74.95. 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. 13. These wine barrels let the spirit age in a different direction (dont worry; it doesnt taste like wine), and impart the unique rosy glow that gives Calirosa its name. Have you heard anything from their distillery? 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. Want to upgrade your bar cart, but not sure where to start? Azunia, which is also made at Ranco Miravalle, NOM 1426, is additive free. Break this one out for the most special of occasions. 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). For a similar experience at a more casual price point, we like the Roca Patrn Reposado, which is a lighter, more buttery take on the bold and robust Burdeos. 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 story you mention is from 2017: Hi Keith. The usual list is G4, Terralta, Pasote, Fortaleza, Cascahuin, El Tesoro, Tapatio, Siete Leguas, Olmeca Altos, and a few others. We are Grover and Scarlet, tequila fans who just cant seem to get enough of tequila. We're starting to expect this in our food, why shouldn't we expect this in our spirits? The majority of tequila does have additives. As much as I love Tequila Matchmaker, I sadly have to use Distiller for my mezcal. High-quality tequila producers will use 100%, but others may use things like sugar or molasses to make their product cheaper, adds Roy. The Reposado expression is also aged in stripped and recharred American Oak bourbon barrels, which gives it a deliciously herbaceous toasted flavor. The pictures ABOVE and BELOW are courtesy of Grover Sanschagrin of 'Taste Tequila' whose excellent recent Video/Report is linked HERE- http://tastetequila.com/2017/the-lowdown-on-tequila-additives/. There are four total categories of additives according to the Consejo Regulador . This crystal-clear . With most quality brands, especially ones in which the distillery owns, you may not have to worry as much about this next practice. who cares? 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. We are legit worried that the sweeter, more vanilla, candy-like additive products will change the publics idea of what a natural tequila is. Nathan. Espolns collection also includes a reposado, aejo, reposado chardonnay and aejo cristalino. Rodriguezs favorite in the collection is the classic Patrn Silver. I am totally independent & honest. 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! Remember they are saving time and money using them. One of the top-selling brands in the world (it clocks in at sixth! One percent today, with condensed additives are enough to change things. There are . YOU and only you will have to make that decision, to believe these brands by tasting and trusting them. JAJA is proudly additive free. 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. Handcrafted using the richest Agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, JAJA Aejo's tasting notes consist of roasted coffee, dried fruit, and vanilla. Tequila Matchmaker There's a tequila for everyone. The product is kosher, organic, and certified clean industry. 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. Tom Sizemore, Heat and Saving Private Ryan Actor, Dead at 61 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. I couldnt even drink it in Margaritas. Patrn Tequila (NOM 1492) Tequila Fortaleza (NOM 1493) [2 brands] El Pandillo (G4, Terralta, etc.) So thats one of the big reasons why we decided to start up the verification program. 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. Often it is to 'balance' the batches in appearance, so they are the same color before blending. Founded in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 2018, Danos Tequila just won Best in Class Aejo at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Theyre made from 100% blue agave and are meant for sipping. Long Island Lou Tequila's Personal Additive - Free Favorites List. 1. DISTILLATION: 2x distilled. 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.. I do enjoy Clasa Azul which is made by Productos Finos de Agave, I believe. When aejo tequila is done right, its at once rich and flavorful, smooth yet complex. 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." Do you believe that? Avion founder Ken Austin, said that Avion is 100% additive free, and cited the light color in the anejo. 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. The brand offers two options: reposado cristalino and aejo. They can also use glycerin to make the mouthfeel 'rounder', slicker, thicker, oilier, sweeter and different altogether. Thank you! 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. Use this form to receive email alerts of any changes to this list. 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. It's funny because if you were, or still are a whiskey/scotch, bourbon, cognac, or brandy drinker, I feel you are more likely to 'accept' overly oaky aromas and flavors as normal, as you enjoy this profile. Cierto Tequila, a luxury portfolio of award-winning, 100% additive-free authentic tequilas, begins its U.S. rollout this month. To be honest, I'm actually more than fine with all this myself, and I see this as a sign of integrity, and makes me appreciate these brands and respect them even more. 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.). Tequila Kateri Nom 1439, First step: Getting the product listed in the app. I wish something as concise was available for other agave spirits. Its less harsh on the tongue and wont give you as strong as a hangover provided that youre sipping responsibly of course. 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. Eterno Verano, $52+, 21Seeds was started in 2019 by three moms turned female entrepreneurs whose vision was to create a great-tasting, smooth spirit with the infusion of fresh ingredients. Casa Noble is one of several organic-certified tequila brands, but that's not why it's good. There are enough seats at the bar for everyone! Its like a fine wine thats been aged to perfection. A final proprietary filtration process gives the cristalino the sparkling crystal-clear appearance from which it gets its name. The oak extract can add oak aromas and flavors found in oak barrels, helping to confuse you even further in thinking it was aged much longer than it was. This is called the rectification stage, before bottling. Let's discuss it. Now available! Many thanks. This year's offering of . Dano (yep, there's actually a Dano behind Dano's Dangerous Tequila) works with one of . Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Although I want to trust all the brands, keep in mind that it's always possible that a distillery may do whatever it takes, so there can be no guarantee. 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. 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? I want to teach others what I know about ALL Agave spirits, keeping it simple and fun! Look for bottles labeled 100%, which denotes that it was made with 100% natural sugars from the agave plant. Others who are more true to agave spirits, may not like that profile and would prefer a more agave forward presence. I am passionate about tequila and I will keep this list close. Taste: Ritual Zero-Proof's Tequila Alternative is golden in color, suggesting it's an alternative to reposado tequila. I say keep it pure and natural. Our organic processes does not include any additives, which some tequila brands use to manipulate color, flavor, aroma, etc. 1800 Agavales Altos Avion Casa Noble Casamigos Cazul . Aejo tequila can often be recognized by its rich, caramel color, and it must be aged for at least one year (though most are aged three years) to bear the Aejo name. El Tesoro may be owned by Beam Suntory, the Japanese company responsible for Suntory Whisky, but this tequila is still made from traditional methods and local agave. 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. Do you have plans or know of any plans to do something similar with Agave Spirits? Jose Cuervo . Each carefully harvested pia is steamed in an autoclave and fermented in steel tanks, resulting in beautifully clean tequila. Each tequila decanter is handcrafted by indigenous artisans in a small village in Mexico who create beautiful patterns on the ceramic surface of each bottle. Casa Del Sol. On Sale. Keep in mind I only mention brands that make rested and aged expressions that I have personally tasted. 6. Several factors come into play at each stage of this process, but at the very least, for a tequila to be great, it must be all agave, with no additives. Gran Coramino, $60+, Clase Azul wins for the packaging alone. According to recent market research, tequila has seen significant growth in bars and restaurants across the country over the last couple of years. A silky and savory tequila, Chamucos goes as well with Baja fish tacos as it does with a simple lime slice. 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. Of course you can taste the ones that use these natural additives- as they are too sweet, too candyish, too oily etc, and it's even easier to tell the ones that really 'go to town', and totally abuse this rule. Now thats a game changer APP that would get you many more subscribers. Having a 2 tiered system, which would require that additives be declared to be used, would likely cause legal problems for us. Kristopher DeSoto was on a mission to create a more robust and expressive tequila than the kind usually found on U.S. shelves and he succeeded. (ICYMI, Hornitos means "little ovens" in Spanish!) Technically a barrel which has not been overused, will not need to have additives or essences. Others like Jose Hermosillo of Casa Noble told me "we use no additives, that is why we do the kosher certification." 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". You can taste the additives in Kirkland tequilaThe best option is to not buy what doesnt disclose. 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. 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." Buy Santo Mezquila $49.99. . Sometimes using french oak barrels may make you 'think' there are additives, because it can taster very sweet, even overly sweet. View more. Tasha . Thank you so much for putting this together and committing to keeping it updated! You can use the form (below) to subscribe to email alerts any time this list changes. Now that you know the basics, here are nine more things you should know about the supermodel-approved premium tequila brand. This was confirmed when producers directly told us (off the record) that they were making use of this confusion within the NORMA. 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. (NOM 1579) -6 marks. . When I drink tequila, I want to be drinking tequila and nothing else. Thanks. The exceptionally smooth Blanco has a robust roasted agave taste and perfectly balanced finish that creates maximum sippability. 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. I will go from this list next time I am picking a tequila to taste and buy. Choose from blanco, aejo, reposado and more. JAJA is a small batch Tequila that is best enjoyed with friends and family. Fortaleza Blanco Tequila. Why? 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. I want to stay away from additives. Its fresh and flavorful, with just the right amount of spice and a hint of earthiness. 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. 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. According to The Spirits Business, the top-selling tequila brand in the world is Jose Cuervo. 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. I do this as my passion, & nothing else. 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. STILL: Copper Pot. On the nose, the Maestro Dobel 50 releases notes of fig and dried fruit, with hints of cinnamon and honey. Checking production records at NOM 1123 (Cascahun), Checking production records at NOM 1492 (Tequila Patrn). The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Our top pick is the Tequila Ocho Plata La Caada 2022, a single-estate tequila that's perfect for sipping. Chock full of artificial sweeteners by my pallet. But if youre looking to take a celebratory shot, then blanco is a good option, says Gonzlez. 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.) Aejo cristalino is aged at least one year in white oak barrels then is filtered to remove its color and specific components to make it mellower, while conserving the sensory qualities of an aejo tequila we want to preserve, says Martinez. It's made with 100 percent Blue Weber agave (i.e. 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. 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. 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. In the spirit world, pure vodka is earthy and mildly sweet, whereas vodka containing rye is bland and sweet. Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: White pepper, citrus zest, vanilla, herbs. 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. We need to let each other know, of the 'obvious offenders', even though it's legal up to this 1% limit. To celebrate the release, Dobel collaborated with the Mexico City-based design firm Onora on a custom hand-painted bottle stopper inspired by the traditional Mexican folk art craft known as Amate. Only 200 bottles were produced of the Maestro Dobel 50 Onora, which retails for $250. Espoln Tequila, $32+, Funnyman Kevin Hart teamed up with Juan Domingo Beckmann, an 11th-generation tequila maker, to create Gran Coramino. Their distillery (NOM 1480 Las Americas) has denied their request. Cazcabel. Please send us production information and photos of the bottle on a white background. Don't believe us? ABV: 46.3%. Good, clean fun: Organic tequila is the Best Tequila. These distilleries are: Patron Tequila (NOM 1492) Tequila Fortaleza (NOM 1493) -2 brands. 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. Plus, Revel offers a Reposado and an Aejo expression of the Avila, as well as the Blanco (linked below). In February of 2021, Kendall Jenner announced her latest venture: 818 Tequila, a small-batch brand Jenner claims is the end result of a 3.5-year "journey to create the best-tasting tequila." All of Patrns tequilas are handcrafted in Jalisco, Mexico at Hacienda Patrn using the finest quality ingredients (no additives here!). I wish something like this was posted in stores. We go into detail about that here: https://tastetequila.com/2017/the-lowdown-on-tequila-additives/.
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