So in the end I would say, do one of two things. STILL: Copper Pot. 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. Keep in mind that technically, if you exceed the 1% total volume rule, it must be labeled as a 'licor' or a 'crema', like these (ABOVE), and that's the way it should be. 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. Both tequilas are smooth, complex and crafted from hand-selected pias that are harvested at peak maturity. I'm a Tequila/Agave Connoisseur, Taster & Reviewer. This ensures the freshest agave flavorand you can tell. Siempre's blanco (plata) tequila was launched in 2015, and the reposado and aejo expressions arrived last year. Let's discuss it. 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. Bartenders love Cenote in a Paloma too, and the company responded by introducing the first-ever World Paloma Day last May. 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. 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. Cons. So thats one of the big reasons why we decided to start up the verification program. Jose Cuervo, Patrn, Don Julio, Casamigos and Hornitos are the top five tequilas, per The Spirits Business. There are a handful of smooth, premium-tasting tequilas you can get for under $100 too. 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. If your bottle doesnt have a NOM, that means its not certified by the TRC (Tequila Regulatory Council), and not an authentic Tequila producer. 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. I mean Jimador is a diffuser product, so this is quite interesting and hard to believe for sure. 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. Espolon Blanco tequila honors Mexico's art and history, and the story of Espolon - the spur of a rooster - is great for starting conversations. Initially launching in California, Florida, Texas, New York . The tequila finishes with a little heat before going down smooth. Pick Up Some of These Gloves First, Tired of Standing? Still, its $500+ price-point doesnt exactly make it an accessible bottle to buy. There are three main types of tequila to choose from. 3. Hi Keith. 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. do you agree with these brands? I couldnt even drink it in Margaritas. I wish something as concise was available for other agave spirits. The tequila now will seem darker, and although it's still a dirty trick, if it has no additives in it, its still a lot better than paying extra money for a rested or aged tequila with fake colors and flavors added. What Features Should You Look for in Tequila? The top five best-selling tequila brands run the gamut from budget picks to higher-end options. Cenote Tequila, $41+, Olmeca Altos tequilas are made from 100% blue agave grown in Los Altos, the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. . Casa Dragones, $70+, Most tequilas are aged in American oak, but Casa Noble is different. Do you believe that? A nice, simple tequila is useful to pour liberally than a more expensive Blanco tequila with a similar clean agave taste. Murillo also made a great point, saying he would lose his USDA Organic Certification, if he added any other ingredients, including color. . Plus, all of Espolns tequilas are made with 100% Weber blue agave. Have you heard anything from their distillery? 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. Do you have any plans to verify if Don Julio is additive-free? Blanco tequila is the ideal choice for margaritas, says Eduardo "Lalo" Gonzlez, co-founder and master distiller of LALO Tequila and grandson of Don Julio Gonzlez of the iconic Don Julio tequila brand. When mixed together, both vodka and tequila can be a good option with coke zero. From blanco to reposado to aejo, all of Mijentas tequilas are produced with the utmost care for exceptional flavor. As much as I love Tequila Matchmaker, I sadly have to use Distiller for my mezcal. "Bribon is a solid tequila for its price," says Fallon. Its aged in a sequence of Islay Scotch, Spanish brandy and Spanish sherry oak barrels for five years before being blended by the brands master distiller. Now thats a game changer APP that would get you many more subscribers. Drink brands from Europe where GMOs are (nearly) banned. Olmeca Altos has won quite a few awards over the years and are worthy of a place on your bar cart. Cazcabel. Avoid these tequila brands: . 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. EXTRACTION: Tahona. The additive-free spirit retails for $125.99 and is currently available for presale on ReserveBar. Besides margaritas, Roy shares these three delicious cocktails you can make with tequila: Related:15 Interesting Things to Mix With Tequila, From blanco to reposado to aejo, Patrn offers every type of tequila you could desire. This unique process creates a flavor profile thats both familiar and brand-new: Its light and fresh like great tequila, but also has a hint of the smokiness we look for with mezcal. 5. This is fantastic information and your website is an unbelievable resource, which I greatly appreciate. We are legit worried that the sweeter, more vanilla, candy-like additive products will change the publics idea of what a natural tequila is. 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." I only start drinking Patron because of they were additive free. Think of this as the cognac of tequila best for sipping neat, or with an ice cube. You can enjoy them neat, over ice or mixed into a cocktail. The aging process will also change the color of a tequila. Within the aejo category, there are also two variations: aejo cristalino and extra aejo. Hes been in the tequila business for almost thirty years, starting out with the award-winning Cabo Wabo brand back in 1991. No, this is good tequila because it's a crisp, spicy, flavorful, and very versatile spirit. . The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Organic tequila usually means that the agaves used were grown organically. You rock, Grover and Scarlet! Thank you. 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. The exceptionally smooth Blanco has a robust roasted agave taste and perfectly balanced finish that creates maximum sippability. I am totally independent & honest. 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. Eduardo Orendain of 'Arette' said "we are 100% additive free, and we don't use caramel and yes we do have color consistency problems because of this, where some batches are lighter or darker than others." 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. I so much appreciate the app and have let it assist in guiding my agave journey! 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. 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. Gran Coramino, $60+, Clase Azul wins for the packaging alone. 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. I want the Real Thing. The Best New-School Tequila Brands. I'm told that some distilleries will use additives because it's cheaper and faster to get things done, and who's to say if this is with or without the owners knowledge? 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. Maybe Distiller could help for you? Tequila Gran Diamante is an award-winning, ultra-premium tequila that's stirring up excitement on the spirits scene. It also tells you which tequila producer it comes from. (ICYMI, Hornitos means "little ovens" in Spanish!) The brand offers blanco, reposado and aejo varieties as well as pre-made margaritas, mixes and canned cocktails. I love that some of my favorites are already here and some that I need try. Drink experts agree tequila is best had in cocktails or by slowly sipping so you can enjoy the complexity of the spirit. Now confused. 4. I would say so, and it's up to your eyes and your pallet to decide. Thats why I stick to and fully endorse the products from NOM1146 . For a more complex flavor profile, those that have been aged at least one year like an aejo or extra eejo work perfectly.. 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. Vandoliers Play Tennessee Concert in Dresses to Protest State's New Drag Bill 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. When I drink tequila, I want to be drinking tequila and nothing else. It doesn't mean I don't like their product or that it doesn't taste fine, but coloring is an additive. what's not to understand? El Cristiano Tequila, $48+, All of Dulce Vidas tequilas are handcrafted in small batches, made with 100% blue agave and aged in American oak whiskey barrels for a refreshing flavor and smooth finish. Grover, would you consider adding a score column to the list in the future? 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. The secret to Cenotes smoothness? Aging Process: Just like a fine wine, tequila also goes through an aging process. I do this as my passion, & nothing else. You can taste the additives in Kirkland tequilaThe best option is to not buy what doesnt disclose. 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. You can read more about our methods and program goals, here. Great for sipping, Siempre is incredibly smooth and naturally sweet (I.e. Instead, youll pick up a slightly drying, more astringent palette of black pepper, dried herbs, olives and citrus. The List: Best Tequila, According To Experts. "Additives are designed to soften the rough edges of a tequila, to add a flavor that is not present in tequila when it is distilled.", explained David Alan, director of business education and mixology of PATRN to Vine Pair. The flavors are complex and sophisticated while still being approachable and easy to drink. Required fields are marked *. 2) Both Pasote and El Tesoro de Don Felipe are additive free in their entire lineup. Lightweight and well balanced, it's a great option for both new and experienced tequila drinkers alike. Roy adds that shes a fan of Patrns Roca collection because the brand uses juice from the tahona rolling process, which pulls only the most flavorful liquid from the pias they roast for almost three days. Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: White pepper, Agave, Mint. $46 at Reserve Bar. Tasha . 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. Olmeca Altos, $28+, Tequila Bribn is the result of a two-year mission to produce high-quality tequila that appeals to newbies and aficionados alike. That gives the Rosa a subtle pink hue, and a sweet yet dry finish. Simply pour a small amount of tequila into your palm, then rub it between your hands as you would hand sanitizer. These tequilas are soft, well-rounded and easy to drink, says Roy. $159.99. Our organic processes does not include any additives, which some tequila brands use to manipulate color, flavor, aroma, etc. 2.

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