"We choose to . Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: White pepper, citrus zest, vanilla, herbs. I hope more brands/distilleries jump on this protocol. 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. Give it a try! All we can do is taste ourselves, to the best of our ability, and to believe these brands. Cons. . Dulce Vida, $28+, This rare, handcrafted extra aejo is a complex sipping spirit with layers of flavor to unravel. Jose Cuervo, Patrn, Don Julio, Casamigos and Hornitos are the top five tequilas, per The Spirits Business. 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 ones that have indicated to me that they 'only' use some caramel coloring (even with no flavoring) to avoid differences in color, will not be mentioned below, as that doesn't cut it here. It has notes of vanilla, ripe fruit and butter and can be enjoyed neat, with salt and lime, chilled, or however else you like to drink your tequila. If youre hosting a party or large gathering, youll want to stock up on bottles of Espoln. Region of Origin: All tequila comes from the Tequila region of Mexico, and in order for a spirit to call itself tequila, it must be distilled from agave plants grown in that region. LALO Tequila, $50, Speaking of Don Julio, no list of the best tequila brands would be complete without this iconic option! Clasa Azul is an additive-loaded tequila of low quality and is extraordinarily overpriced. Because it is such an IMPORTANT part of Tequila today, here is just the 'Additive Section' and my Personal list of 'Additive-free brands' from my recent, longer and more detailed article titled- "AGING OF TEQUILA - BARREL TECHNIQUES, ADDITIVES, ADDITIVE-FREE BRANDS, AND A FEW OTHER THINGS TO KNOW.". The rosado tequila is positioned as a daytime-friendly reposado, providing a high-quality option for afternoon sipping. Tequila Matchmaker There's a tequila for everyone. There are some outstanding tequilas that have flavor added, and I would like to see reviews, ratings and discussion on them as well. Interestingly, another brand that is 100% additive-free told me "rarely will a distiller commit to never using color, because sometime in the future, there could be a day that some tequila comes off the barrels lighter, and distillers would rather add a couple drops of organic caramel coloring instead of jeopardizing a stock of tequila that has inconsistent color on the shelf." Youve also probably seen flavored tequila, which is tequila infused with things like coconut, lime, strawberry or jalapeno. The 'jarabe' can also contain natural fruits and herbs to add even more aromas and flavors, too. Why? All Rights reserved. According to 'THEM', these brands are 100% ADDITIVE FREE. I'm guessing many of these drinkers do not detect the taste of agave or try to, and it seems to take a backseat to the flavor of oak. Youll get a lot of flavors that also are found in whiskeys, like creme brle, toast and rich vanilla. Aejo tequilas are sometimes finished for several months in sherry or port wine casks to add nutty or fruity notes, adds Roy. Each batch is distilled for a minimum of two months in stainless steel barrels, and delivers a nice mix of sweet agave, light citrus and just a hint of vanilla. A colleague introduced me to a Kirkland brand Tequila Anejo at Costco Don Julio. Or is there a separate list for non-diffuser made tequilas? Their agave is slow-cooked in brick ovens and then distilled in copper. 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. Is Patron no longer additive free as of 10/2022? An undertone of sweet cooked agave recalls this tequilas fresh Blanco roots. This crystal-clear . It is an opt-in program, which needs to be renewed each year. Arandas, in the Jalisco mountains of Mexico, is home to Cazcabel. Find which tequilas are right for you. There are 4 types of additives allowed by law for use in all** 100% agave tequilas: 1. Whats inside the decanters is pretty neat too: Clase Azul offers a variety of top-notch tequilas, including reposado, aejo and gold varieties. While some tequilas make us pucker, or burn the inside of our mouths and throats, Cenotes Blanco Tequila is light, mellow and refreshing. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. 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. Organic tequila usually means that the agaves used were grown organically. Our top pick is the Tequila Ocho Plata La Caada 2022, a single-estate tequila that's perfect for sipping. Initially launching in California, Florida, Texas, New York . Using only the best ingredients and a meticulous process, we are inspired by a vision of what tequila should be: complex, balanced and gastronomic. Whether you want to sip on something smooth or just want to upgrade your Cinco de Mayo margarita, here are 15 tequilas you can buy online and get delivered to your door in time for your next happy hour, dinner or party. Please check on CABAL tequila- spoke with them personally at an event and they claimed to be additive free! WATER SOURCE: Natural spring water, Rain water. You can taste the additives in Kirkland tequilaThe best option is to not buy what doesnt disclose. Trending Thanks so much for this list and all your efforts to be able to share your research with us all. 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. Whats more, they were one of the first brands to use certified organic agave, and theyre committed to doing good for the environment. The popularity of tequila has exploded in recent years, and as the spirit has evolved, so, too, has the number of brands on the market. Comparing production samples at La Altea (NOM 1139). Plus, Revel offers a Reposado and an Aejo expression of the Avila, as well as the Blanco (linked below). Buy El Bandido Yankee Blanco Tequila $39.99. What a great resource you have put together. Will you add a quick link to this list on your app so it is readily viewed there? Essences or flavorings are still additives, and these can include vanilla or herbs used to alter or create a flavor. JAJA is proudly additive-free. " This is confusing because earlier in the guidelines, it says that tequilas can have 75 g/L of sugars, which, if you do the math, is WAY more than 1%. Usually in this purest form of tequila, you can taste the care given to the elaboration process of any brand. This is the standard tequila youll see in cocktails due to its versatility, he adds. I do enjoy Clasa Azul which is made by Productos Finos de Agave, I believe. What Features Should You Look for in Tequila? 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. There wont be any need to link to this version of the list. Jose Cuervo, $26+, Related:35+ Best Canned Cocktails and Drinks, Looking for the best sipping tequila? El Cristiano Tequila, $48+, All of Dulce Vidas tequilas are handcrafted in small batches, made with 100% blue agave and aged in American oak whiskey barrels for a refreshing flavor and smooth finish. Compared to a 100-calorie pour of tequila, that's pretty good. This tequila pulls soft notes from the barrels like caramel and vanilla, as well as sweet, tropical fruity flavors like pineapple, and works well with the herbaceous flavors of the tequila, adds Sylvi Roy, bar manager at Twelve in Portland, Maine. Types of Tequila: Just like whiskey, there are different types of tequila, that run the spectrum in terms of flavor, color and potency. Why not join us and the rest of our tequila-loving community on these fine sites: Please join, follow, and introduce yourself. Discover the Best of New York Wines with Hermann J Wiemer at Aroma Thyme Bistro. 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 didnt realize that the use of additives was such a thing in the tequila industry. Though we prefer El Bandido Yankee as a sipping tequila (it really is as criminally smooth as the brand says), the flavor has enough bite to make for some beautiful cocktails, too. Thank you for your rapid response, I love it. Answers: Sauza crafts all of their tequilas using a process known as gentle extraction, which involves using the nectar of pure Weber blue agave and cooking the juices after theyve been extracted from the pia. Its best sipped slow for a warm, inviting mouthfeel. 2. This list is small now, but I hope to add more brands if it is warranted. Its a liquor made using 100% Weber Blue agave and a distillation process that combines techniques from both tequila and mezcal-making processes most importantly, smoking and steaming the agave. Photo credit: Courtesy. I'm told it's possible a brand who contracts at a distillery may not even be aware if there are additives in their own tequila. Sugar-based Syrup. Often it is to 'balance' the batches in appearance, so they are the same color before blending. With a clean and complex mouthfeel, its ideal for sipping neat. 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? These brands are going 'on record' here, as being an ADDITIVE FREE TEQUILA BRAND, and I have contacted a wide variety of brands to ask if they are 100% additive free. Syrup, or "jarabe", is a mixture of different ingredients, primarily for the purposes of creating a sweeter product. 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. Mijenta Tequila, $43+, Eterno Verano, which means "endless summer" in Spanish, was inspired by the 1966 movie The Endless Summer. Price at time of publish: from $29 for 750ml Bottle. If you want to discover an authentic Mexican tequila with a bold yet traditional flavor, then order a bottle of El Tesoro. Best tequila blanco: Siembra Azul Blanco. 2. Taste: Ritual Zero-Proof's Tequila Alternative is golden in color, suggesting it's an alternative to reposado tequila. 2. The tequila now will seem darker, and although it's still a dirty trick, if it has no additives in it, its still a lot better than paying extra money for a rested or aged tequila with fake colors and flavors added. We're starting to expect this in our food, why shouldn't we expect this in our spirits? Let's discuss it. These Anti-Fatigue Mats Will Cushion and Support Your Feet, Another (Celine) Portrait: See Bob Dylan in Fashion Brand's Latest 'Performer' Series, The Best Wireless Range Extenders to Use (and How They Work), Outdoor Buds: These Fully Waterproof Workout Earbuds Are Just $30, NBA 'Investigating,' Team Suspends Ja Morant After Allegedly Flashing Gun on Social Media, See the Beths Deliver Refreshing 'Expert in a Dying Field' Mini-Set on 'CBS Mornings', Netflixs Sex/Life Is Back to Satisfy Your Softcore Desires, Alex Murdaugh Juror Says Cellphone Video, 'Big Liar' Testimony Led to Guilty Verdict. This list will be updated each time a brand is added (or removed) from the program. I am passionate about tequila and I will keep this list close. I will need to check to see if our database needs to be updated to reflect that. What additives can you taste? 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. 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. Good for them.and Good for us. It has greatly increased my enjoyment exploring tequila. 1) Yes, there are many tequilas that are additive free, but have not gone through our process. This amazing additive-free liquid is produced using only the Total Wine. If you're still going for corn-based alcohols (not just whiskey, bourbon and rye, but some gins and vodkas, too), pick ones made with non-GMO corn. Im verifying that any blanco I get, say a Calle 23 Criollo, can be assumed to be Additive-free, despite not being marked as such on the Matchmaker site? 27 February 2023 By Alice Brooker. Coloring and other additives usually go in after aging and before bottling. The compounds have a purpose and can correct any irregularities to make sure a brand makes the same tasting tequila time after time, but additives can also flatten tequila's natural flavors or add an unnatural sweetness. Are tequilas marked organic additive free? At over $100, this is a true premium spirit, with a bottle and flavor profile worthy of its price. Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the agave blue tequilanaWeber plant that can only be produced in certain regions of Mexico, explains David Rodriguez, master distiller for Patrn Tequila. If your bottle doesnt have a NOM, that means its not certified by the TRC (Tequila Regulatory Council), and not an authentic Tequila producer. Let's learn about Brands & Agave Spirits on FB, Instagram, and YouTube. The Tequila: I lean toward clean, unaged agave spirits for most of the year, however, spring is a nice time for reposado and aejo. Unfortunately you need to understand the reality of what often goes on with 'Rested' (Reposado), 'Aged' (Anejo) and 'Extra Aged' (XA) Tequilas, concerning ADDITIVES - (SEE Kit ABOVE). Some brands have obviously taken advantage of these powerful concentrated additives, colorings and flavorings to make their brands 'profile' which they have become known for, and don't appear to be stopping. Hi Josh. Dano's Dangerous Tequila Pineapple & Jalapeo Fresh Fruit Infusion. We are legit worried that the sweeter, more vanilla, candy-like additive products will change the publics idea of what a natural tequila is. The Mezquila is more flavorful than your typical tequila, but not in-your-face smokey like most mezcals. none of the artificial additives that make you pucker); try it over ice for a refreshing summer tequila tasting too. Their distillery (NOM 1480 Las Americas) has denied their request. Thank you! Want to know more? We dont have much production information on this product either. To compensate for a light hue, it seems a large number of suppliers are placing caramel color into their aged reposado tequila or anejo tequila, although I know a good amount of quality brands, that although impossible to prove, appear not to use any additives, including colorings. If you try this tequila neat, youll notice notes of maple, vanilla and caramel, balanced with pepper and floral tones. I just got your email today about your additive-free list and had to come check it out. Popular Brands. El EZ E, Im also a fan of the Kirkland Anejo. (NOM 1579) -6 marks. Sophie Decobecq of 'Calle 23' said we use no additives and as for caramel "this is why our color is not consistent, which is why my last anejo batch is much clearer, and I am fine with this." 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. Im really into making the greatest tequila in the world, says Hagar in a recent interview with Rolling Stone. Best Value: Pueblo Viejo Blanco. Checking production records at NOM 1123 (Cascahun), Checking production records at NOM 1492 (Tequila Patrn). In some parts of the world they are. This is just artificial flavor, and another trick being presented to the tequila drinking community. Dont be fooled by the gold label on gold tequila. This unique process creates a flavor profile thats both familiar and brand-new: Its light and fresh like great tequila, but also has a hint of the smokiness we look for with mezcal. This makes the Avila a great choice for solo sipping or mixing in cocktails. The bottles, meantime, are like a work of art, inspired by traditional Mexican colors and motifs. Also be on the lookout for Santo's excellent Blanco and Reposado tequilas. Do you have plans or know of any plans to do something similar with Agave Spirits? Roca Patrn Silver ($69) Emphatically agave-scented, this is made with the traditional tahona method, using a two-ton volcanic rock to crush the roasted pias. "We think it's 70% by sales volume last year, so there will always be fewer additive free-tequilas," Scarlet tells me. Hard to believe, but I'm told it's very possible. I texted, emailed, filled out forms in some cases, and attempted to call to get a statement. 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. Hiatus uses a ground-to-glass method which combines traditional methods and modern technology, produced by master distiller, Luis Trejo Rodrguez at La Cofrada. So very helpful! However, it smells smoky like mezcal or charred wood, and there's a hint of that tequila agave scent. We are granted full access to all areas of the distillery, and have permission to take samples from any part of the process. My favorite expression in our portfolio is, of course, our new limited edition bottle that we just released to honor the 100-year anniversary of our original reposado recipe from 1922, says Martinez. 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. It also tells you which tequila producer it comes from. BONUS: Use code RS20 to get $20 off your order at Drizly.com. Diffuser-made products *can* be additive-free, but as of this writing there are no products made with a diffuser on the list. One way is to get familiar with the products that are on the list, and then the additive-filled stuff becomes much easier to detect. and whole industries have grown from this use of additives. However, we need someone willing to be the curator of each spirit. I like the app and web site very much, but may I suggest that you have a 2 tiered rating system: Though it may be controversial, 818 Tequila is undoubtedly one of the most popular agave spirits on the market right now.