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. Thank you! Your email address will not be published. Don't believe us? We cant release that type of information without the risk of a lawsuit. What you get is pure flavor thats perfect for sipping or adding to cocktails. But that said, despite what . 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. Initially launching in California, Florida, Texas, New York . 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. Had to give it away. 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. "Among agave experts, Fortaleza is one of the most revered brands in tequila. From budget-friendly to top-shelf options, here are the best tequilas to add to your bar cart right now. This works as a great party idea too. Adding additives and or color usually occurs towards the end of production before bottling, in the 'rectification'. The big problem is that additives aren't required to be disclosed, although I believe they should be, even if it's 1%. A typical tequila is composed of 60% Agave oil, with no flavor. 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. Fortaleza Blanco. 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. I think this is the most important thing with tequilaat least the tequila that I want to drink. View more. Additives are allowed if they account for under 1% of the total liquid. That gives the Rosa a subtle pink hue, and a sweet yet dry finish. 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." dried fruit, and vanilla. Espolon Blanco tequila honors Mexico's art and history, and the story of Espolon - the spur of a rooster - is great for starting conversations. HONORING CRAFT AND TRADITION MIJENTA IS AN AWARD-WINNING, ADDITIVE-FREE, SUSTAINABLE TEQUILA FROM THE HIGHLANDS OF JALISCO THAT CELEBRATES THE TRADITIONS OF MEXICAN CULTURE AND EMBODIES THE BEST OF THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE. The Tequila: I lean toward clean, unaged agave spirits for most of the year, however, spring is a nice time for reposado and aejo. Do they have additives? 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. A complete one stop tequila review app/web site. The . So who knows what a distillery may do to 'enhance' a contract brands juice, for their own convenience. 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. I just got your email today about your additive-free list and had to come check it out. 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. Additives - especially caramel coloring or oak extracts - are most commonly found in aged tequilas to boost a tequila's appearance. Dulce Vida, $28+, This rare, handcrafted extra aejo is a complex sipping spirit with layers of flavor to unravel. We mention products that contain additives in our content, but were not going out of our way to promote them. Patrn Aejo Patrn Aejo is a carefully . El Jimador Tequila Silver Price: $16-$30. 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. Tequila Gran Diamante is an award-winning, ultra-premium tequila that's stirring up excitement on the spirits scene. 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. Technically a barrel which has not been overused, will not need to have additives or essences. Gran Coraminos tequilas are roasted in traditional stone ovens and barrel-aged. Fortaleza Blanco, Reposado and Aejo are all fantastic sipping tequilas from the Los Valles region, says Lavenue. According to The Spirits Business, the top-selling tequila brand in the world is Jose Cuervo. Espoln Tequila, $32+, Funnyman Kevin Hart teamed up with Juan Domingo Beckmann, an 11th-generation tequila maker, to create Gran Coramino. Needless to say, this is one of the more complex tequilas on our list making it one that aficionados will undoubtedly appreciate. $46 at Reserve Bar. 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. So thats one of the big reasons why we decided to start up the verification program. The labelling states it was produced and bottled by : Destileria Santa Lucia , What additives can you taste? 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. 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. We choose to only make blanco to honor the agave, the people behind our product and Mexico, says Gonzlez. This was our first super premium 100% Weber blue agave tequila, and it changed America's perceptions about tequila, he says. Marcos Higareda of 'DesMaDre' said "we do not use ANY additives, never used and never will use caramel coloring, and it's all natural color, taste and aromas from natural barrel aging." 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. This 'cutting corners' can reduce the quality of the tequila. The Rocks premium tequila brand has been flying off store shelves ever since its launch in 2020. All of Casa Dragones tequilas are made in small batches using a sustainable production method. This amazing additive-free liquid is produced using only the 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. Our proprietary matching algorithm uses nine different characteristics to find the best . Zarpado Tequila Blanco. Azunia, which is also made at Ranco Miravalle, NOM 1426, is additive free. Break this one out for the most special of occasions. This means youll pick up some herbs and light smokiness with a mellow bite, making the Santo Mezquila great for adventurous cocktails or unique tasting on its own. An incredible effort here! Thank you for the list, what kind of additives are you talking about? The usual list is G4, Terralta, Pasote, Fortaleza, Cascahuin, El Tesoro, Tapatio, Siete Leguas, Olmeca Altos, and a few others. 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. Clasa Azul is an additive-loaded tequila of low quality and is extraordinarily overpriced. 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 believe that? The distillery actually sits on the edge of an extinct volcano, whose porous foundation acts as a natural filter for the spring water used to make their tequila. Made from blue agave plants in Mexico, Clase Azul Reposado Tequila features notes of spice, cream soda, apple cider, jasmine, cinnamon and honey. Additives can greatly change the color (SEE ABOVE- again thanks to Taste Tequila), making the appearance of longer aging, with caramel coloring. Bribon Reposado Tequila. The brand offers two options: reposado cristalino and aejo. I will go from this list next time I am picking a tequila to taste and buy. Best tequila blanco: Siembra Azul Blanco. Inspections are done on-site and can last from a few . Mijenta Tequila, $43+, Eterno Verano, which means "endless summer" in Spanish, was inspired by the 1966 movie The Endless Summer. 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. And if its a Tommys-style margarita, even better, says Justin Lavenue, owner/operator and co-founder of The Roosevelt Room in Austin, Texas. 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. 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. Others gave similar statements, while others could have.. but would not. 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. I want the Real Thing. I am excited to have this list in list forminstead of finding them individually on TMM app. I couldnt even drink it in Margaritas. . EXTRACTION: Tahona. Read Full Article. I understand that this is an opt-in program, so may other brands may be additive free, but they have opted not to be added (IDK what they would not. Or is there a separate list for non-diffuser made tequilas? He said people have their opinions about Productos Finos de Agave, but he was clear that any sweet profile is strictly from very ripe agaves. Oct 28, 2022. What do you think about that do you agree? 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. We have to stop thinking a dark and rich color is always the real thing, and start thinking about realistic, clean, additive free tequila, regardless of the color or lack of color.