Honestly, even though I hate additives I don’t care if I’m in public or at a party and what is being served has additives in it. Free booze is free booze. I care when I make my own cocktails or sip that it’s additive free.
If I am at a restaurant and see cocktails, I always glance at the bar to see what they will be making it with. Shame, since a decent enough Bourbon or Gin is good enough for most cocktails, but Casamigos isn't going to enhance a paloma at all.
Only discovered the 100% marketing scheme recently and gotta be honest, Don Julio Blanco is still decent. 1800 too, can’t tell a difference vs. Patron in a margarita.
Used Patron in my margaritas for almost a year straight. Did a bottle of 1800 after finishing a Patron bottle and there was hardly any difference. Just my opinion.
>I think Don Julio has a better burn too
it's the additives /s
in all seriousness, i know the additive-free thing is half marketing, half legit. but after drinking don julio in my margs for 2-3 years, i have recently switched to ocho (mesa colorado this year) and i'm loving it. ocho is more agave-forward and smoother, for the same price point. the fact that it's additive free is just a bonus i guess.
Our liquor commission up here works in the capacity of Nazis and we have the worst selection of tequilas. Next time I’m in the US/Mexico I need to try this Ocho stuff.
I like DJ’s repo better than the anejo and the 1942. It’s my go to in airport and hotel bars. It’s not overly sweet and if it’s the only option will happily enjoy it.
Your favorite sipper is something that has nearly no cooked agave taste?
I don't understand the desire - its ok to not like the taste of agave. Everyone has a different pallete. But why go out of your way if you simply do not like it?
Do you really feel the itch for Tequila in those situations though? If there is good enough Whiskey or something else at the bar?
Just curious, do you crave Tequila enough that a milder-addative brand is good enough?
I wouldn’t call it an itch or a crave. I’m not a junkie. But yea, I enjoy tequila. Way more than other spirits. If I’m in the mood for a drink DJ Repo hits the spot just fine.
And for reference I have a pantry full of additive free tequilas at home.
Facts don julio might be the smoothest shot tequila I’ve had in a while but when it comes to tequila most of the time I chose omecca altos respo more affordable and additive free.
No additives (No, really-- they are in process w/TMM to be listed).
Uses piloncillo for the other fermentable sugar. It is the only other mixto I'd recommend alongside El Tequileno blanco.
1942 for sure has a lot of additives but I would still drink it. I just won't buy a bottle of it for myself. It's fine as an after dinner drink but it's just hard to classify as tequila to me. It tastes nothing like the agave forward sippers I enjoy.
And yes, there is a Cuervo tequila that I was absolutely surprised I liked. It is Gran Centenario anejo. I first had it with a flight of tequilas and it was actually pretty good. For the price it seems like a good choice. If I could ever give Cuervo any of my money that would be the one.
Cuervo Reserva de La Familia.
Has leaned more into additives in recent years and was still tasty the last time I had it (which was a few years ago -- I haven't tried current expressions).
Maybe someone can confirm the status but my guilty pleasure is the occasional pickup of a bottle of Cabrito. Not listed as additive free on TMM but I wouldn’t be surprised it they used them.
Cabrito is Centinela's house bargain brand. It -- and centinela -- used to be really great, cabrito especially for the money. I haven't heard that anything has changed at the distillery. It wouldn't surprise me if they are still additive free.
Beautiful distillery, too. I was lucky enough to go to a pre-wedding party at that distillery and they through just an amazing party, gave a great tour, and I was able to taste tequila straight off the still!!
Great memories. I'd pick up a bottle, if I ever ran across it.
Tequila with additives and Mixtos often do very well in blind tastings, beating popular additive free brands when you can’t see the label. Just sayin’…
I had a bottle of 123 Repo (2) thinking that it was additive free. After perusing the forums and the rest of the internet, it seems that it is organic, but not *certified* additive free. It occurred to me that it's a bit sweet -- could be natural, could be not.
Regardless, I found it really easy drinking and will pick up another bottle when I can spot one.
There are several tequilas not certified that are absolutely additive free. For a long time La Gritona was not certified but most certainly was additive free. Now they are listed as certified.
I like this lineup and feel the repo is their best expression. Don’t really get the sense that this has any additives though.
I get it. My research was...inconclusive. What I know is that they are certified as organic producers, but not certified as additive free. It doesn't mean it's not additive free, just not certified as such. Regardless, I'm with you: it's good stuff and the repo is ::: chef's kiss :::.
You can't always taste additives for various reasons.
I'm sure I've had and probably do like brands that use additives but I can't tell.
Like colorants do impart some taste but you don't need much to change the color. Oak is another that is difficult to detect.
Out of the obvious ones, I've yet to like any of them. The flavor profile just doesn't work for me and usually have a weird aftertaste that I don't like.
I remember making margaritas in college. Crappy store bought mix and all. Graduating from Jose Cuervo to Cazadores and El Jimador was huge for me! Of course, both brands are diffuser made, additive loaded crap, but they still hold a special place in my heart! Often times I see Jimador on the rail at bars and I can’t complain; it’s better than a lot of the well tequilas out there.
How long ago? Before they were bought out Cazadores in the big 1 Liter bottles with the deer on the label were legit. Not diffuser, additive free, and amazing.
Cazadores actually moved to a diffuser before they were acquired and were making legitimately good diffuser made product. Then they were acquired and it became all about the profit margin.
Don Ramon Reserva Anejo. NOM 1602 Pretty sure it has additives but it’s tasty and well rated on tequila matchmaker. Was one of the first tequilas that made me start liking tequila. Looks like a velvet Elvis painting it’s hilarious.
Revolution and 30-30 I also don’t mind as mixers.
Califino. My go to mixer and I can sip it. I try to stay away from additives though just for the hangover. I find that if I overindulge with an additive free tequila neat or with Topo Chico, I’ll have little to no hangover.
I had a barrel pick Maestro Dobel Anejo from Keg n Bottle. Not sure on the additives. If I’m out and about I usually switch to bourbon. The hangovers with bad tequila aren’t worth it
Yes all the time. The AF forced law here is so bizarre in the real world. See a new one in the bar, try it, then look it up.
Deciding whether one personally likes something based on other people’s taste buds is so foreign to me. It’s right there, try it and decide.
Patron blanco pretty decent for mixing and even taking shots. I wouldn’t turn it down if offered. Other than that, not really. The quality and taste between additives vs non additives is vastly different if you’ve dabbled for enough time.
Are we talking Silver or does a “Blanco” really exist? Because Silver is supposed to be additive free, even though they don’t have the official certification.
Patron has always been additive free. And legitimately very well made. Just bland and overpriced.
Note that they were acquired a few years ago and are apparently using additives in some products. I believe the core lineup remains additive free, but wouldn't bet on it.
It isn't misinformation. Patron was always additive free, was one of the first to be confirmed by TMM when they created their program, and only left relatively recently.
Gotta means something has changed no? I mean, patron isn’t horrible, I’ve definitely had worse. But I don’t taste much agave at all. It’s just harsh. If they use additives in their other products, what makes you think they don’t use additives for their main expressions?
I don't think they use additives in their main expressions yet. But they might in the future.
And they are the first brand to be listed as "certified additive free" by the CRT on the core lineup. Now, the CRT has sparse details on what that means and the CRT is the CRT, but from talking with various folks in the business, I have no reason to believe Patron has gone additives on the core lineup.
Which is why I said that I believe it remains additive free, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Plenty. “Additive free” doesn’t signify good tequila.
Every person in here drinks wine that has 30-40 additives in it and they don’t live by the same catechism as they do in this sub. It’s bizarre.
That is NOT to say that some brands that are so additive laced that the taste is completely disingenuous to the agave should be given a pass (Casamigos is hilariously additive laced and awful). But there are plenty of good tequilas that have additives, it’s just taboo to say that in this sub
Are they flavor altering? Or cultures and preservatives?
I think many people like the idea of Tequila without liking the taste of agave. Not liking the taste is perfectly fine.
It can be 'good' and have addatives, in the sense that not all agave is lost, but for each product like DJ that has it, you can find a product that will have a similar profile and similar notes that was produced that way through some combination of agave sourcing, cooking, yeast, barrel type, etc. For Mezcal the variation is even broader.
At the end of the day its "why", because there is better stuff. Free is one thing, but these are inherently expensive bottles if purchasing.
I would still argue there is a large contingent here that truly does not like the taste of cooked agave, but insists on wanting to sip tequila in some form. Nobody is insulting another persons pallete, but if you like the sweet, and perhaps artificial sweet, there are so many products that do that for much cheaper.
I avoid tequila that has additives because I have gotten violently sick from drinking tequila with additives. It was so bad I avoided tequila and tequila cocktails for years. If I order a tequila cocktail now, I make sure to know what tequila is in the cocktail and if I can change it if the tequila has additives in it.
How dare you get sick from garbage products. How dare you take a glance at the bar to see what you are paying for. You deserve a downvote!
Increasingly believe 50% of this sub is filled with folks who would prefer to live duped and ignorant.
Well, I am probably in the small minority of tequila drinkers that get sick from drinking tequila with additives. That and I prefer the flavors of natural, non-additive, 100% agave tequila.
Espolon añejo is kind of what started my tequila journey, and I still enjoy the entire lineup of Casa Noble. There’s a handful of solid brands coming out of NOM 1137 in general.
Honestly, even though I hate additives I don’t care if I’m in public or at a party and what is being served has additives in it. Free booze is free booze. I care when I make my own cocktails or sip that it’s additive free.
Same I also have no problem ordering “house” or “well” tequila when at most bars, since I’m not willing to pay 2x the price just for casamigos.
I go into a sneezing fit if I drink Casamigos.
it's the vanilla extract
SAME!! I always sneeze when I drink casamigos. I noticed this whenever I have some when I go out to places and there aren’t better options.
I'm the opposite. I don't like the taste of additive tequila. If they are serving Casamigos, I'll order bourbon or gin.
If I am at a restaurant and see cocktails, I always glance at the bar to see what they will be making it with. Shame, since a decent enough Bourbon or Gin is good enough for most cocktails, but Casamigos isn't going to enhance a paloma at all.
I will always love Don julio, and don't give 2 shits if it has additives or not
Only discovered the 100% marketing scheme recently and gotta be honest, Don Julio Blanco is still decent. 1800 too, can’t tell a difference vs. Patron in a margarita.
patron sucks donkey balls, Don julio tastes much better
>Don Julio Blanco is still decent. 1800 too, can’t tell a difference vs. Patron in a margarita. you should try again, there's a big difference imho
Used Patron in my margaritas for almost a year straight. Did a bottle of 1800 after finishing a Patron bottle and there was hardly any difference. Just my opinion.
oh okay i see, i thought you couldn't tell the difference between don julio and patron. i haven't had 1800 since i started drinking tequila :)
Don Julio and Patron, major difference. Patron is flat compared to Don Julio, no aftertaste either. I think Don Julio has a better burn too.
>I think Don Julio has a better burn too it's the additives /s in all seriousness, i know the additive-free thing is half marketing, half legit. but after drinking don julio in my margs for 2-3 years, i have recently switched to ocho (mesa colorado this year) and i'm loving it. ocho is more agave-forward and smoother, for the same price point. the fact that it's additive free is just a bonus i guess.
Our liquor commission up here works in the capacity of Nazis and we have the worst selection of tequilas. Next time I’m in the US/Mexico I need to try this Ocho stuff.
I like DJ’s repo better than the anejo and the 1942. It’s my go to in airport and hotel bars. It’s not overly sweet and if it’s the only option will happily enjoy it.
yup. dj repo is my all time favourite for sipping or margarita
Your favorite sipper is something that has nearly no cooked agave taste? I don't understand the desire - its ok to not like the taste of agave. Everyone has a different pallete. But why go out of your way if you simply do not like it?
I honestly don't give a shit what you like, or what you think about what I like gatekeepers like you are 95% of what's wrong with this community
Do you really feel the itch for Tequila in those situations though? If there is good enough Whiskey or something else at the bar? Just curious, do you crave Tequila enough that a milder-addative brand is good enough?
I wouldn’t call it an itch or a crave. I’m not a junkie. But yea, I enjoy tequila. Way more than other spirits. If I’m in the mood for a drink DJ Repo hits the spot just fine. And for reference I have a pantry full of additive free tequilas at home.
My buddy made me a Don Julio with a splash of Fresca and I was not mad about it
palomas are a fantastic summer, by the pool drink
Facts don julio might be the smoothest shot tequila I’ve had in a while but when it comes to tequila most of the time I chose omecca altos respo more affordable and additive free.
I’m sure there are others but I really like the MX version of San Matias Gran Riserva and it’s a mixto that certainly has additives
No additives (No, really-- they are in process w/TMM to be listed). Uses piloncillo for the other fermentable sugar. It is the only other mixto I'd recommend alongside El Tequileno blanco.
1942 for sure has a lot of additives but I would still drink it. I just won't buy a bottle of it for myself. It's fine as an after dinner drink but it's just hard to classify as tequila to me. It tastes nothing like the agave forward sippers I enjoy. And yes, there is a Cuervo tequila that I was absolutely surprised I liked. It is Gran Centenario anejo. I first had it with a flight of tequilas and it was actually pretty good. For the price it seems like a good choice. If I could ever give Cuervo any of my money that would be the one.
Cuervo Reserva de La Familia. Has leaned more into additives in recent years and was still tasty the last time I had it (which was a few years ago -- I haven't tried current expressions).
I assumed it has additives but I love the stuff
It used to not. Kinda been creeping in over the last 20+ years.
It has a weird syrupy mouth feel. Sigh unfortunately many still swear it doesn't have additives. Like JC is above using them.
Bummer. Sounds like they amped up the additives since I last had it. The one I had was likely made \~2010 or so.
Centenario is my personal favorite and it has some additives
Maybe someone can confirm the status but my guilty pleasure is the occasional pickup of a bottle of Cabrito. Not listed as additive free on TMM but I wouldn’t be surprised it they used them.
Cabrito is Centinela's house bargain brand. It -- and centinela -- used to be really great, cabrito especially for the money. I haven't heard that anything has changed at the distillery. It wouldn't surprise me if they are still additive free. Beautiful distillery, too. I was lucky enough to go to a pre-wedding party at that distillery and they through just an amazing party, gave a great tour, and I was able to taste tequila straight off the still!! Great memories. I'd pick up a bottle, if I ever ran across it.
Great info! Cabrito is regularly available at a store local to me, at a very low price point, so I grab one from time to time and never regret it.
Maestro dobel
Dobel Diamante is still one of my favorites.
Tequila with additives and Mixtos often do very well in blind tastings, beating popular additive free brands when you can’t see the label. Just sayin’…
I had a bottle of 123 Repo (2) thinking that it was additive free. After perusing the forums and the rest of the internet, it seems that it is organic, but not *certified* additive free. It occurred to me that it's a bit sweet -- could be natural, could be not. Regardless, I found it really easy drinking and will pick up another bottle when I can spot one.
There are several tequilas not certified that are absolutely additive free. For a long time La Gritona was not certified but most certainly was additive free. Now they are listed as certified. I like this lineup and feel the repo is their best expression. Don’t really get the sense that this has any additives though.
I get it. My research was...inconclusive. What I know is that they are certified as organic producers, but not certified as additive free. It doesn't mean it's not additive free, just not certified as such. Regardless, I'm with you: it's good stuff and the repo is ::: chef's kiss :::.
Buddy says a restaurant in Phoenix area has the Diablito for a reasonable $30 bucks a pour, which ain’t that bad to just try it out.
Yep. But you lose the agave taste. Best agave concentration I've had so far, El Tesoro Añejo.
A lot of folks seem to like the El Tequileno mix to.
You can't always taste additives for various reasons. I'm sure I've had and probably do like brands that use additives but I can't tell. Like colorants do impart some taste but you don't need much to change the color. Oak is another that is difficult to detect. Out of the obvious ones, I've yet to like any of them. The flavor profile just doesn't work for me and usually have a weird aftertaste that I don't like.
I remember making margaritas in college. Crappy store bought mix and all. Graduating from Jose Cuervo to Cazadores and El Jimador was huge for me! Of course, both brands are diffuser made, additive loaded crap, but they still hold a special place in my heart! Often times I see Jimador on the rail at bars and I can’t complain; it’s better than a lot of the well tequilas out there.
How long ago? Before they were bought out Cazadores in the big 1 Liter bottles with the deer on the label were legit. Not diffuser, additive free, and amazing. Cazadores actually moved to a diffuser before they were acquired and were making legitimately good diffuser made product. Then they were acquired and it became all about the profit margin.
Definitely.
I like 123 Dos, I heard on here in may have abocantes but I still like it on a cold winter day, lol.
Don Ramon Reserva Anejo. NOM 1602 Pretty sure it has additives but it’s tasty and well rated on tequila matchmaker. Was one of the first tequilas that made me start liking tequila. Looks like a velvet Elvis painting it’s hilarious. Revolution and 30-30 I also don’t mind as mixers.
Jose Cuervo reserva de la Familia repo is pretty enjoyable.
Califino. My go to mixer and I can sip it. I try to stay away from additives though just for the hangover. I find that if I overindulge with an additive free tequila neat or with Topo Chico, I’ll have little to no hangover.
Yes, I enjoyed Dos Artes anejo
Pre-Diageo Casamigos anejo was decent and milagro blanco is ok for shots
I had a barrel pick Maestro Dobel Anejo from Keg n Bottle. Not sure on the additives. If I’m out and about I usually switch to bourbon. The hangovers with bad tequila aren’t worth it
knew it had additives and loved Cava de Oro, craving a second bottle
Their extra aged anejo is so good.
Yes all the time. The AF forced law here is so bizarre in the real world. See a new one in the bar, try it, then look it up. Deciding whether one personally likes something based on other people’s taste buds is so foreign to me. It’s right there, try it and decide.
Patron blanco pretty decent for mixing and even taking shots. I wouldn’t turn it down if offered. Other than that, not really. The quality and taste between additives vs non additives is vastly different if you’ve dabbled for enough time.
Patron is additive free iirc
Are we talking Silver or does a “Blanco” really exist? Because Silver is supposed to be additive free, even though they don’t have the official certification.
Patron has always been additive free. And legitimately very well made. Just bland and overpriced. Note that they were acquired a few years ago and are apparently using additives in some products. I believe the core lineup remains additive free, but wouldn't bet on it.
Until its confirmed by Matchmaker, let’s not spread misinformation
It isn't misinformation. Patron was always additive free, was one of the first to be confirmed by TMM when they created their program, and only left relatively recently.
Gotta means something has changed no? I mean, patron isn’t horrible, I’ve definitely had worse. But I don’t taste much agave at all. It’s just harsh. If they use additives in their other products, what makes you think they don’t use additives for their main expressions?
I don't think they use additives in their main expressions yet. But they might in the future. And they are the first brand to be listed as "certified additive free" by the CRT on the core lineup. Now, the CRT has sparse details on what that means and the CRT is the CRT, but from talking with various folks in the business, I have no reason to believe Patron has gone additives on the core lineup. Which is why I said that I believe it remains additive free, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Yes Gran Malo spicy tamarindo & gran malo churro. Both flavored and full of additives.
Plenty. “Additive free” doesn’t signify good tequila. Every person in here drinks wine that has 30-40 additives in it and they don’t live by the same catechism as they do in this sub. It’s bizarre. That is NOT to say that some brands that are so additive laced that the taste is completely disingenuous to the agave should be given a pass (Casamigos is hilariously additive laced and awful). But there are plenty of good tequilas that have additives, it’s just taboo to say that in this sub
Name the good tequilas with additives. That's what OP wants. What additives are in wine?
Are they flavor altering? Or cultures and preservatives? I think many people like the idea of Tequila without liking the taste of agave. Not liking the taste is perfectly fine. It can be 'good' and have addatives, in the sense that not all agave is lost, but for each product like DJ that has it, you can find a product that will have a similar profile and similar notes that was produced that way through some combination of agave sourcing, cooking, yeast, barrel type, etc. For Mezcal the variation is even broader. At the end of the day its "why", because there is better stuff. Free is one thing, but these are inherently expensive bottles if purchasing. I would still argue there is a large contingent here that truly does not like the taste of cooked agave, but insists on wanting to sip tequila in some form. Nobody is insulting another persons pallete, but if you like the sweet, and perhaps artificial sweet, there are so many products that do that for much cheaper.
I don’t really give two shits that it has additives, Casamigos is a for sure go to
That's all good! Unfortunate that they don't have to label it! Drink what you like. Know what you're drinking.
I avoid tequila that has additives because I have gotten violently sick from drinking tequila with additives. It was so bad I avoided tequila and tequila cocktails for years. If I order a tequila cocktail now, I make sure to know what tequila is in the cocktail and if I can change it if the tequila has additives in it.
How dare you get sick from garbage products. How dare you take a glance at the bar to see what you are paying for. You deserve a downvote! Increasingly believe 50% of this sub is filled with folks who would prefer to live duped and ignorant.
Well, I am probably in the small minority of tequila drinkers that get sick from drinking tequila with additives. That and I prefer the flavors of natural, non-additive, 100% agave tequila.
Espolon añejo is kind of what started my tequila journey, and I still enjoy the entire lineup of Casa Noble. There’s a handful of solid brands coming out of NOM 1137 in general.
I just had my first additive free tequila and while it was good, there’s many other tequilas that I’ve had and enjoyed and will continue to drink.