significant growth in bars and restaurants. We choose to only make blanco to honor the agave, the people behind our product and Mexico, says Gonzlez. 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. Unless the distillery owns the brand, the brand may have no definite idea what's in their bottle, and they have no choice but to trust the distillery. Please send us production information and photos of the bottle on a white background. Martinez adds that a reposado tequila can also work well in a margarita. Tequila Gran Diamante is an award-winning, ultra-premium tequila that's stirring up excitement on the spirits scene. Dulce Vida, $28+, This rare, handcrafted extra aejo is a complex sipping spirit with layers of flavor to unravel. Sometimes using french oak barrels may make you 'think' there are additives, because it can taster very sweet, even overly sweet. 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. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time The Reposado expression is also aged in stripped and recharred American Oak bourbon barrels, which gives it a deliciously herbaceous toasted flavor. And, it gets smarter the more you use it. Gran Coramino, $60+, Clase Azul wins for the packaging alone. I wish all things ingested would list ingredients. A nice, simple tequila is useful to pour liberally than a more expensive Blanco tequila with a similar clean agave taste. 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. It will typically taste sweeter and more refreshing, with a smooth, silky finish. Technically a barrel which has not been overused, will not need to have additives or essences. A colleague introduced me to a Kirkland brand Tequila Anejo at Costco Youll also want to consider what the tequila is being used for. The citrusy, floral, mineral flavor profile of a blanco tequila complements the rich citrus flavor of a margarita, he explains. Looking forward to having this list on the app to access when shopping! Produced in the heart of Tequila, Mexico, Fortaleza Blanco Tequila packs a quality punch with notes of citrus, olives, and black pepper. Casa Noble is one of several organic-certified tequila brands, but that's not why it's good. 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. We can smell what The Rocks drinking, and its good! 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." Thank you so much for this list! 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. Adolfo Murillo of 'Alquimia' said "I have always worked hard to stay true to the tradition of tequila and the way it was meant to be made, so if my bottles say 100% agave, it does not mean "99%, because the CRT says it's ok". Avoid flavored and colorful alcohol, which can contain additives, high fructose corn syrup (made from GMO corn), food coloring and more. 4. Bell Flavors & Fragrances (above) and Symrise Flavorings are just two companies supplying these additives. Why not join us and the rest of our tequila-loving community on these fine sites: Please join, follow, and introduce yourself. $68 at Reserve Bar. Tequila Casa Del Sol. 21Seeds Tequila, $31+. 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. (Rule number one: Never buy tequila that . 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. I find that the extended barrel aging pulls out any astringent qualities that may have been in the originally distilled juice, making this the easiest to sip on its own., The best type of tequila for sipping is the one in which you can taste the complexity given by the best agave source, along with a good elaboration process, providing the smoothness and sweetness you can obtain from the agave, says Martinez. And just like wine, tequila can be aged in a number of different containers, from oak barrels to steel drums. 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. We are founders of the Tequila Matchmaker app and website. 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. I love your reviews? The legal requirement is at least 51% blue agave. 1800 Agavales Altos Avion Casa . The result is a collection of blanco, reposado and aejo spirits that are made from 100% blue agave and perfectly capture summer in a bottle. I want to teach others what I know about ALL Agave spirits, keeping it simple and fun! Their distillery (NOM 1480 Las Americas) has denied their request. 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. Fortaleza Blanco. 5 Types of Tequila. 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. Hi Luis. The exceptionally smooth Blanco has a robust roasted agave taste and perfectly balanced finish that creates maximum sippability. Theyre made from 100% blue agave and are meant for sipping. Smooth. Don Abraham Organic Blanco Tequila. I'm told it's possible a brand who contracts at a distillery may not even be aware if there are additives in their own tequila. Those too are permitted by Mexico's Tequila Regulatory Council . Thanks so much for this list and all your efforts to be able to share your research with us all. Ritual Beverage Company is entering the tequila market. 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. 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. Any comment would be most welcome . 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. Don Julio 1942, specifically, is one of the most premium options from the brand (hence why it comes with a hefty price tag). Patrn Aejo Patrn Aejo is a carefully . Thank you for your time and commitment. Often it is to 'balance' the batches in appearance, so they are the same color before blending. When you taste too much vanilla, and we call that a 'vanilla bomb', that often means extra vanilla extract powder was added. One percent today, with condensed additives are enough to change things. The majority of tequila does have additives. Maybe Distiller could help for you? However, it smells smoky like mezcal or charred wood, and there's a hint of that tequila agave scent. 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." Or is there a separate list for non-diffuser made tequilas? Not with the usual agave spirit you know and lovethe NA spirits brand has launched an alcohol-free tequila, the first of its kind. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time 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. I am excited to have this list in list forminstead of finding them individually on TMM app. (ICYMI, Hornitos means "little ovens" in Spanish!) Clase Azul, $137+, Casa Dragones is a small-batch tequila producer that crafts some of the smoothest tequilas on the market. Let's discuss it. Syrup, or "jarabe", is a mixture of different ingredients, primarily for the purposes of creating a sweeter product. Whats inside the decanters is pretty neat too: Clase Azul offers a variety of top-notch tequilas, including reposado, aejo and gold varieties. So what do you think? Great for sipping, Siempre is incredibly smooth and naturally sweet (I.e. Their agave is slow-cooked in brick ovens and then distilled in copper. Grassy and mild, with some pleasant notes of coconut, Espoln Blanco's smoothness and neutrality make it a great tequila for whatever you need, including and especially shots. Handcrafted using the richest Agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, JAJA Reposado's tasting notes consist of sweet maple, cooked agave, and toasted wood. ABV: 46.3%. Interestingly, another brand that is 100% additive-free told me "rarely will a distiller commit to never using color, because sometime in the future, there could be a day that some tequila comes off the barrels lighter, and distillers would rather add a couple drops of organic caramel coloring instead of jeopardizing a stock of tequila that has inconsistent color on the shelf." 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. Agave nectar, corn syrup, cane sugar, aspartame, sucralose (Splenda), and stevia could all be used as a sweetening . I'm a Tequila/Agave Connoisseur, Taster & Reviewer. A typical tequila is composed of 60% Agave oil, with no flavor. I didnt realize that the use of additives was such a thing in the tequila industry. . What Are the Best Cocktails to Make With Tequila (Other Than Margaritas)? An undertone of sweet cooked agave recalls this tequilas fresh Blanco roots. Patrn Tequila, $56+, Casamigos has an A-list history: The brand was launched by friends George Clooney and Rande Garber (husband to Cindy Crawford), who worked with a master distiller in Jalisco, Mexico over the course of many years to get the taste just right. Are they true, who can you believe? Made from blue agave plants in Mexico, Clase Azul Reposado Tequila features notes of spice, cream soda, apple cider, jasmine, cinnamon and honey. Casamigos is a favorite among the Hollywood crowd, thanks to its co-founder George Clooney, but its actually got a lot of substance to go with its style.