. A complete one stop tequila review app/web site. Or is there a separate list for non-diffuser made tequilas? Espolon Blanco Tequila. 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. At the time, that was enough for us. 3. Thanks for a complete list and for clarifying about Blancos and the NOM loophole, as well as everything else you do. They could contain additives and still be considered organic.. . The citrusy, floral, mineral flavor profile of a blanco tequila complements the rich citrus flavor of a margarita, he explains. The female-owned and led brand was co-founded by CEO Bertha Gonzlez Nieves, the first female maestra tequilera certified by the Mexican Academy of Tequila Tasters. Comparing the difference between a retail bottle and testigo sample. We are Grover and Scarlet, tequila fans who just cant seem to get enough of tequila. These are often referred to as a Mixto, where colors and flavors are added prior to bottling. The top five best-selling tequila brands run the gamut from budget picks to higher-end options. Fortaleza Blanco. Checking production records at NOM 1123 (Cascahun), Checking production records at NOM 1492 (Tequila Patrn). 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. 1. There wont be any need to link to this version of the list. Spirit of the Earth, he says. This is most pronounced with the Rosa, which spends a month in un-charred Napa Valley Cabernet French white oak barrels, giving it a beautiful pink hue and notes of ripe fruit and cherry on the . A final proprietary filtration process gives the cristalino the sparkling crystal-clear appearance from which it gets its name. Plus, all of Espolns tequilas are made with 100% Weber blue agave. Avion founder Ken Austin, said that Avion is 100% additive free, and cited the light color in the anejo. . 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. Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: White pepper, Agave, Mint. Dano (yep, there's actually a Dano behind Dano's Dangerous Tequila) works with one of . Mijenta Tequila, $43+, Eterno Verano, which means "endless summer" in Spanish, was inspired by the 1966 movie The Endless Summer. Dont be fooled by the gold label on gold tequila. Reuters There is a "proper" way and no, it's not in a shot. From their signature silver and reposado tequilas to their ultra-premium extra aejo, youre sure to love these award-winning spirits for their taste and quality. They can also use glycerin to make the mouthfeel 'rounder', slicker, thicker, oilier, sweeter and different altogether. Though it may be controversial, 818 Tequila is undoubtedly one of the most popular agave spirits on the market right now. I just got your email today about your additive-free list and had to come check it out. This was confirmed when producers directly told us (off the record) that they were making use of this confusion within the NORMA. Hi Josh. Sauza, $20+, Cenote is an ultra-premium tequila inspired by the beauty of the Yucatan Peninsula. I am excited to have this list in list forminstead of finding them individually on TMM app. TERA means of the Earth and MANA is our powerful Polynesian spirit that guides us. The additive-free spirit retails for $125.99 and is currently available for presale on ReserveBar. On the nose, the Maestro Dobel 50 releases notes of fig and dried fruit, with hints of cinnamon and honey. 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. It's also free of common allergens. 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. $46 at Reserve Bar. Reposado tequila is also aged but the aging process can be anywhere from two months to 11 months. 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. We can smell what The Rocks drinking, and its good! 1. 1800 Cristalino 1800 Cristalino. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. 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 are some images taken during our additive free visits. When I drink tequila, I want to be drinking tequila and nothing else. 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. View more. There are four total categories of additives according to the Consejo Regulador . :-). We need to let each other know, of the 'obvious offenders', even though it's legal up to this 1% limit. Of course they know they are using them though, as they actually have to put them in, but most will deny to me or anyone who asks them point blank, if they use additives. 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. This list is small now, but I hope to add more brands if it is warranted. 1) Yes, there are many tequilas that are additive free, but have not gone through our process. Popular Brands. 27 February 2023 By Alice Brooker. With a clean and complex mouthfeel, its ideal for sipping neat. $149.99. Santaleza Tequila will be sold in the United States, with the . When will the list be available on the app? I am passionate about tequila and I will keep this list close. Whats inside the decanters is pretty neat too: Clase Azul offers a variety of top-notch tequilas, including reposado, aejo and gold varieties. Additives are allowed if they account for under 1% of the total liquid. Casa Del Sol. 15 Interesting Things to Mix With Tequila, Miguel Escobar Martinez, master distiller for, Eduardo "Lalo" Gonzlez, co-founder and master distiller of, Justin Lavenue, owner/operator and co-founder of. The result is a clean, smooth tequila. 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. 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.". Here is the best tequila for no hangover that is a must-have for every celebration. Thanks for leading the charge and creating transparency in the industry. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. Look for a tequila producer that uses 100% blue agavesome companies add other flavors that distort the flavors, and you can really taste the difference, says Roy. Plus, Revel offers a Reposado and an Aejo expression of the Avila, as well as the Blanco (linked below). Frankly, there is a certain elitist/snobbish feel to the concept of no additives allowed, we wont mention you or discuss your offerings if you dare. This INCLUDES the legal 1% allowance, and I made that an important point to each brand. So very helpful! They can change the taste, by making the tequila sweeter with sugar based syrups or "jarabes", which can also include flavors and aromas, and this isn't just agave syrup, but a number of sugar based products, like cane sugar, aspartame, corn syrup, sucralose (Splenda), and stevia. No Additives. Others like Jose Hermosillo of Casa Noble told me "we use no additives, that is why we do the kosher certification." For a more complex flavor profile, those that have been aged at least one year like an aejo or extra eejo work perfectly.. The tequila finishes with a little heat before going down smooth. Two questions: Casa Dragones, $70+, Most tequilas are aged in American oak, but Casa Noble is different. Dano's Dangerous Tequila Pineapple & Jalapeo Fresh Fruit Infusion. So what do you think? Keep up the great work, I know I greatly enjoy the content. $68 at Reserve Bar. 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 that's all they ever did, I guess it's livable, although I'd prefer an 'off color' myself, and being completely additive free. 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.). The brand offers two options: reposado cristalino and aejo. When we wrote the story we based that information on what CRT representatives were saying about the issue. Popular Brands. Adding additives and or color usually occurs towards the end of production before bottling, in the 'rectification'. do you agree with these brands? 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. 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'. no headache-inducing fillers). Cons. 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. 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. High-quality tequila producers will use 100%, but others may use things like sugar or molasses to make their product cheaper, adds Roy. Vandoliers Play Tennessee Concert in Dresses to Protest State's New Drag Bill 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. BONUS: Use code RS20 to get $20 off your order at Drizly.com. A distillery can still be verified if they have additive use in their facility they just need to declare which ones are using additives so we can focus on the ones that dont. Related Siempre's blanco (plata) tequila was launched in 2015, and the reposado and aejo expressions arrived last year. This works as a great party idea too. 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. Want to know more? 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. What does YOUR nose and taste tell YOU? Needless to say, this is one of the more complex tequilas on our list making it one that aficionados will undoubtedly appreciate. 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. These tequilas are soft, well-rounded and easy to drink, says Roy. This year's offering of . Not flaunting rapper-sized bank accounts? 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. Hard to believe, but I'm told it's very possible. I would love to know how to have my husbands tequila reviewed. DISTILLATION: 2x distilled. 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. No, this is good tequila because it's a crisp, spicy, flavorful, and very versatile spirit. All of Cincoros tequilas are made with 100% Weber blue agave from private farms in Jalisco, Mexico and are produced in small batches. And fun fact: It was created in tribute to the year Don Julio Gonzlez started his tequila-making journey. Patrn Tequila (NOM 1492) Tequila Fortaleza (NOM 1493) [2 brands] El Pandillo (G4, Terralta, etc.) I don't agree, but if that's true, people need to start thinking differently. In fact it was after I bought it that I even discovered tequila could have added sweeteners including things like aspartame and saccharin. In some parts of the world they are. Thanks so much for this list and all your efforts to be able to share your research with us all. 40% alcohol by volume in tequila is typical. We are legit worried that the sweeter, more vanilla, candy-like additive products will change the publics idea of what a natural tequila is. I am very happy I found this website and this 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. What Are the Best Cocktails to Make With Tequila (Other Than Margaritas)? Its an easy-drinking bottle, ideal for upgraded cocktails (think, Aejo old fashioneds) or sipping on the rocks. One percent today, with condensed additives are enough to change things. I like the app and web site very much, but may I suggest that you have a 2 tiered rating system: 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. Tequila Casa Del Sol. Silver tequila is great to drink on its own, but its great for mixed drinks as well. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Surprise Surprise. Tequila producers also use some additives, like glycerin or sugar-based syrup, to change the mouthfeel or intensify the brand's sweetness. Now confused. Remember, as has been said before. No brands will EVER admit to using additives, so understand that YOUR taste buds are the real test, and believing these assurances.are up to you. I wish something like this was posted in stores. Syrup, or "jarabe", is a mixture of different ingredients, primarily for the purposes of creating a sweeter product. Thank you so much for this list! Remember they are saving time and money using them. Compared to a 100-calorie pour of tequila, that's pretty good. Thanks to investment and refinement from some pioneering brands, long gone are the days when Tequila was known only for its harsh palate. Each tequila has its own "flavor fingerprint," and each person has his or her own flavor preferences. 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. With 11 generations of tequila-makers to their name, Maestro Dobel is no stranger to the spirits market, with an entire portfolio of smooth, easy-drinking tequilas available everywhere from country clubs to the finest restaurants in the world. The legal requirement is at least 51% blue agave. 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. 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. 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. I am totally independent & honest. Tequila Patrn, for example, has a NOM of 1492. I do this as my passion, & nothing else. It quickly became a staple then and is a mainstay still today. Some brands I have mentioned or will mention, say they are 100% additive free, and although I do like and drink their products, I will not add them to my 'personal' list below, because I am not 100% sure. Now, the Red Rocker is throwing his hat back in the ring with Santo, a joint effort tequila brand with Guy Fieri. Espoln Tequila, $32+, Funnyman Kevin Hart teamed up with Juan Domingo Beckmann, an 11th-generation tequila maker, to create Gran Coramino. He uses different distillation equipment and different agaves grown at different altitudes, as an alternative, and as long as you have the additional equipment, use your head, and not take the easy way out, this is a perfect solution instead of using additives. Others gave similar statements, while others could have.. but would not. 4. 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. . I will add the Pasote and El Tesoro XAs, as well as the Calle 23 Criollo, to my personal additive-free list. This is a 'Hot Topic' and people will hold these brands accountable. 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. 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. Have you heard anything from their distillery? 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. Youve also probably seen flavored tequila, which is tequila infused with things like coconut, lime, strawberry or jalapeno. ABV/PROOF: 54% abv (108-proof) Confirmed Additive Free Tequila. dried fruit, and vanilla. This saddens me that this is all being done all in the name of profits vs integrity & honesty. Grover & Scarlet January 9, 2021 Blog. There are brands that have actually admitted to me that they use coloring to match each 'batch', so as to keep consistency between runs. As I asked for their word on 100% additive free (including the legal 1%), let it be understood that misleading consumers is as far as I'm concerned, a reflection on these brands, and THEY are the ones that should look bad. This tequila is from a distillery in the Jalisco, Mexico region featuring an ABV of 40%. Best tequila blanco: Siembra Azul Blanco. Teremana Tequila, $35+, El Cristiano Tequila handcrafts sustainable, additive-free and gluten-free tequilas with only the finest aged Weber blue agave from the Jalisco Highlands. ABV: 46.3%. The usual list is G4, Terralta, Pasote, Fortaleza, Cascahuin, El Tesoro, Tapatio, Siete Leguas, Olmeca Altos, and a few others. And just like wine, tequila can be aged in a number of different containers, from oak barrels to steel drums. Clooney, and co-founder Rande Gerber, say they wanted to make, the best-tasting, smoothest tequila that didnt have to be covered up with salt or lime.. 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. You rock, Grover and Scarlet! Their agave is slow-cooked in brick ovens and then distilled in copper. Clase Azul, $137+, Casa Dragones is a small-batch tequila producer that crafts some of the smoothest tequilas on the market. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. 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. Another best-selling brand, Don Julio launched in 1942 and was named after Don Julio Gonzlez, the brand's first Jimador. I just dont see us going there, even if we come off as snobby or elitist. 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. Just wondering how I can tell is a brand that is not on your list is or is not additive free. Comparing production samples at La Altea (NOM 1139). Silver (or Blanco) tequila is probably the most well-known, and it typically appears perfectly clear in the bottle. Within the aejo category, there are also two variations: aejo cristalino and extra aejo. Blancos are also usually cheaper. Guillermo Erickson Sauza of 'Fortaleza' told me "we don't add any additives, and we don't make tequila for anyone", and I was told that 'Siete Leguas' never uses any flavorings, colorings, or additives, as well as 'Tequila Caballito Cerrero' and San Matias. Please check on CABAL tequila- spoke with them personally at an event and they claimed to be additive free! Not clear on the response to Josh Ohlingerare all blancos additive-free, regardless of distillery? Founded in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 2018, Danos Tequila just won Best in Class Aejo at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. And, it gets smarter the more you use it. What additives can you taste? We deserve to know, don't you think? Clasa Azul is an additive-loaded tequila of low quality and is extraordinarily overpriced. Pros. I'm a Tequila/Agave Connoisseur, Taster & Reviewer from Long Island, NY. Love my Cimarron. The bottles, meantime, are like a work of art, inspired by traditional Mexican colors and motifs. 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. (Rule number one: Never buy tequila that . 2) Both Pasote and El Tesoro de Don Felipe are additive free in their entire lineup. Looking to Start Boxing After Watching 'Creed III'? Average Price: $115. The best Tequilas are not overly-priced, nor do they typically come in extravagant bottles and 99.9% of the time they are not celebrity owned or hyped. Consider that mission achieved, plus they've built quite the celeb following! A sneaky trick is to 'flavor' additives, which some brands endeavor to cover up, by simply naming them 'essences'. Use this form to receive email alerts of any changes to this list. This crystal-clear . 1800 Agavales Altos Avion Casa . You can taste the additives in Kirkland tequilaThe best option is to not buy what doesnt disclose. Bribon Reposado Tequila. Often it is to 'balance' the batches in appearance, so they are the same color before blending. Tasha . And if its a Tommys-style margarita, even better, says Justin Lavenue, owner/operator and co-founder of The Roosevelt Room in Austin, Texas.