Tequilas To Bridge Winter And Spring This brand is one of the top-shelf tequilas that are pure with no additives included. The Best Tequila Under $50 To Try in 2022 - Next Luxury YOU and only you will have to make that decision, to believe these brands by tasting and trusting them. The product is kosher, organic, and certified clean industry. Others who are more true to agave spirits, may not like that profile and would prefer a more agave forward presence. ** There are some confusing rules in the NORMA that appear to allow the use of additives in a blanco. 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. Its aged in a sequence of Islay Scotch, Spanish brandy and Spanish sherry oak barrels for five years before being blended by the brands master distiller. This may be one of the priciest options on our list, but this top-shelf tequila is worth the premium price. Casa Noble, $45+, Theres a reason why this is the best-selling tequila in the world. Patron shares a list of distilleries, some of which produce multiple brands of tequila according to their NOM, which have been accredited as verified without additives. Let's discuss it. 15 Best Blanco Tequila Brands To Drink in 2023 - Liquor Laboratory Clasa Azul is an additive-loaded tequila of low quality and is extraordinarily overpriced. 3. So in the end I would say, do one of two things. Clase Azul, $137+, Casa Dragones is a small-batch tequila producer that crafts some of the smoothest tequilas on the market. Other brands, some very popular did not answer me back on giving me their 'guarantee' and 'assurances' that no additives what so ever are used in their products. I don't agree, but if that's true, people need to start thinking differently. Blending of different barrels at the end before bottling, plays a major role in tequila making, and remember that although they use the barrels multiple times, they may also be blending with a fresh 'new' aged barrel of tequila as well, as this really is an art. Think of this as the cognac of tequila best for sipping neat, or with an ice cube. I would love to know how to have my husbands tequila reviewed. Besides margaritas, Roy shares these three delicious cocktails you can make with tequila: Related:15 Interesting Things to Mix With Tequila, From blanco to reposado to aejo, Patrn offers every type of tequila you could desire. In the world of spirits, tequila is currently having a moment. I assume these brands tell themselves that it's part of the 'tequila making procedure'. I want to stay away from additives. Their reposado and aejo tequilas are aged in ex-bourbon barrels for that smooth taste you know and love. Nobu AND QUI Tequila Launch Nobu Rare 2008 Reserve Those too are permitted by Mexico's Tequila Regulatory Council . The 30 Best Tequilas for 2022 | VinePair If that's all they ever did, I guess it's livable, although I'd prefer an 'off color' myself, and being completely additive free. 3. However, section 6.1.1.1 states that the products defined in 5 sections, including 4.36.1, allows for edulcorantes, colorantes, aromatizantes y/o saborizantes permitidos por la Secretara de Salud (sweeteners, coloring, aromas and flavors allowed by the Health Secretary.). Our editors have reviewed dozens of tequila brands over the last year, to come up with some of our favorite bottles, based on taste profile, uniqueness and value. We are granted full access to all areas of the distillery, and have permission to take samples from any part of the process. I wish something as concise was available for other agave spirits. Initially launching in California, Florida, Texas, New York . Hi Luis. Pick Up Some of These Gloves First High-end tequila is a distinctive and expressive spirit that can be enjoyed in many different ways and this Mexican tipple, especially the aejo category, is now a firm favourite in the premium drinks class. Can anyone recommend some of the sweeter non additive, non Blanco tequilas? $46 at Reserve Bar. However, we need someone willing to be the curator of each spirit. You rock, Grover and Scarlet! No, this is good tequila because it's a crisp, spicy, flavorful, and very versatile spirit. Bell Flavors & Fragrances (above) and Symrise Flavorings are just two companies supplying these additives. When you taste too much vanilla, and we call that a 'vanilla bomb', that often means extra vanilla extract powder was added. These young tequilas are less expensive and typically used in bars and restaurants for making mixed drinks. Any comment would be most welcome . I just got your email today about your additive-free list and had to come check it out. Jose Cuervo . Espoln Blanco Tequila. 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. This 'cutting corners' can reduce the quality of the tequila. All of Cenotes tequilas (the line includes blanco, reposado, aejo and cristalino) are diligently crafted by the brands master distiller and master blender. 1800 Agavales Altos Avion Casa . 27 Best Tequila Brands for Shots, Margaritas, Sipping - Parade I am just reporting what these brands are saying is the truth. Using a few drops of caramel coloring is one thing, but this additive problem seems to go much further, using these additives to cover up mistakes, a low quality product, or mask deficiencies in the final product. What Features Should You Look for in Tequila? Tequila Bribn, $26+, If youre looking for a budget-friendly tequila that tastes like it costs way more, then look no further than El Jimador. What you get is pure flavor thats perfect for sipping or adding to cocktails. Best Tequilas 2023 | Tried and Tested | Esquire UK Related After speaking with these brands and tasting all the tequilas mentioned, the list below are brands that passed my own personal test, and taste 100% additive free. Within the aejo category, there are also two variations: aejo cristalino and extra aejo. What are the additive-free tequila brands? | News York Time I hope more distilleries become a part of this project! If you want to feel like a celebrity while sipping tequila, then this is definitely the brand for you. All Rights reserved. Founded in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 2018, Danos Tequila just won Best in Class Aejo at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Whether you prefer blanco, reposado or aejo tequila, Hornitos has something for you in their robust lineup. It is an opt-in program, which needs to be renewed each year. Are they true, who can you believe? Our proprietary matching algorithm uses nine different characteristics to find the best . Now the additive list is also fantastic tool to recognize the brands that have a commitment to offering a true quality product. The brand has been around since 1950. This tequila is produced in the lowlands of the Jalisco region, so it wont exhibit the same sweetness or fruit-forward flavors as some of the other picks on our list. Although it can be hard to taste for sure as these people are pros, and can add them in strategically in a very subtle way, I will say that in my opinion you would be VERY surprised to know the huge percentage of brands that must be using some additive in their tequila. A new entry into the tequila market, El Bandido Yankee launched in 2021 by former NFL player Jim Bob Morris and restaurateur and NHL Hall of Fame Hockey Player Chris Chelios. Don Julio 1942, specifically, is one of the most premium options from the brand (hence why it comes with a hefty price tag). Good, clean fun: Organic tequila is the Best Tequila. Extra aejo, meanwhile, is aged in American oak barrels for at least three years. Thanks for a complete list and for clarifying about Blancos and the NOM loophole, as well as everything else you do. This is a terribly misleading and sneaky trick, but sadlya legal practice. All of Casa Dragones tequilas are made in small batches using a sustainable production method. Tequila - No Additives - Page 3 - Old Town Tequila It will typically taste sweeter and more refreshing, with a smooth, silky finish. The Reposado features notes of sweet vanilla, oak, mushrooms, ginger, caramel and citrus, which gives it that perfect balance of earthiness, sweetness and spiciness with an easy finish and no lingering aftertaste. These are often referred to as a Mixto, where colors and flavors are added prior to bottling. That gives the Rosa a subtle pink hue, and a sweet yet dry finish. The best tequilas in 2023. 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. A sneaky trick is to 'flavor' additives, which some brands endeavor to cover up, by simply naming them 'essences'. The Champagne yeast we use allows the Highland agave to shine, showcasing the cooked agave flavor up front with fruity and floral notes following. Gonzlezs family has been in the tequila business for generations (his grandfather was the legendary Don Julio Gonzlez), so you know he knows his stuff! Vanilla and Cocoa powder (chocolate) are also considered a type of oak extract, and although vanilla is not part of the 1% group, vanilla is something that can occur naturally in a barrel, but it is naturally 'subtle'. These are some images taken during our additive free visits. They were. Cazcabel. Types of Tequila: Just like whiskey, there are different types of tequila, that run the spectrum in terms of flavor, color and potency. It's simply sneaky in many ways, to alter or attempt to make 'better' an 'unbalanced' or 'rough' sub par spirit, or to make it look or taste more aged than it is. The tequila is made from 100 percent all-natural, fully matured Blue Weber agave artisanally produced without additives or diffusers. This makes the Avila a great choice for solo sipping or mixing in cocktails. Pasote and El Tesoro de Don Felipe are both listed as an additive-free distilleries, but their respective XAs are not marked as Additive-free. No additives Hiatus uses a ground-to-glass method which combines traditional methods and modern technology, produced by master distiller, Luis Trejo Rodrguez at La Cofrada. 1. ABV/PROOF: 54% abv (108-proof) Confirmed Additive Free Tequila. Total Wine. I wish something like this was posted in stores. Jose Cuervo has been in the tequila game for more than 250 years and was actually the first tequila brand to bottle the spirit individually. Realize that caramel coloring is not used for adding sweet flavor, but more so, for a darker color to make the aged spirit 'look' more aged, or to change the color of batches to balance them out (consistency), in the stage called 'rectification'. This tequila is from a distillery in the Jalisco, Mexico region featuring an ABV of 40%. Tired of Standing? I will need to check to see if our database needs to be updated to reflect that. I'm a Tequila/Agave Connoisseur, Taster & Reviewer from Long Island, NY. The distillery is steeped in a rich history, tracing its . This type of tequila has been aged a minimum of two months to one year in oak barrels, which gives the liquid a light golden color, says Martinez. Brands aren't required to put additives on the label, and even 100 percent agave tequilas commonly use them. Sure, tequila shots are fun at parties (and maybe gives you some liquid courage before stepping onto that karaoke stage), but artists rapping about shots of Patrn have really given tequila an undeservedly bad (and, ahem, cheap) rep. Sometimes using french oak barrels may make you 'think' there are additives, because it can taster very sweet, even overly sweet. Taste: Ritual Zero-Proof's Tequila Alternative is golden in color, suggesting it's an alternative to reposado tequila. The 8 Best Cheap Tequilas of 2022 - The Spruce Eats Dana Riley - Strategy Manager, Strategic Accounts - LinkedIn Compared to a 100-calorie pour of tequila, that's pretty good. That's why we are proud to offer wines from Hermann J Wiemer, one of the most celebrated wineries in the Finger Lakes region of New York. If you try this tequila neat, youll notice notes of maple, vanilla and caramel, balanced with pepper and floral tones. The best tequila brands use only the heart of the pia (the heart of the agave) and a slow pressing method using a tahona, which is a large stone disc used to crush the juice from the pias after they have been roasted and/or steamed, she says. I contacted Jose Cuervo, Cazadores and Sauza to ask about any additives in their 100% agave tequilas to see what they'd say. The Reposado expression is also aged in stripped and recharred American Oak bourbon barrels, which gives it a deliciously herbaceous toasted flavor. But that said, despite what . Eterno Verano, $52+, 21Seeds was started in 2019 by three moms turned female entrepreneurs whose vision was to create a great-tasting, smooth spirit with the infusion of fresh ingredients. Surprise Surprise. 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. Although trusting people is always a gamble, we really do have some very knowledgeable contract-brand owners, that know exactly what is in their products, have integrity, and are way more involved than some others. 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. A nice, simple tequila is useful to pour liberally than a more expensive Blanco tequila with a similar clean agave taste. $149.99. Then next sip I thought, wow, I cant believe how sweet this is 3rd sip and I was getting that aftertaste and I was like this stuff is too damn sweet, it tastes like artificial sweeteners, but thats impossible. So what do you think? Lalo is a great tequila blanco with no additives. The pictures ABOVE and BELOW are courtesy of Grover Sanschagrin of 'Taste Tequila' whose excellent recent Video/Report is linked HERE- http://tastetequila.com/2017/the-lowdown-on-tequila-additives/. WATER SOURCE: Natural spring water, Rain water. The Norma Oficial Mexicana number (or NOM) is assigned by the Mexican government and certifies that the bottle youre holding is authentic tequila produced in Mexico. Although this is perfectly legal, it is WRONG, and hopefully this will get cleared up soon on a future CRT ruling. Nathan. Youll also want to consider what the tequila is being used for. The idea: to create an ultra premium, ultra-smooth tequila at an accessible price point. The usual list is G4, Terralta, Pasote, Fortaleza, Cascahuin, El Tesoro, Tapatio, Siete Leguas, Olmeca Altos, and a few others. Its called Mezquila, the worlds first and only tequila-mezcal blend. It has a smooth, even finish. In addition to a number of other brands, Don Julio, Tequila . Its great to know which ones already meet the criteria, but to the point about Don Julio, how do we know if a brand has been tested and failed, versus not being tested? This list will be updated each time a brand is added (or removed) from the program. Unless the distillery owns the brand, the brand may have no definite idea what's in their bottle, and they have no choice but to trust the distillery. At the time, that was enough for us. 1800 Cristalino 1800 Cristalino. The 25 Best Tequila Brands for Sipping, Shots and Margaritas in 2022 - MSN 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. LALO Tequila, $50, Speaking of Don Julio, no list of the best tequila brands would be complete without this iconic option! Danos also won the Gold Medal in the 2019 Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Tasting Competition, and the Double Gold and Gold in the 2018 SIP Awards. Just wondering how I can tell is a brand that is not on your list is or is not additive free. What does YOUR nose and taste tell YOU? Santo specializes in high-end old-style tequila, but the brand is anything but old-fashioned. Choose from blanco, aejo, reposado and more. You have to train yourself to make an educated decision. Keep up the great work, I know I greatly enjoy the content. Each tequila has its own "flavor fingerprint," and each person has his or her own flavor preferences. Before being triple distilled, this silver tequila had the tropical fruit cooked in traditional stone . With most quality brands, especially ones in which the distillery owns, you may not have to worry as much about this next practice.