El EZ E, Im also a fan of the Kirkland Anejo. The distillery is steeped in a rich history, tracing its . The popular Reposado goes from $150-$170 a bottle, and the Anejo is . It also tells you which tequila producer it comes from. This tequila is produced in the lowlands of the Jalisco region . El Jimador Tequila Silver Price: $16-$30. Certain producers like Felipe Camarena wouldn't dream of doing any of this, and Camarena told me "it's about credibility, not about promises from the producer". 9. This is called the rectification stage, before bottling. 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. This tequila is from a distillery in the Jalisco, Mexico region featuring an ABV of 40%. When it comes to celebrity tequila brands (or just premium tequila, for that matter), rock and roll legend Sammy Hagar is the original. Highlights: Mezcal made with sustainably cultivated agave by a company that is highly socially engaged. Taste: Ritual Zero-Proof's Tequila Alternative is golden in color, suggesting it's an alternative to reposado tequila. The caramel, vanilla and wood notes are strong, but thankfully the agave isn't lost in the aging. $68 at Reserve Bar. Each tequila has its own "flavor fingerprint," and each person has his or her own flavor preferences. We sat down with Mijenta Tequila's UK brand ambassador, Tasha Iny, to discuss future launches, and why producers should steer clear of adding flavours. LALO Tequila, $50, Speaking of Don Julio, no list of the best tequila brands would be complete without this iconic option! Keep in mind I only mention brands that make rested and aged expressions that I have personally tasted. 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. . 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. Silver (or Blanco) tequila is probably the most well-known, and it typically appears perfectly clear in the bottle. The best tequila brands use only the heart of the pia (the heart of the agave) and a slow pressing method using a tahona, which is a large stone disc used to crush the juice from the pias after they have been roasted and/or steamed, she says. . If you are looking for something with a little more flavor, tequila may be the better choice. Had to give it away. Whether you prefer blanco, reposado or aejo tequila, Hornitos has something for you in their robust 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. Don Julio. The 'jarabe' can also contain natural fruits and herbs to add even more aromas and flavors, too. who cares? You have to train yourself to make an educated decision. Looking to Start Boxing After Watching 'Creed III'? View more. If your bottle doesnt have a NOM, that means its not certified by the TRC (Tequila Regulatory Council), and not an authentic Tequila producer. Discover the Best of New York Wines with Hermann J Wiemer at Aroma Thyme Bistro. 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. Buy El Bandido Yankee Blanco Tequila $39.99. Plus, all of Espolns tequilas are made with 100% Weber blue agave. Best value tequila: Corralejo Reposado. From budget-friendly to top-shelf options, here are the best tequilas to add to your bar cart right now. dried fruit, and vanilla. As you can't always believe Company Reps or Ambassadors who may not know for sure, I have personally contacted many Brand Owners, Executives or Master Distillers. This is a fantastic resource and will be a great help in my future purchases and recommendations. 2) Both Pasote and El Tesoro de Don Felipe are additive free in their entire lineup. DO NOT get fooled by the 1% rule, as this may not sound like a lot, BUT IT IS!! From blanco to reposado to aejo, all of Mijentas tequilas are produced with the utmost care for exceptional flavor. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Hiatus uses a ground-to-glass method which combines traditional methods and modern technology, produced by master distiller, Luis Trejo Rodrguez at La Cofrada. Will you add a quick link to this list on your app so it is readily viewed there? $159.99. Let's discuss it. Love my Cimarron. I'm sure the brands are well aware of this, which only makes the problem worse. It has greatly increased my enjoyment exploring tequila. If you want to discover an authentic Mexican tequila with a bold yet traditional flavor, then order a bottle of El Tesoro. For everyone else, the regular (but still beautifully bottled) Maestro Dobel 50 Cristalino Extra Anejo is available online starting from $159. 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.. Jessica Alba, Tinx, Jojo Fletcher and Kristin Cavallari are just a few famous faces that are mega fans of theiraward-winning varietiesCucumber Jalapeo, Valencia Orange and Grapefruit Hibiscusbut we have a feeling this isjust the seed of something bigger, flavor-wise. It's made with 100 percent Blue Weber agave (i.e. In addition to being healthier than Smirnoff vodka, tequila has a plethora of health . 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. We feel its a better service to the community that we highlight the non-additive products so that people can familiarize themselves with those products. That gives the Rosa a subtle pink hue, and a sweet yet dry finish. Made from blue agave plants in Mexico, Clase Azul Reposado Tequila features notes of spice, cream soda, apple cider, jasmine, cinnamon and honey. According to The Spirits Business, the top-selling tequila brand in the world is Jose Cuervo. El Pandillo (G4, Terralta, etc.) Thankfully for you, we're breaking down store-bought tequila brands and ranking them from worst to best to help you find the perfect bottle for your taste preference and budget. 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. 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. The Aejo promises notes of vanilla, caramel, cacao, and butterscotch, while the agave takes a supporting role. These are often referred to as a Mixto, where colors and flavors are added prior to bottling. Pros. And fun fact: It was created in tribute to the year Don Julio Gonzlez started his tequila-making journey. Still, its $500+ price-point doesnt exactly make it an accessible bottle to buy. While some tequilas make us pucker, or burn the inside of our mouths and throats, Cenotes Blanco Tequila is light, mellow and refreshing. Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: White pepper, citrus zest, vanilla, herbs. 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. Good for them.and Good for us. Each batch is distilled for a minimum of two months in stainless steel barrels, and delivers a nice mix of sweet agave, light citrus and just a hint of vanilla. Unfortunately you need to understand the reality of what often goes on with 'Rested' (Reposado), 'Aged' (Anejo) and 'Extra Aged' (XA) Tequilas, concerning ADDITIVES - (SEE Kit ABOVE). Thank you! The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis. A typical tequila is composed of 60% Agave oil, with no flavor. Fortaleza Blanco. This was confirmed when producers directly told us (off the record) that they were making use of this confusion within the NORMA. Another tactic often used to fool the public into thinking that a particular tequila was aged longer or is richer, is to tint the bottle glass to a darkish or amber appearance. 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'. Our propietary matching algorithm uses nine different characteristics to find the best matches for you. Popular Brands. Bell Flavors & Fragrances (above) and Symrise Flavorings are just two companies supplying these additives. We need to let each other know, of the 'obvious offenders', even though it's legal up to this 1% limit. From budget-friendly to top-shelf options. ** There are some confusing rules in the NORMA that appear to allow the use of additives in a blanco. Thanks so much for this list and all your efforts to be able to share your research with us all. There are five different types of tequila: blanco, reposado, aejo, joven and extra aejo which are distinguished by the length of the aging process, known as aged expressions.. Tequila Blanco: Also known as silver tequila, this expression is only aged for up to two months and is bottled within 60 days of distillation.The best blanco tequilas will typically taste sweeter . Vanilla and Cocoa powder (chocolate) are also considered a type of oak extract, and although vanilla is not part of the 1% group, vanilla is something that can occur naturally in a barrel, but it is naturally 'subtle'. When will the list be available on the app? The . These additives aren't illegal, per se. Making tequila requires thoughtful consideration of both legal and technical factors defining the spiritand many choices in the production process can have a tremendous impact on the final distillate. When it comes to flavor, Rodriguez says tequila can range from smooth and mellow, to a warmer and bolder profile. Now available! Buy Maestro Dobel 50 Cristalino Extra Anejo $159.99. 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. My favorite expression in our portfolio is, of course, our new limited edition bottle that we just released to honor the 100-year anniversary of our original reposado recipe from 1922, says Martinez. Dano (yep, there's actually a Dano behind Dano's Dangerous Tequila) works with one of . Frank Mendez of 'Gran Dovejo' said "we are 100% transparent which include being 100% additive free and the idea of creating GD actually came about due to the use of additives and misleading marketing practices found in the industry." Others gave similar statements, while others could have.. but would not. 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! . Thank you for all the info. Or is there a separate list for non-diffuser made tequilas? The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time . Thank you! We cant release that type of information without the risk of a lawsuit. Sure, tequila shots are fun at parties (and maybe gives you some liquid courage before stepping onto that karaoke stage), but artists rapping about shots of Patrn have really given tequila an undeservedly bad (and, ahem, cheap) rep. Maybe it's time brands realize we are fed up with additives, and overly sweetened tequila, which is sometimes referred to as "Americanized" Tequila, as well as fake coloring. Our suggestion: pick up a few different bottles with different aging processes to see which one you like best. 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. Buy Santo Mezquila $49.99. This type of tequila has been aged a minimum of two months to one year in oak barrels, which gives the liquid a light golden color, says Martinez. 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. Each carefully harvested pia is steamed in an autoclave and fermented in steel tanks, resulting in beautifully clean tequila. JAJA is proudly additive-free. Do you have any plans to verify if Don Julio is additive-free? This works as a great party idea too. The repo, aged in new barrels for 2-6 months, is closer to what you'd usually find in an aejo. This list is awesome! Espolns collection also includes a reposado, aejo, reposado chardonnay and aejo cristalino. Now confused. This brand is one of the top-shelf tequilas that are pure with no additives included. Casa Noble is one of several organic-certified tequila brands, but that's not why it's good. The idea: to create an ultra premium, ultra-smooth tequila at an accessible price point. Clase Azul, $137+, Casa Dragones is a small-batch tequila producer that crafts some of the smoothest tequilas on the market. 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. 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. What Are the Best Cocktails to Make With Tequila (Other Than Margaritas)? Its fresh and flavorful, with just the right amount of spice and a hint of earthiness. Roca Patrn Silver ($69) Emphatically agave-scented, this is made with the traditional tahona method, using a two-ton volcanic rock to crush the roasted pias. For a more complex flavor profile, those that have been aged at least one year like an aejo or extra eejo work perfectly.. The reposado, with an ABV of 40%, is aged for four months in ruby port wine casks that give it a signature pink color. Servidumbre De Paso a Las Agujas 4SO , Col. Las Agujas , Zaropan Jalisco CP 4S200 . Needless to say, this is one of the more complex tequilas on our list making it one that aficionados will undoubtedly appreciate. Aging Process: Just like a fine wine, tequila also goes through an aging process. This list will be updated each time a brand is added (or removed) from the program. All of the tequilas in the Casamigos line (they have a blanco, reposado and aejo) are made with 100% Weber blue agave with agave pias that are slow-roasted in brick ovens. A small sip reveals aromas of roasted agave with woody notes, before the tequila opens up with hints of caramel, coconut and oak. 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. Long Island Lou Tequila's Personal Additive - Free Favorites List, ArteNOM 1579- NOM's 1079, 1580, 1549, 1146, 1414, 1579, 1123, Patron - NOM 1492-(no additives but "Americanized"). 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): Send to: tequilamatchmaker@gmail.com. What additives can you taste? With most quality brands, especially ones in which the distillery owns, you may not have to worry as much about this next practice. Tequila Bribn, $26+, If youre looking for a budget-friendly tequila that tastes like it costs way more, then look no further than El Jimador. As much as I love Tequila Matchmaker, I sadly have to use Distiller for my mezcal. I am very happy I found this website and this list. I am just reporting what these brands are saying is the truth. 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. Want to upgrade your bar cart, but not sure where to start? Handcrafted using the time-honored tahona process, the Roca Patrn Tequila collection offers a sophisticated and complex flavor profile thats an elegant and elevated take on tequila. Hes been in the tequila business for almost thirty years, starting out with the award-winning Cabo Wabo brand back in 1991. 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. I contacted Jose Cuervo, Cazadores and Sauza to ask about any additives in their 100% agave tequilas to see what they'd say. 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. Each tequila has its own "flavor fingerprint," and each person has his or her own flavor preferences. El Jimador, $21+, This award-winning, additive-free, sustainable tequila brand is the only one to earn B Corp certification. Thanks for a complete list and for clarifying about Blancos and the NOM loophole, as well as everything else you do. Syrup, or "jarabe", is a mixture of different ingredients, primarily for the purposes of creating a sweeter product. One percent today, with condensed additives are enough to change things. Oct 28, 2022. We choose to only make blanco to honor the agave, the people behind our product and Mexico, says Gonzlez. 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. 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. I do enjoy Clasa Azul which is made by Productos Finos de Agave, I believe. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. On the nose, the Maestro Dobel 50 releases notes of fig and dried fruit, with hints of cinnamon and honey. As far as alcohol goes, it's not a bad option. Required fields are marked *. Our organic processes does not include any additives, which some tequila brands use to manipulate color, flavor, aroma, etc. Two questions: While we may be used to drinking clear tequila, many expensive tequilas are more caramel in color, due to being aged in wooden barrels. A silky and savory tequila, Chamucos goes as well with Baja fish tacos as it does with a simple lime slice. ok, but your 2018 post titled The Lowdown on Tequila Additives stated that was banned by the norma . Jim Bob Morris and Chris Chelios, co-founders of the brand, wanted the natural deliciousness . Its like a fine wine thats been aged to perfection. Whats inside the decanters is pretty neat too: Clase Azul offers a variety of top-notch tequilas, including reposado, aejo and gold varieties. Do they have additives? (ICYMI, Hornitos means "little ovens" in Spanish!) This incredible distillate features notes of olives, herbs, earth and grass. They were. 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. 13. So, what exactly should you consider when shopping for tequila? Our top pick is the Tequila Ocho Plata La Caada 2022, a single-estate tequila that's perfect for sipping. 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." Break this one out for the most special of occasions. Now, the Red Rocker is throwing his hat back in the ring with Santo, a joint effort tequila brand with Guy Fieri. Is it possible to get some of the additive free cards to display on the shelves of the certain tequilas in a store? 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. Espoln Tequila, $32+, Funnyman Kevin Hart teamed up with Juan Domingo Beckmann, an 11th-generation tequila maker, to create Gran Coramino. Brand founder Cirilo Oropeza named the brand Espoln, which means spur in Spanish, to honor his commitment to the tequila craft.
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