2. 6. Aroma Thyme Bistro | Hudson Valley Restaurant | Blogs - AROMA THYME This amazing additive-free liquid is produced using only the These young tequilas are less expensive and typically used in bars and restaurants for making mixed drinks. 18 Best Tequila Brands 2023 - Top Tequila Bottles To Buy Now - Delish The secret to Cenotes smoothness? Best Non Alcoholic Tequila with Photos and Mocktails Tested (NOM 1579) [6 brands] Vivanco . Each year, the agave is harvested from a different farm/estate, then expertly distilled by Carlos Camarenaso each single estate bottling showcases its own distinct characteristics which truly highlights the terroir (or terruo in Spanish) of the Los Altos region of Jalisco. Tequila Ocho, $49+, LALO only makes one tequilaan additive-free blanco. Thanks. This is an unpretentious, no-nonsense tequila with nothing added, just 100% blue Weber agave. A nice touch: the hand-blown glass bottle, which is topped with a hand-painted agave pia and vintage-inspired label. Diffuser-made products *can* be additive-free, but as of this writing there are no products made with a diffuser on the list. 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. Espolon Blanco tequila honors Mexico's art and history, and the story of Espolon - the spur of a rooster - is great for starting conversations. The repo, aged in new barrels for 2-6 months, is closer to what you'd usually find in an aejo. Founded in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 2018, Danos Tequila just won Best in Class Aejo at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Organic Tequila vs. Regular - Drinking the Best Tequila - Aldez Tequila While we may be used to drinking clear tequila, many expensive tequilas are more caramel in color, due to being aged in wooden barrels. The additive-free spirit retails for $125.99 and is currently available for presale on ReserveBar. View more. 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. Break this one out for the most special of occasions. Meeting the organic certification requirements of two separate regulating bodies isn't easy, and we take tremendous pride in it. 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. 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". Agave nectar, corn syrup, cane sugar, aspartame, sucralose (Splenda), and stevia could all be used as a sweetening . Ritual Beverage Company is entering the tequila market. 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. This means youll pick up some herbs and light smokiness with a mellow bite, making the Santo Mezquila great for adventurous cocktails or unique tasting on its own. El EZ E, Im also a fan of the Kirkland Anejo. A silky and savory tequila, Chamucos goes as well with Baja fish tacos as it does with a simple lime slice. . Jose Cuervo . There are 4 types of additives allowed by law for use in all** 100% agave tequilas: 1. This saddens me that this is all being done all in the name of profits vs integrity & honesty. Its like a fine wine thats been aged to perfection. The Best New-School Tequila Brands. As far as alcohol goes, it's not a bad option. 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 . I want the Real Thing. Dont be fooled by the gold label on gold tequila. These Anti-Fatigue Mats Will Cushion and Support Your Feet. 1. Your email address will not be published. The more expressions I try, the more sensitive I become to artificial flavorings. Price at time of publish: from $29 for 750ml Bottle. Bell Flavors & Fragrances (above) and Symrise Flavorings are just two companies supplying these additives. Initially launching in California, Florida, Texas, New York . Do you have any plans to verify if Don Julio is additive-free? Below, we're sharing everything you need to know to find your perfect tequila, plus our picks for the best tequila brands, chosen by master distillers, bartenders and industry experts. Casa Noble is one of several organic-certified tequila brands, but that's not why it's good. From blanco to reposado to aejo, all of Mijentas tequilas are produced with the utmost care for exceptional flavor. I'm a Tequila/Agave Connoisseur, Taster & Reviewer. You can use the form (below) to subscribe to email alerts any time this list changes. 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! Thanks to investment and refinement from some pioneering brands, long gone are the days when Tequila was known only for its harsh palate. 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. 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. The company says it sources naturally filtered water from an artesian well located at their distillery, which sits at the base of the Jalisco volcano. JAJA is proudly additive free. 1) No, some blancos definitely contain additives. I just got your email today about your additive-free list and had to come check it out. Siempres blanco tequila is deceptively simple clean and crisp to start, with a floral and complex finish. I do enjoy Clasa Azul which is made by Productos Finos de Agave, I believe. Thank you for creating it. 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. Dano (yep, there's actually a Dano behind Dano's Dangerous Tequila) works with one of . 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. $46 at Reserve Bar. On Facebook, many know me by the name Lou Agave. Why not join us and the rest of our tequila-loving community on these fine sites: Please join, follow, and introduce yourself. 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. Looking to Start Boxing After Watching 'Creed III'? Made from blue agave plants in Mexico, Clase Azul Reposado Tequila features notes of spice, cream soda, apple cider, jasmine, cinnamon and honey. Another thing to look for aside: a four-digit number that represents each distillerys unique code. 13. $68 at Reserve Bar. It's perfect as a mixer to liven any cocktail with its versatility and light body. Their reposado and aejo tequilas are aged in ex-bourbon barrels for that smooth taste you know and love. The 18 Best Tequilas in the World - Men's Journal Owned by spirits-giant Diageo, Don Julio is enjoyed by tequila lovers all over the world and is known for being a staple brand. I'm a Tequila/Agave Connoisseur, Taster & Reviewer from Long Island, NY. Its best sipped slow for a warm, inviting mouthfeel. Donate Bitcoin here: 3B6B2eV1Sg8myRJUi2hikD19nE32pxpLT9, ADDITIVES IN TEQUILA & MY PERSONAL LIST OF ADDITIVE-FREE TEQUILA BRANDS, http://tastetequila.com/2017/the-lowdown-on-tequila-additives/, https://www.facebook.com/Long-Island-Lou-Tequila-641682619241422. Using only the best ingredients and a meticulous process, we are inspired by a vision of what tequila should be: complex, balanced and gastronomic. 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. Chock full of artificial sweeteners by my pallet. So what do people think about all these claims? STILL: Copper Pot. There are plenty of other websites, YouTube channels, Instagram and TikTok accounts that happily promote additive-filled tequila. I didnt realize that the use of additives was such a thing in the tequila industry. According to recent market research, tequila has seen significant growth in bars and restaurants across the country over the last couple of years. The 14 Best Tequilas to Drink in 2023 - Liquor.com Great for sipping, Siempre is incredibly smooth and naturally sweet (I.e. I mean Jimador is a diffuser product, so this is quite interesting and hard to believe for sure. Thank you. 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'. There are brands that have actually admitted to me that they use coloring to match each 'batch', so as to keep consistency between runs. Why? Danos also won the Gold Medal in the 2019 Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Tasting Competition, and the Double Gold and Gold in the 2018 SIP Awards. Tequila Casa Del Sol. 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. Additive-Free Tequila: Regulations and Why I Prefer No Additives Made from 100% blue agave, Tequila Cazadores undergoes a seven-step sustainable, zero-waste production process that includes double distillation, double fermentation and careful maturation. Theyre one of the most affordable tequila brands and offer silver, gold and aejo varieties to suit any taste. 1. We deserve to know, don't you think? Handcrafted using the richest Agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, JAJA Reposado's tasting notes consist of sweet maple, cooked agave, and toasted wood. Keep up the great work, I know I greatly enjoy the content. This list is small now, but I hope to add more brands if it is warranted. The brand founders wanted to recreate the sense of wanderlust experienced by the surfers in the movie. 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"). August 4, 2021. He is correct, anyone can say anything, but I will say, that after tasting all of Felipe's products and talking with him for years, he is one producer I trust solely on his word. Now the additive list is also fantastic tool to recognize the brands that have a commitment to offering a true quality product. Pros. Their tequilas are aged in toasted French oak for a refined and elegant flavor. 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. They can also use glycerin to make the mouthfeel 'rounder', slicker, thicker, oilier, sweeter and different altogether. "And nobody is hitting the . The . I would love to know how to have my husbands tequila reviewed. Oct 28, 2022. Tequila 101: The Use of Additives in Tequila - Inspiro Tequila Do you believe that? "We think it's 70% by sales volume last year, so there will always be fewer additive free-tequilas," Scarlet tells me. Choose from blanco, aejo, reposado and more. It is a number that appears on every bottle of tequila that indicates which company or distillery is responsible for its production. I texted, emailed, filled out forms in some cases, and attempted to call to get a statement. What do you think about that do you agree? The idea: to create an ultra premium, ultra-smooth tequila at an accessible price point. Founder Don Francisco changed the tequila process forever as he was the first person to cook agave in little ovens. The brand offers two options: reposado cristalino and aejo. Best tequila overall: Tequila Ocho Plata La Caada 2022. Discover the Best of New York Wines with Hermann J Wiemer at Aroma Thyme Bistro. Hes been in the tequila business for almost thirty years, starting out with the award-winning Cabo Wabo brand back in 1991. Patrn, one of most well-known tequila brands in the world, actually offers a diverse portfolio of authentic tequilas that you wont find in nightclubs or seedy bars. Smooth. The Hands-Down Best Tequila to Drink Now - Yahoo! News . 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. Inspections are done on-site and can last from a few . What Features Should You Look for in Tequila? 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. When we wrote the story we based that information on what CRT representatives were saying about the issue. Then next sip I thought, wow, I cant believe how sweet this is 3rd sip and I was getting that aftertaste and I was like this stuff is too damn sweet, it tastes like artificial sweeteners, but thats impossible. I am passionate about tequila and I will keep this list close. Jaja Tequila Aejo (750 ml) Delivery or Pickup Near Me - Instacart 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. . They offer three classic options: blanco, reposado and aejo. 27 Best Tequila Brands for Shots, Margaritas, Sipping - Parade This works as a great party idea too. Tequila Matchmaker There's a tequila for everyone. Reposado means rested in Spanish. What does YOUR nose and taste tell YOU? An incredible effort here! I couldnt even drink it in Margaritas. 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. All we can do is taste ourselves, to the best of our ability, and to believe these brands. Bribon Reposado Tequila. 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. They blame us the consumer, as they say WE need to see the same color consistency each time we purchase a brand, and we would be 'alarmed' if it looked different. In other words. to deceive us. I contacted Jose Cuervo, Cazadores and Sauza to ask about any additives in their 100% agave tequilas to see what they'd say. 1800 Cristalino 1800 Cristalino. It will typically taste sweeter and more refreshing, with a smooth, silky finish. El Pandillo (G4, Terralta, etc.) I hope more distilleries become a part of this project! Best Tequilas for 2023: Top 5 Bottles Most Recommended By Expert LALO Tequila, $50, Speaking of Don Julio, no list of the best tequila brands would be complete without this iconic option! Others like Jose Hermosillo of Casa Noble told me "we use no additives, that is why we do the kosher certification." A small sip reveals aromas of roasted agave with woody notes, before the tequila opens up with hints of caramel, coconut and oak. 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. 18 Best Sipping Tequilas You Can Buy Right Now - Delish With most quality brands, especially ones in which the distillery owns, you may not have to worry as much about this next practice. In the world of spirits, tequila is currently having a moment. Its an easy-drinking bottle, ideal for upgraded cocktails (think, Aejo old fashioneds) or sipping on the rocks. Tasha . 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 am totally independent & honest. Jose Cuervo, Patrn, Don Julio, Casamigos and Hornitos are the top five tequilas, per The Spirits Business. How Do You Tell If Your Tequila Has Additives? - Forbes No Additives. 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. Related 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. 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. Nathan. If youre hosting a party or large gathering, youll want to stock up on bottles of Espoln. 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. Tequila Health Benefits: Low-Sugar and Low-Carb 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. 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. Thats what you get from Casa Nobles new aejo, a skillful and impressive blend of 12 extra aejos and nine aejos, aged in new French oak for one to five full years (most aejos are aged for a year max) with notes of ripe fruit, vanilla, white chocolate, roasted nuts, and spice. :-). Espoln Tequila, $32+, Funnyman Kevin Hart teamed up with Juan Domingo Beckmann, an 11th-generation tequila maker, to create Gran Coramino. No additives Read Full Article. Your email address will not be published. Although this is perfectly legal, it is WRONG, and hopefully this will get cleared up soon on a future CRT ruling. Comparing production samples at La Altea (NOM 1139). The List: Best Tequila, According To Experts. Espolon Blanco Tequila. It's almost too easy to not do it, being legal to a certain extent, and too hard to ever get caught. In fact, the brand is named for the breathtaking underground water systems that are unique to this region. Its fresh and flavorful, with just the right amount of spice and a hint of earthiness. What you get is pure flavor thats perfect for sipping or adding to cocktails. While they may be fun for a party or to use in mixed drinks, we recommend skipping these bottles the rest of the time and just drinking tequila straight up. The Rocks premium tequila brand has been flying off store shelves ever since its launch in 2020. 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. Thank you for your time and commitment. Editors picks Before being triple distilled, this silver tequila had the tropical fruit cooked in traditional stone . 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. Syrup, or "jarabe", is a mixture of different ingredients, primarily for the purposes of creating a sweeter product. We need to let each other know, of the 'obvious offenders', even though it's legal up to this 1% limit. Grover and Scarlet, 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. It has greatly increased my enjoyment exploring tequila. 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. no headache-inducing fillers). I respect people that want quality and are not cutting corners, and promise they will never use any additives. 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". 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. However, we need someone willing to be the curator of each spirit. 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. 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. Avoid these tequila brands: . 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! So who knows what a distillery may do to 'enhance' a contract brands juice, for their own convenience. 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.