Case-in-point is Santos debut tequila which isnt technically a tequila. Within the aejo category, there are also two variations: aejo cristalino and extra aejo. 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. When I drink tequila, I want to be drinking tequila and nothing else. 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. I have a couple questions: Buy Santo Mezquila $49.99. Still, its $500+ price-point doesnt exactly make it an accessible bottle to buy. Now the additive list is also fantastic tool to recognize the brands that have a commitment to offering a true quality product. For everyone else, the regular (but still beautifully bottled) Maestro Dobel 50 Cristalino Extra Anejo is available online starting from $159. El Jimador, $21+, This award-winning, additive-free, sustainable tequila brand is the only one to earn B Corp certification. Siembra Azul Blanco is an exemplary tequila blanco from the highlands of Jalisco. The popular Reposado goes from $150-$170 a bottle, and the Anejo is . 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. 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. A nice touch: the hand-blown glass bottle, which is topped with a hand-painted agave pia and vintage-inspired label. The top five best-selling tequila brands run the gamut from budget picks to higher-end options. Additive-free tequilas do not require salt or lime to enjoy. Jose Cuervo, $26+, Related:35+ Best Canned Cocktails and Drinks, Looking for the best sipping tequila? Santo specializes in high-end old-style tequila, but the brand is anything but old-fashioned. Tequila Casa Del Sol. Are they true, who can you believe? Do you have plans or know of any plans to do something similar with Agave Spirits? What you get is pure flavor thats perfect for sipping or adding to cocktails. Others who are more true to agave spirits, may not like that profile and would prefer a more agave forward presence. The citrusy, floral, mineral flavor profile of a blanco tequila complements the rich citrus flavor of a margarita, he explains. And legend has it, the first margarita ever made featured Jose Cuervo. ABV: 46.3%. So in the end I would say, do one of two things. Thank you so much for this list! Sometimes youll see blanco tequila referred to as silver tequila. Organic tequila usually means that the agaves used were grown organically. Tequila Kateri Nom 1439, First step: Getting the product listed in the app. 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): "And nobody is hitting the . A silky and savory tequila, Chamucos goes as well with Baja fish tacos as it does with a simple lime slice. It's simply sneaky in many ways, to alter or attempt to make 'better' an 'unbalanced' or 'rough' sub par spirit, or to make it look or taste more aged than it is. Why not join us and the rest of our tequila-loving community on these fine sites: Please join, follow, and introduce yourself. Thanks. 6. All that aside, the tequila is good, made using traditional methods with no additives, according to the brand. Or is there a separate list for non-diffuser made tequilas? I mean its a decent app, I would just rather keep it all in TM. I want the Real Thing. Espoln Tequila, $32+, Funnyman Kevin Hart teamed up with Juan Domingo Beckmann, an 11th-generation tequila maker, to create Gran Coramino. On Sale. Founder Don Francisco changed the tequila process forever as he was the first person to cook agave in little ovens. 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. This is a fantastic resource and will be a great help in my future purchases and recommendations. The brand offers blanco, reposado and aejo varieties as well as pre-made margaritas, mixes and canned cocktails. This 'adulteration' let's the tequila taste like something it's not, and adding sweeteners for example, will 'mask' the use of young agave plants that would have low brix (sugar) levels. 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. 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 . 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. Now, the Red Rocker is throwing his hat back in the ring with Santo, a joint effort tequila brand with Guy Fieri. Meanwhile, if the liquid begins to stick to your hands . El Jimador Tequila Silver Price: $16-$30. They are a reality, and remember it's legal, but only up to 1% of total volume, on additives of: caramel color, oak extract, glycerin and "sugar-based syrup" (like agave nectar), but not necessarily ONLY from agave. Sometimes using french oak barrels may make you 'think' there are additives, because it can taster very sweet, even overly sweet. What additives can you taste? 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! The more expressions I try, the more sensitive I become to artificial flavorings. The Champagne yeast we use allows the Highland agave to shine, showcasing the cooked agave flavor up front with fruity and floral notes following. Gonzlezs family has been in the tequila business for generations (his grandfather was the legendary Don Julio Gonzlez), so you know he knows his stuff! . 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). 9 Things You Should Know About 818 Tequila. This 'cutting corners' can reduce the quality of the tequila. Pure agave tequila is low in sugar, has no carbohydrates, and (minus sugary juice mixers) is fairly low-calorie, too. significant growth in bars and restaurants. You can read more about our methods and program goals, here. Handcrafted using the richest Agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, JAJA Aejo's tasting notes consist of roasted coffee, dried fruit, and vanilla. 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. If your bottle doesnt have a NOM, that means its not certified by the TRC (Tequila Regulatory Council), and not an authentic Tequila producer. ArteNOM 1579 - NOM's 1079, 1580, 1549, 1146, 1414, 1579, 1123. Your email address will not be published. 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. Nobu AND QUI Tequila Launch Nobu Rare 2008 Reserve. Inspections are done on-site and can last from a few hours to a few days, depending on how many brands and products we are reviewing at the distillery. Patron has stepped up with this seriously smooth, barrel-aged anejo. As far as alcohol goes, it's not a bad option. Pros. Hes been in the tequila business for almost thirty years, starting out with the award-winning Cabo Wabo brand back in 1991. It will typically taste sweeter and more refreshing, with a smooth, silky finish. . 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. 1800 Cristalino 1800 Cristalino. Patrn Tequila (NOM 1492) Tequila Fortaleza (NOM 1493) [2 brands] El Pandillo (G4, Terralta, etc.) Good for them.and Good for us. Dano (yep, there's actually a Dano behind Dano's Dangerous Tequila) works with one of . You dont get the same distinct flavor profile as some of the other bottles on our list, but for a refreshing, straightforward Blanco, this one is a no-brainer to pick up. Thank you. Thank you for the list, what kind of additives are you talking about? The Idol: How HBOs Next Euphoria Became Twisted Torture Porn. 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. 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 Mezquila is more flavorful than your typical tequila, but not in-your-face smokey like most mezcals. According to The Spirits Business, the top-selling tequila brand in the world is Jose Cuervo. EXTRACTION: Tahona. :-). Cierto Tequila, a luxury portfolio of award-winning, 100% additive-free authentic tequilas, begins its U.S. rollout this month. Gran Coramino, $60+, Clase Azul wins for the packaging alone. 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. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. We are Grover and Scarlet, tequila fans who just cant seem to get enough of tequila. Also, no, you cannot assume that if a distillery is verified it means that all of their products are additive-free. 1. 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. Brands aren't required to put additives on the label, and even 100 percent agave tequilas commonly use them. These days, some of the best tequilas in the world are more comparable to a fine bourbon or robust glass of wine than jello shots and beer pong, RS Recommends: The 19 Tequila Brands Were Drinking Right Now, Looking to Start Boxing After Watching 'Creed III'? 2) Both Pasote and El Tesoro de Don Felipe are additive free in their entire lineup. David Lindley, Multi-Instrumentalist Who Shaped the Sound of Soft Rock, Dead at 78 I want to teach others what I know about ALL Agave spirits, keeping it simple and fun! 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. Is it possible to get some of the additive free cards to display on the shelves of the certain tequilas in a store? The Tequila: I lean toward clean, unaged agave spirits for most of the year, however, spring is a nice time for reposado and aejo. It is an opt-in program, which needs to be renewed each year. " This is confusing because earlier in the guidelines, it says that tequilas can have 75 g/L of sugars, which, if you do the math, is WAY more than 1%. And fun fact: It was created in tribute to the year Don Julio Gonzlez started his tequila-making journey. As of January 2020, the below distilleries, some of which produce multiple tequila brands as designated by their NOM assignment, have been credited as verified additive-free. And, it gets smarter the more you use it. This tequila is produced in the lowlands of the Jalisco region, so it wont exhibit the same sweetness or fruit-forward flavors as some of the other picks on our list. Tequila producers also use some additives, like glycerin or sugar-based syrup, to change the mouthfeel or intensify the brand's sweetness. I contacted Jose Cuervo, Cazadores and Sauza to ask about any additives in their 100% agave tequilas to see what they'd say. 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. Hiatus has three award-winning expressions: Blanco, Reposado, and Aejo. Bartenders love Cenote in a Paloma too, and the company responded by introducing the first-ever World Paloma Day last May. $149.99. Initially launching in California, Florida, Texas, New York . Grover, would you consider adding a score column to the list in the future? Thanks for leading the charge and creating transparency in the industry. . 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. Brand founder Cirilo Oropeza named the brand Espoln, which means spur in Spanish, to honor his commitment to the tequila craft. I respect people that want quality and are not cutting corners, and promise they will never use any additives. Hi Josh. I love that some of my favorites are already here and some that I need try. So, what exactly should you consider when shopping for tequila? Thank you for creating it. 1800 Agavales Altos Avion Casa . I think this is the most important thing with tequilaat least the tequila that I want to drink. From now on, I may honestly just shop for tequilas that are on your list. When you taste too much vanilla, and we call that a 'vanilla bomb', that often means extra vanilla extract powder was added. Now confused. The result is a clean, smooth tequila. Consider that mission achieved, plus they've built quite the celeb following! 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. Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: White pepper, Agave, Mint. Bartenders and master distillers reveal 27 of the best tequila brands to buy. ** There are some confusing rules in the NORMA that appear to allow the use of additives in a blanco. Best value tequila: Corralejo Reposado. Silver tequila is great to drink on its own, but its great for mixed drinks as well. 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. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. And while there are a number of tequila brands that have launched in recent months, this list runs the gamut from tried-and-true brands, to limited-edition releases that youll be smart to pick up if you see them available online. Popular Brands. Hornitos, $29+, Founded by Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Teremana Tequila crafts their tequilas in a small Mexican town up in the highest peaks of the Jalisco Highlands. Don't believe us? Whether you prefer blanco, reposado or aejo tequila, Hornitos has something for you in their robust lineup. Hiatus uses a ground-to-glass method which combines traditional methods and modern technology, produced by master distiller, Luis Trejo Rodrguez at La Cofrada. and is there an app you prefer for Mezcal? Produced in the heart of Tequila, Mexico, Fortaleza Blanco Tequila packs a quality punch with notes of citrus, olives, and black pepper. The bottles, meantime, are like a work of art, inspired by traditional Mexican colors and motifs. 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. The caramel, vanilla and wood notes are strong, but thankfully the agave isn't lost in the aging. 1) Yes, there are many tequilas that are additive free, but have not gone through our process. Whats more, they were one of the first brands to use certified organic agave, and theyre committed to doing good for the environment. Enjoying catching up on your videos and love the passion you two have to this wonderful juice! I hope more distilleries become a part of this project! 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. Each tequila has its own "flavor fingerprint," and each person has his or her own flavor preferences. We like the Maestro Dobel 50, a smooth and complex Extra Aejo Cristalino thats aged in American and Eastern European oak barrels, then twice-distilled in copper pot sills. It truly is a paragon of the subregion and doesn't get much better given its price point. Tequila Fortaleza, $47+, One of the top five selling tequilas in the world, Hornitos is a premium tequila brand crafted with 100% blue agave. We're starting to expect this in our food, why shouldn't we expect this in our spirits? The reposado, with an ABV of 40%, is aged for four months in ruby port wine casks that give it a signature pink color.