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 just dont see us going there, even if we come off as snobby or elitist. The reason caramel coloring is used, is to add a rich and darker color to make it appear that the aging was longer than it actually was. I want to teach others what I know about ALL Agave spirits, keeping it simple and fun! Jose Cuervo, $26+, Related:35+ Best Canned Cocktails and Drinks, Looking for the best sipping tequila? 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. If you try this tequila neat, youll notice notes of maple, vanilla and caramel, balanced with pepper and floral tones. I wish all things ingested would list ingredients. As Taste Tequila reported, you don't need to use additives to make a profile, if you are being creative, as Sergio Mendoza does at Don Fulano. View more. From budget-friendly to top-shelf options. 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. Best value tequila: Corralejo Reposado. View more. Answers: I didnt realize that the use of additives was such a thing in the tequila industry. What Features Should You Look for in Tequila? I'm sure the brands are well aware of this, which only makes the problem worse. There are some outstanding tequilas that have flavor added, and I would like to see reviews, ratings and discussion on them as well. They were. Tears of Llorona, $285, Sauza clocks in as the ninth best-selling tequila brand in the worldand for good reason. 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. ** There are some confusing rules in the NORMA that appear to allow the use of additives in a blanco. Arandas, in the Jalisco mountains of Mexico, is home to Cazcabel. I think this is the most important thing with tequilaat least the tequila that I want to drink. Founded by three best friends in Canada, Siempre combines a unique flavor profile (think notes of pepper, sea salt/brine, sweet berries and candied citrus) with a traditional tequila making process using 100% agave. Had to give it away. Thank you! Comparing the difference between a retail bottle and testigo sample. Extra aejo, meanwhile, is aged in American oak barrels for at least three years. Syrup, or "jarabe", is a mixture of different ingredients, primarily for the purposes of creating a sweeter product. Silver tequila is great to drink on its own, but its great for mixed drinks as well. 2) We will eventually create this list within the app itself. W/ additives. Buy Santo Mezquila $49.99. Editors picks 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. Now that you know the basics, here are nine more things you should know about the supermodel-approved premium tequila brand. This crystal-clear . It is an opt-in program, which needs to be renewed each year. The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis. I will add the Pasote and El Tesoro XAs, as well as the Calle 23 Criollo, to my personal additive-free list. Smooth. No additives Can anyone recommend some of the sweeter non additive, non Blanco tequilas? But if you want a drink that is a little smoother, vodka may be the way to go. 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. After all, taste is a personal and a subjective thing, but I wonder as so many 'crossover' drinkers are coming to aged tequilas, if many of these consumers fail to recognize their preference is for the familiar and pleasant flavors associated with oak, and have no problem accepting this, even if it's artificially colored and flavored. Do you believe that? It is an opt-in program, which needs to be renewed each year. Handcrafted using the richest Agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, JAJA Reposado's tasting notes consist of sweet maple, cooked agave, and toasted wood. 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"). Tequila Kateri Nom 1439, First step: Getting the product listed in the app. As much as I love Tequila Matchmaker, I sadly have to use Distiller for my mezcal. The brand offers two options: reposado cristalino and aejo. Bartenders and master distillers reveal 27 of the best tequila brands to buy. Its one of only a handful of 100% de Agave Gold tequilas. 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'. We want to hear it. If Casamigos is what you serve at your party, Clase Azul is what you break out for the select few invited to stick around after the crowd leaves. This brand is one of the top-shelf tequilas that are pure with no additives included. These wine barrels let the spirit age in a different direction (dont worry; it doesnt taste like wine), and impart the unique rosy glow that gives Calirosa its name. 5 Types of Tequila. 1. A sneaky trick is to 'flavor' additives, which some brands endeavor to cover up, by simply naming them 'essences'. Clasa Azul is an additive-loaded tequila of low quality and is extraordinarily overpriced. However, it smells smoky like mezcal or charred wood, and there's a hint of that tequila agave scent. Are tequilas marked organic additive free? 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. High-quality tequila producers will use 100%, but others may use things like sugar or molasses to make their product cheaper, adds Roy. Im verifying that any blanco I get, say a Calle 23 Criollo, can be assumed to be Additive-free, despite not being marked as such on the Matchmaker site? Drink experts agree tequila is best had in cocktails or by slowly sipping so you can enjoy the complexity of the spirit. This is called the rectification stage, before bottling. When mixed together, both vodka and tequila can be a good option with coke zero. There are . Both tequilas are smooth, complex and crafted from hand-selected pias that are harvested at peak maturity. 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 . Casamigos, $55+, The recipe for Tequila Cazadores was first developed way back in 1922 by a hardworking farmer in Arandas, Mexico. We are granted full access to all areas of the distillery, and have permission to take samples from any part of the process. For everyone else, the regular (but still beautifully bottled) Maestro Dobel 50 Cristalino Extra Anejo is available online starting from $159. I contacted Jose Cuervo, Cazadores and Sauza to ask about any additives in their 100% agave tequilas to see what they'd say. Bribon Reposado Tequila. 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. 15 Interesting Things to Mix With Tequila, Miguel Escobar Martinez, master distiller for, Eduardo "Lalo" Gonzlez, co-founder and master distiller of, Justin Lavenue, owner/operator and co-founder of. Nobu AND QUI Tequila Launch Nobu Rare 2008 Reserve. Maybe Distiller could help for you? Although I want to trust all the brands, keep in mind that it's always possible that a distillery may do whatever it takes, so there can be no guarantee. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Tequila Matchmaker, our free app for iPhone and Android, can detect your own individual "flavor fingerprint" and match you with tequilas that are right for you (and then tell you where to find them.) Produced in the heart of Tequila, Mexico, Fortaleza Blanco Tequila packs a quality punch with notes of citrus, olives, and black pepper. 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. 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. Zarpado Tequila Blanco. 1. 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. I assume these brands tell themselves that it's part of the 'tequila making procedure'. Think of this as the cognac of tequila best for sipping neat, or with an ice cube. WATER SOURCE: Natural spring water, Rain water. BONUS: Use code RS20 to get $20 off your order at Drizly.com. This is fantastic information and your website is an unbelievable resource, which I greatly appreciate. This list is small now, but I hope to add more brands if it is warranted. Gran Coramino, $60+, Clase Azul wins for the packaging alone. 3/1/2023 0 Comments At Aroma Thyme Bistro, we are passionate about supporting local and sustainable businesses. The crystal-clear Bribon is unaged with vegetal earthy notes that work well in a margarita, paloma, or old-fashioned, though Jessica Fallon, general Manager of Ladybirds in Houston, Texas, says she prefers drinking it on the rocks. 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. Each carefully harvested pia is steamed in an autoclave and fermented in steel tanks, resulting in beautifully clean tequila. Case-in-point is Santos debut tequila which isnt technically a tequila. I love your reviews? Great for sipping, Siempre is incredibly smooth and naturally sweet (I.e. 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. Check Price. As far as alcohol goes, it's not a bad option. 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. JAJA is proudly additive-free. 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. This ensures the freshest agave flavorand you can tell. Casa Noble Blanco is a tequila brand that uses local agave, particularly estate-grown agave. (They even make their own compost!) Do you have plans or know of any plans to do something similar with Agave Spirits? From their signature silver and reposado tequilas to their ultra-premium extra aejo, youre sure to love these award-winning spirits for their taste and quality. I wish something like this was posted in stores. What you get is pure flavor thats perfect for sipping or adding to cocktails. When it comes to celebrity tequila brands (or just premium tequila, for that matter), rock and roll legend Sammy Hagar is the original. A final proprietary filtration process gives the cristalino the sparkling crystal-clear appearance from which it gets its name. According to The Spirits Business, the top-selling tequila brand in the world is Jose Cuervo. Will you add a quick link to this list on your app so it is readily viewed there? 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). 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. 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. Thanks for leading the charge and creating transparency in the industry. I even contacted ones that some people feel are definite abusers. 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.
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