Do you believe that? This tequila gets its name from the year of its creation, so yeah, you've got a spirit with a more than 200-year history. Others gave similar statements, while others could have.. but would not. Espolon Blanco Tequila. I contacted Jose Cuervo, Cazadores and Sauza to ask about any additives in their 100% agave tequilas to see what they'd say. Handcrafted using the richest Agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, JAJA Aejo's tasting notes consist of roasted coffee, dried fruit, and vanilla. Also be on the lookout for Santo's excellent Blanco and Reposado tequilas. Best Tequilas for 2023: Top 5 Bottles Most Recommended By Expert 1) Yes, there are many tequilas that are additive free, but have not gone through our process. Very smooth, nice taste, and perfect for sipping straight. . Others who are more true to agave spirits, may not like that profile and would prefer a more agave forward presence. The 25 Best Tequila Brands for Sipping, Shots and Margaritas in 2022 - MSN In the world of spirits, tequila is currently having a moment. Siembra Azul Blanco is an exemplary tequila blanco from the highlands of Jalisco. 4. One percent today, with condensed additives are enough to change things. View On Drizly View On Caskers. 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. Tequila - No Additives - Page 3 - Old Town Tequila An award-winning tequila, its aged for a minimum of two and a half years and produced in small batches. From now on, I may honestly just shop for tequilas that are on your list. Best tequila blanco: Siembra Azul Blanco. Comparing production samples at La Altea (NOM 1139). They can also use glycerin to make the mouthfeel 'rounder', slicker, thicker, oilier, sweeter and different altogether. This is for Mixto junk as well as 100% agave. Average Price: $115. This is an all-around crowd-pleasing tequila, too, with a wonderfully distinct flavor profile thats at once rich and complex. The best tequilas in 2023. Often it is to 'balance' the batches in appearance, so they are the same color before blending. This 'cutting corners' can reduce the quality of the tequila. We love the Grand Patrn Burdeos (find it here), which is twice-distilled and aged in used American and new French Oak barrels, before being finished in vintage Bordeaux barrels (Burdeos means Bordeaux in Spanish). On the nose, the Maestro Dobel 50 releases notes of fig and dried fruit, with hints of cinnamon and honey. 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. This tequila is complex and full-bodied, and is recommended for sipping, though it works great for tequila-oriented takes on classic drinks like a Moscow Mule or Negroni as well. Trying to get my wife to become a tequila drinker but she leans towards sweeter spirits. Your email address will not be published. The secret to Cenotes smoothness? 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. It's made with 100 percent Blue Weber agave (i.e. Do they have additives? The 5 Best Organic Tequila Brands The Honest Consumer Like all of Casa Nobles offerings, this one is certified organic, and has a limited number of bottles in select cities around the country. The 30 Best Tequilas for 2022 | VinePair Charring could add smoke, or add some wood quality, but when you can taste a heavy presence of aging, like strong caramel or vanilla, and the color is dark and rich after only a short aging process.. you need to wonder about additives. The brand offers a blanco, reposado, aejo, aejo cristalino and extra aejo in its lineupand they recently released a limited edition reposado to celebrate their 100th birthday. And if its a Tommys-style margarita, even better, says Justin Lavenue, owner/operator and co-founder of The Roosevelt Room in Austin, Texas. "Bribon is a solid tequila for its price," says Fallon. Handcrafted using the richest Agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, JAJA Reposado's tasting notes consist of sweet maple, cooked agave, and toasted wood. Each tequila has its own "flavor fingerprint," and each person has his or her own flavor preferences. In other words. to deceive us. 2009-2022, S2F Online, Inc. - Taste Tequila and Tequila Matchmaker are property of S2F Online, Inc. How to Avoid Those GMO Booze Blues - FoodPrint 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. With most quality brands, especially ones in which the distillery owns, you may not have to worry as much about this next practice. 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. He is correct, anyone can say anything, but I will say, that after tasting all of Felipe's products and talking with him for years, he is one producer I trust solely on his word. Its an easy-drinking bottle, ideal for upgraded cocktails (think, Aejo old fashioneds) or sipping on the rocks. Tequila Casa Del Sol. Don't believe us? Sugar-based Syrup. Casa Noble is one of several organic-certified tequila brands, but that's not why it's good. Avion founder Ken Austin, said that Avion is 100% additive free, and cited the light color in the anejo. https://tastetequila.com/2017/the-lowdown-on-tequila-additives/, In that story, and right after that claim is an asterisk, which states (at the bottom): Best Value: Pueblo Viejo Blanco. View more. There are three main types of tequila to choose from. Tequila Matchmaker There's a tequila for everyone. Our propietary matching algorithm uses nine different characteristics to find the best matches for you. Just mix 1.5 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce of Cointreau or Triple Sec, and a squeeze of fresh lime. As a matter of fact, he doesn't care if his aged tequilas look light or don't match each other in batches, and I love that. 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. With a clean and complex mouthfeel, its ideal for sipping neat. 15 Best Tequila Brands Of 2021: Expert Sipping Guide - Luxe Digital Jessica Alba, Tinx, Jojo Fletcher and Kristin Cavallari are just a few famous faces that are mega fans of theiraward-winning varietiesCucumber Jalapeo, Valencia Orange and Grapefruit Hibiscusbut we have a feeling this isjust the seed of something bigger, flavor-wise. Not flaunting rapper-sized bank accounts? It has greatly increased my enjoyment exploring tequila. These are often referred to as a Mixto, where colors and flavors are added prior to bottling. The Aejo promises notes of vanilla, caramel, cacao, and butterscotch, while the agave takes a supporting role. In addition to the core expressions, if you're really looking to splurge you can try the extra anejo, aged for seven long years in ex-whiskey barrels, and priced at $350 . A lot of the brands on the list are not easily found in my area. When aejo tequila is done right, its at once rich and flavorful, smooth yet complex. Espolns collection also includes a reposado, aejo, reposado chardonnay and aejo cristalino. For everyone else, the regular (but still beautifully bottled) Maestro Dobel 50 Cristalino Extra Anejo is available online starting from $159. Highlights: Mezcal made with sustainably cultivated agave by a company that is highly socially engaged. Any comment would be most welcome . The brand has been around since 1950. However, it smells smoky like mezcal or charred wood, and there's a hint of that tequila agave scent. and whole industries have grown from this use of additives. The tech side is easy, the admin side is not! The experts pointed to a line in the guidelines that read additives "must not be greater than 1% in relation to the total weight of the tequila before it is bottled. However, we need someone willing to be the curator of each spirit. The result is a collection of blanco, reposado and aejo spirits that are made from 100% blue agave and perfectly capture summer in a bottle. This list is small now, but I hope to add more brands if it is warranted. Which tequila brands are verified additive-free? I even contacted ones that some people feel are definite abusers. Top 10 Blanco Tequilas - Food & Wine 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. Hi Luis. Im really into making the greatest tequila in the world, says Hagar in a recent interview with Rolling Stone. Our top pick is the Tequila Ocho Plata La Caada 2022, a single-estate tequila that's perfect for sipping. All of Casa Dragones tequilas are made in small batches using a sustainable production method. According to 'THEM', these brands are 100% ADDITIVE FREE. The additive-free spirit retails for $125.99 and is currently available for presale on ReserveBar. I'd rather have the 'natural color' after aging, and blend it that way with the other batches, without ANY colorings. Surprise Surprise. 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. Grover and Scarlet, 1. Because of how time-consuming it is to create (and how hands-on the distilling and aging processes are), its released in very small batches and comes with a large price tagbut the excellent taste makes it worth the splurge! Had to give it away. Each year, the agave is harvested from a different farm/estate, then expertly distilled by Carlos Camarenaso each single estate bottling showcases its own distinct characteristics which truly highlights the terroir (or terruo in Spanish) of the Los Altos region of Jalisco. Tequila Ocho, $49+, LALO only makes one tequilaan additive-free blanco. Additives in Your Tequila? Here's How to Test It Yourself When will the list be available on the app? . Is Your Tequila Confirmed Additive-Free? - El Bandido Yankee Brand founder Cirilo Oropeza named the brand Espoln, which means spur in Spanish, to honor his commitment to the tequila craft. Santaleza Tequila will be sold in the United States, with the . The taste is equally flavorful, with added notes of pumpkin spice and clove on the palette before it gives way to a subtle herbaceous and vanilla finish. It doesn't mean I don't like their product or that it doesn't taste fine, but coloring is an additive. what's not to understand? The blanco, reposado and aejo spirits were created by Palm Bay International, in partnership with Casa Don Roberto, using fully matured agaves that have been harvested by hand. Although this is perfectly legal, it is WRONG, and hopefully this will get cleared up soon on a future CRT ruling. Alcohol Beverages, Products & Brands Launched in February 2023 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 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. Its like a fine wine thats been aged to perfection. Each carefully harvested pia is steamed in an autoclave and fermented in steel tanks, resulting in beautifully clean tequila. What are the additive-free tequila brands - American Post The repo, aged in new barrels for 2-6 months, is closer to what you'd usually find in an aejo. JAJA is a small batch Tequila that is best enjoyed with friends and family. I have tried without success to find out a little more about this particular offering which a number of my friends and myself are now drinking . W/ additives. 1) No, some blancos definitely contain additives. But if you want a drink that is a little smoother, vodka may be the way to go. There is a variety of flavors to tequila, depending on the amount of sugar in it as well as how long it has been aged. Casa Noble Blanco is a tequila brand that uses local agave, particularly estate-grown agave. The 14 Best Tequilas to Drink in 2023 - Liquor.com Thanks to investment and refinement from some pioneering brands, long gone are the days when Tequila was known only for its harsh palate. Let's discuss it. 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. 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. Cenote says the water goes through a reverse osmosis process and carbon filters with silver ions help to eliminate any chance of impurities affecting the taste. Thank you for all the info. Another best-selling brand, Don Julio launched in 1942 and was named after Don Julio Gonzlez, the brand's first Jimador. Hes been in the tequila business for almost thirty years, starting out with the award-winning Cabo Wabo brand back in 1991. Founded in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 2018, Danos Tequila just won Best in Class Aejo at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. I am passionate about tequila and I will keep this list close. Thank you. SEE OTHER GREAT EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES and HONEST TEQUILA REVIEWS along with REAL TOP TEQUILA LISTS- HERE ON- LONG ISLAND LOU TEQUILA - SEE all the tabs above, and PLEASE LIKE on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/Long-Island-Lou-Tequila-641682619241422. Taste: Ritual Zero-Proof's Tequila Alternative is golden in color, suggesting it's an alternative to reposado tequila. Is Patron no longer additive free as of 10/2022? It's perfect as a mixer to liven any cocktail with its versatility and light body. Can I assume that if the distillery is verified, that all of their products are free from additives? Ritual Beverage Company is entering the tequila market. A sneaky trick is to 'flavor' additives, which some brands endeavor to cover up, by simply naming them 'essences'. But if youre looking to take a celebratory shot, then blanco is a good option, says Gonzlez. While some tequilas make us pucker, or burn the inside of our mouths and throats, Cenotes Blanco Tequila is light, mellow and refreshing. Agave nectar, corn syrup, cane sugar, aspartame, sucralose (Splenda), and stevia could all be used as a sweetening . Best tequila overall: Tequila Ocho Plata La Caada 2022. $68 at Reserve Bar. Pure agave tequila is low in sugar, has no carbohydrates, and (minus sugary juice mixers) is fairly low-calorie, too. Can anyone recommend some of the sweeter non additive, non Blanco tequilas? One of the most-awarded bottles on our list, Danos Aejo Tequila is aged 18 months in virgin French white oak barrels and produced using 100% agave at a family-owned distillery that dates back to 1840. Do you have plans or know of any plans to do something similar with Agave Spirits? 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. 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. Olmeca Altos, $28+, Tequila Bribn is the result of a two-year mission to produce high-quality tequila that appeals to newbies and aficionados alike. Best value tequila: Corralejo Reposado. Tequila Matchmaker is the only rating system smart enough to detect your personal preferences and match you with the tequilas that are right for you. I am excited to have this list in list forminstead of finding them individually on TMM app. The crystal-clear Bribon is unaged with vegetal earthy notes that work well in a margarita, paloma, or old-fashioned, though Jessica Fallon, general Manager of Ladybirds in Houston, Texas, says she prefers drinking it on the rocks. Its best sipped slow for a warm, inviting mouthfeel. Meanwhile, if the liquid begins to stick to your hands . 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. The majority of tequila does have additives. Patrn is the world's number one super-premium tequila brand to receive the verification. Despite the brands hard-partying reputation (blame it on lyrical shout-outs from everyone from Lil Jon to Bruno Mars), the company is actually making some incredibly interesting, flavorful and expensive tequila these days, with bottles of its Patrn En Lalique: Serie 2 going for up to $7,500 online. The caramel, vanilla and wood notes are strong, but thankfully the agave isn't lost in the aging. Hiatus has three award-winning expressions: Blanco, Reposado, and Aejo. 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. Adolfo Murillo of 'Alquimia' said "I have always worked hard to stay true to the tradition of tequila and the way it was meant to be made, so if my bottles say 100% agave, it does not mean "99%, because the CRT says it's ok". Whats more, they were one of the first brands to use certified organic agave, and theyre committed to doing good for the environment. This crystal-clear . The idea: to create an ultra premium, ultra-smooth tequila at an accessible price point. Drink brands from Europe where GMOs are (nearly) banned. Dano's Dangerous Tequila Pineapple & Jalapeo Fresh Fruit Infusion. It's almost too easy to not do it, being legal to a certain extent, and too hard to ever get caught. The 18 Best Tequilas in the World - Men's Journal According to recent market research, tequila has seen significant growth in bars and restaurants across the country over the last couple of years. (Rule number one: Never buy tequila that . 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. But that said, despite what . They could contain additives and still be considered organic.. You can taste the additives in Kirkland tequilaThe best option is to not buy what doesnt disclose. On Facebook, many know me by the name Lou Agave. 27 Best Tequila Brands for Shots, Margaritas, Sipping - Parade "And nobody is hitting the . This year's offering of . A typical tequila is composed of 60% Agave oil, with no flavor. 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. 1. It is a number that appears on every bottle of tequila that indicates which company or distillery is responsible for its production. Don Julio 1942, $160, Back in 2019, basketball legend Michael Jordan launched Cincoro Tequila alongside a few other NBA ownersand in just three short years, the brand has sold a million and a half bottles and won more than 20 awards. So excited to confidently try some expressions that are verified free of additives. For example, if youre looking to make cocktails, then you should choose a blanco or reposadobut if youre looking to sip tequila on its own, then you should select an aejo or one of its variations, says Martinez. There wont be any need to link to this version of the list. For a more complex flavor profile, those that have been aged at least one year like an aejo or extra eejo work perfectly.. 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.". 27 February 2023 By Alice Brooker. JAJA is proudly additive-free. It is an opt-in program, which needs to be renewed each year. This is one tequila brand youll want to display prominently on your bar cartand savor every last drop of! 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. .because as much as there are definitely trustworthy and talented owners like German Gonzalez and Adolfo Murillo, and I trust them just as much, the average brand that 'contracts', (meaning renting space at someones else's distillery), often have to go by practices at that distillery, and they can't be at the distillery 24/7. Servidumbre De Paso a Las Agujas 4SO , Col. Las Agujas , Zaropan Jalisco CP 4S200 . In fact, many brands add artificial sugars or sweeteners to their tequila, which may taste good at first, but will leave you with a nasty hangover the next day. Espoln Tequila, $32+, Funnyman Kevin Hart teamed up with Juan Domingo Beckmann, an 11th-generation tequila maker, to create Gran Coramino. 1. Those too are permitted by Mexico's Tequila Regulatory Council . I do this as my passion, & nothing else. Choose from blanco, reposado and aejo for sipping solo or creating incredible cocktails. Casa Del Sol. And, it gets smarter the more you use it. An undertone of sweet cooked agave recalls this tequilas fresh Blanco roots. I couldnt even drink it in Margaritas. The Hands-Down Best Tequila to Drink Now - Yahoo! News So thats one of the big reasons why we decided to start up the verification program. The big problem is that additives aren't required to be disclosed, although I believe they should be, even if it's 1%. Diffuser-made products *can* be additive-free, but as of this writing there are no products made with a diffuser on the list. (They even make their own compost!) It's up to you all to decide what to believe, and although brands can tell me things, it doesn't mean I believe them or that it makes my personal list of additive free brands. Reuters There is a "proper" way and no, it's not in a shot. ok, but your 2018 post titled The Lowdown on Tequila Additives stated that was banned by the norma . According to The Spirits Business, the top-selling tequila brand in the world is Jose Cuervo. They roast their agave in brick ovens for three days before shredding it to extract the juices for fermentation, and then they distill the tequila in handmade copper pot stills made by a local artisan. Whether youre at an A-list after party or just chilling at home, nothing beats a Casamigos and soda for a refreshing, celeb-approved drink. 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. What Features Should You Look for in Tequila? This list will be updated each time a brand is added (or removed) from the program. A Carlos Newton describes himself on the label as the Master Distiller with the content described as extra aged 100% de agave batch A-9. Want to know more? This isnt a surprise, given Jose Cuervo is an affordable, versatile tequila that you can find in just about any liquor store. What Are the Best Cocktails to Make With Tequila (Other Than Margaritas)? Whether you decide to sip Dulce Vidas blanco, reposado or aejo neat or include them in your favorite cocktails, youll be sure to enjoy their pure taste. I just want to give you some statements and some brand names to explore. 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. 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. Best tequila with no additives/ sweeteners under 80$ . So when a brand says "we are 100% additive free" there is no way you can prove it. It was founded by Ana Mara Romero Mena, who grew up in Mexico City and started her career in tequila more than 30 years ago. Tequila Patrn, for example, has a NOM of 1492. Dulce Vida, $28+, This rare, handcrafted extra aejo is a complex sipping spirit with layers of flavor to unravel. The problem with additives as I see it, is even though it may be legal at 1%, it's also 'cheating' and unnecessary, and seems many brands don't act like they're using additives, as long as it's only the legal 1%. Jose Cuervo . Good for them.and Good for us. Casamigos is a favorite among the Hollywood crowd, thanks to its co-founder George Clooney, but its actually got a lot of substance to go with its style. 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. Our proprietary matching algorithm uses nine different characteristics to find the best . Syrup, or "jarabe", is a mixture of different ingredients, primarily for the purposes of creating a sweeter product. I have a couple questions: ABV/PROOF: 54% abv (108-proof) Confirmed Additive Free Tequila.