Patrn is the world's number one super-premium tequila brand to receive the verification. 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. 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. The tequila finishes with a little heat before going down smooth. Required fields are marked *. Others who are more true to agave spirits, may not like that profile and would prefer a more agave forward presence. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Sauza, $20+, Cenote is an ultra-premium tequila inspired by the beauty of the Yucatan Peninsula. An award-winning tequila, its aged for a minimum of two and a half years and produced in small batches. This may be one of the priciest options on our list, but this top-shelf tequila is worth the premium price. Each bottle is hand-crafted and hand-painted, so no two are alike, making Clase Azul a great gift idea as well. $46 at Reserve Bar. Avion founder Ken Austin, said that Avion is 100% additive free, and cited the light color in the anejo. The labelling states it was produced and bottled by : Destileria Santa Lucia , High-quality tequila producers will use 100%, but others may use things like sugar or molasses to make their product cheaper, adds Roy. This is a 'Hot Topic' and people will hold these brands accountable. Martinez adds that a reposado tequila can also work well in a margarita. Cenote Tequila, $41+, Olmeca Altos tequilas are made from 100% blue agave grown in Los Altos, the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. (NOM 1579) -6 marks. All of Casa Dragones tequilas are made in small batches using a sustainable production method. As much as I love Tequila Matchmaker, I sadly have to use Distiller for my mezcal. Azunia, which is also made at Ranco Miravalle, NOM 1426, is additive free. From budget-friendly to top-shelf options, here are the best tequilas to add to your bar cart right now. Thanks for leading the charge and creating transparency in the industry. Gran Coraminos tequilas are roasted in traditional stone ovens and barrel-aged. Enjoying catching up on your videos and love the passion you two have to this wonderful juice! Cenote makes a super drinkable tequila thats flavorful without overwhelming the palette. Fortaleza Blanco, Reposado and Aejo are all fantastic sipping tequilas from the Los Valles region, says Lavenue. Answers: If you want to feel like a celebrity while sipping tequila, then this is definitely the brand for you. We sat down with Mijenta Tequila's UK brand ambassador, Tasha Iny, to discuss future launches, and why producers should steer clear of adding flavours. This is for Mixto junk as well as 100% agave. I hope more brands/distilleries jump on this protocol. 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. Is there something that taste like theirs which is better for you? While some tequilas make us pucker, or burn the inside of our mouths and throats, Cenotes Blanco Tequila is light, mellow and refreshing. 1800 Cristalino 1800 Cristalino. Im just hell-bent, and Guys got the same passion.. Adam Levines Calirosa mashes up classic tequila-making techniques and California wine know-how for a bottle of tequila that tastes as unique as it looks. It is a number that appears on every bottle of tequila that indicates which company or distillery is responsible for its production. This is an unpretentious, no-nonsense tequila with nothing added, just 100% blue Weber agave. 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. 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. Not flaunting rapper-sized bank accounts? As Taste Tequila reported, you don't need to use additives to make a profile, if you are being creative, as Sergio Mendoza does at Don Fulano. 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. Don Julio. 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. Whether you prefer blanco, reposado or aejo tequila, Hornitos has something for you in their robust lineup. The product is kosher, organic, and certified clean industry. 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%. I mean Jimador is a diffuser product, so this is quite interesting and hard to believe for sure. Siempre's blanco (plata) tequila was launched in 2015, and the reposado and aejo expressions arrived last year. 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. These are often referred to as a Mixto, where colors and flavors are added prior to bottling. 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. So very helpful! Popular Brands. 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. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. The app can support any agave spirit, including mezcal. 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. Cazcabel. 2) Both Pasote and El Tesoro de Don Felipe are additive free in their entire lineup. Don Julio 1942, specifically, is one of the most premium options from the brand (hence why it comes with a hefty price tag). From budget-friendly to top-shelf options. 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). Having a 2 tiered system, which would require that additives be declared to be used, would likely cause legal problems for us. A silky and savory tequila, Chamucos goes as well with Baja fish tacos as it does with a simple lime slice. 2- If quality and purity is your concern, as it is for me, go with brands that are known for NOT using additives, or don't seem to care about dark and rich consistent colors, and don't taste overly sweet, artificial, or unnaturally rich. This list will be updated each time a brand is added (or removed) from the program. Consider that mission achieved, plus they've built quite the celeb following! Made from 100% pure Weber Blue Agave harvested after 7 to 10 years of growing, this tequila is clean and crisp, and perfect for making margaritas and other mixed drinks. Think of this as the cognac of tequila best for sipping neat, or with an ice cube. It has greatly increased my enjoyment exploring tequila. So what do people think about all these claims? Produced in the heart of Tequila, Mexico, Fortaleza Blanco Tequila packs a quality punch with notes of citrus, olives, and black pepper. 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. W/ additives. YOU and only you will have to make that decision, to believe these brands by tasting and trusting them. Whats inside the decanters is pretty neat too: Clase Azul offers a variety of top-notch tequilas, including reposado, aejo and gold varieties. $68 at Reserve Bar. 4. Don Julio. 100% Agave: Tequila comes from the agave plant, but not all tequilas are made with 100% agave sugar. It makes sensewith its sweet, smooth taste, tequila is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in margaritas and other yummy cocktails as well as sipped straight or over ice. I love your reviews? Don't believe us? I will need to check to see if our database needs to be updated to reflect that. Cierto Tequila, a luxury portfolio of award-winning, 100% additive-free authentic tequilas, begins its U.S. rollout this month. 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? Good, clean fun: Organic tequila is the Best Tequila. none of the artificial additives that make you pucker); try it over ice for a refreshing summer tequila tasting too. 2. Handcrafted using the time-honored tahona process, the Roca Patrn Tequila collection offers a sophisticated and complex flavor profile thats an elegant and elevated take on tequila. Although partly owned by Bacardi since 2017, Ilegal remains one of the most sustainable and socially engaged mezcal brands around, having been founded in 2006 by John Rexer to supply his bar in Antigua, Guatemala. We are Grover and Scarlet, tequila fans who just cant seem to get enough of tequila. Or is there a separate list for non-diffuser made tequilas? Many thanks. 74.95. Additives can greatly change the color (SEE ABOVE- again thanks to Taste Tequila), making the appearance of longer aging, with caramel coloring. Often it is to 'balance' the batches in appearance, so they are the same color before blending. We need to let each other know, of the 'obvious offenders', even though it's legal up to this 1% limit. 9 Things You Should Know About 818 Tequila. 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. I think this is the most important thing with tequilaat least the tequila that I want to drink. Produced using the tequila-making traditions of the Los Bajos region and its tequilieras, the tequila is meticulously aged inFrench White Oakred wine (Cabernet) barrels from Napa Valley. 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. 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. This saddens me that this is all being done all in the name of profits vs integrity & honesty. Excited to be launching the World's Most Awarded Tequila - Cierto! Our suggestion: pick up a few different bottles with different aging processes to see which one you like best. And if its a Tommys-style margarita, even better, says Justin Lavenue, owner/operator and co-founder of The Roosevelt Room in Austin, Texas. Thank you so much for this list! 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. 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? You can use the form (below) to subscribe to email alerts any time this list changes. Its aged in oak barrels for three weeks, and delicate notes of bright citrus, greens and pepper lead to a crisp and smooth finish. BONUS: Use code RS20 to get $20 off your order at Drizly.com. Jim Bob Morris and Chris Chelios, co-founders of the brand, wanted the natural deliciousness . It quickly became a staple then and is a mainstay still today. A sneaky trick is to 'flavor' additives, which some brands endeavor to cover up, by simply naming them 'essences'. Tears of Llorona, $285, Sauza clocks in as the ninth best-selling tequila brand in the worldand for good reason. Thanks, 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. There are . 3. Pros. 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. A new addition to the tequila category, this blanco burst onto the drinks scene in 2021, garnering rave reviews for maximal flavor at a minimal price. "And nobody is hitting the . This INCLUDES the legal 1% allowance, and I made that an important point to each brand. From blanco to reposado to aejo, all of Mijentas tequilas are produced with the utmost care for exceptional flavor. . Espolon Blanco Tequila. Handcrafted using the richest Agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, JAJA Aejo's tasting notes consist of roasted coffee, dried fruit, and vanilla. 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. Its affordable, accessible and goes down easy. Although this is perfectly legal, it is WRONG, and hopefully this will get cleared up soon on a future CRT ruling. Agave nectar, corn syrup, cane sugar, aspartame, sucralose (Splenda), and stevia could all be used as a sweetening . This works as a great party idea too. :-). Dano (yep, there's actually a Dano behind Dano's Dangerous Tequila) works with one of . Try it again and think diet Pepsi and tell me you cant taste the artificial sweeteners. 1. As you can't always believe Company Reps or Ambassadors who may not know for sure, I have personally contacted many Brand Owners, Executives or Master Distillers. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Thats what you get from Casa Nobles new aejo, a skillful and impressive blend of 12 extra aejos and nine aejos, aged in new French oak for one to five full years (most aejos are aged for a year max) with notes of ripe fruit, vanilla, white chocolate, roasted nuts, and spice. 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. In addition to a number of other brands, Don Julio, Tequila . (ICYMI, Hornitos means "little ovens" in Spanish!) Whats more, they were one of the first brands to use certified organic agave, and theyre committed to doing good for the environment. I have a couple questions: But they were removed when they were not able to complete the annual re-confirmation process. You can enjoy them neat, over ice or mixed into a cocktail. Founded by three best friends in Canada, Siempre combines a unique flavor profile (think notes of pepper, sea salt/brine, sweet berries and candied citrus) with a traditional tequila making process using 100% agave. 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. We can do both, cant we? The bottles, meantime, are like a work of art, inspired by traditional Mexican colors and motifs. 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 . I didnt realize that the use of additives was such a thing in the tequila industry. Again it's YOU that decides this. Thank you so much for putting this together and committing to keeping it updated! On Sale. This incredible distillate features notes of olives, herbs, earth and grass. 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. Pure agave tequila is low in sugar, has no carbohydrates, and (minus sugary juice mixers) is fairly low-calorie, too. I am just reporting what these brands are saying is the truth. Here is the best tequila for no hangover that is a must-have for every celebration. Tequila Kateri Nom 1439, First step: Getting the product listed in the app. We mention products that contain additives in our content, but were not going out of our way to promote them. "Bribon is a solid tequila for its price," says Fallon. Plus, all of Espolns tequilas are made with 100% Weber blue agave. They blame us the consumer, as they say WE need to see the same color consistency each time we purchase a brand, and we would be 'alarmed' if it looked different. Gran Coramino, $60+, Clase Azul wins for the packaging alone. A lot of the brands on the list are not easily found in my area. 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. With a clean and complex mouthfeel, its ideal for sipping neat. The brand has been around since 1950. Initially launching in California, Florida, Texas, New York . When I drink tequila, I want to be drinking tequila and nothing else. It's perfect as a mixer to liven any cocktail with its versatility and light body. 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". I even contacted ones that some people feel are definite abusers. Why mess with a good thing? Murillo also made a great point, saying he would lose his USDA Organic Certification, if he added any other ingredients, including color. Like all of Casa Nobles offerings, this one is certified organic, and has a limited number of bottles in select cities around the country. Silver tequila is great to drink on its own, but its great for mixed drinks as well. Country singer George Strait is an investor in the brand, and even wrote a song inspired by the tequila (aptly named Codigo) off his 2019 album, Honkey Tonk Time Machine.. Total Wine. Sometimes youll see blanco tequila referred to as silver tequila. I assume these brands tell themselves that it's part of the 'tequila making procedure'. What they probably say to themselves is, 'we don't exceed the 1% rule, so there is no need to discuss this at all', and as far as they are concerned .they are NOT using additives. The citrusy, floral, mineral flavor profile of a blanco tequila complements the rich citrus flavor of a margarita, he explains. TERA means of the Earth and MANA is our powerful Polynesian spirit that guides us. Heres a rundown of each one: This is tequila in its purest form without aging and is clear in color, says Miguel Escobar Martinez, master distiller for Tequila Cazadores. We go into detail about that here: https://tastetequila.com/2017/the-lowdown-on-tequila-additives/. Price at time of publish: from $29 for 750ml Bottle. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Tequila Matchmaker, our free app for iPhone and Android, can detect your own individual "flavor fingerprint" and match you with tequilas that are right for you (and then tell you where to find them.) LALO Tequila, $50, Speaking of Don Julio, no list of the best tequila brands would be complete without this iconic option! Although not technically tequila, Revels Avila should be on every tequila and mezcal fans radar. 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. On the nose, the Maestro Dobel 50 releases notes of fig and dried fruit, with hints of cinnamon and honey. 1800 Agavales Altos Avion Casa Noble Casamigos Cazul . 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. 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.). Using only the best ingredients and a meticulous process, we are inspired by a vision of what tequila should be: complex, balanced and gastronomic. Theyre made from 100% blue agave and are meant for sipping. If you want to discover an authentic Mexican tequila with a bold yet traditional flavor, then order a bottle of El Tesoro. Maybe Distiller could help for you? The reposado, with an ABV of 40%, is aged for four months in ruby port wine casks that give it a signature pink color. Dano's Dangerous Tequila Pineapple & Jalapeo Fresh Fruit Infusion. Their tequilas are aged in toasted French oak for a refined and elegant flavor. These tequilas are soft, well-rounded and easy to drink, says Roy. 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.