National Tequila Day (July 24) has once again rolled around to the delight of agave spirits enthusiasts and the distillers who supply them. With so many options to choose from on liquor store shelves, we thought we'd take a look at six picks that exemplify the best of what the category has to offer. A few notes on our criteria: All entries are confirmed
additive-free . Though we don't believe that additives are the end-all determinant of what constitutes a "good" or "bad" spirit, this list does well to showcase how pure agave flavor and a lack of sugary sweeteners amplify the best qualities in traditionally-made tequila. We've also limited our selection to releases from the past couple of years, with the notable exception of one brand that flew remarkably under the radar until quite recently. Without further ado, let's dig in!
Santo 110 Proof Blanco
When you think of high-quality, traditionally made tequila, the first two people that pop to mind probably aren't "Mayor of Flavortown" Guy Fieri or Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar. With much effort, the unlikely duo has worked to correct our apparent lack of imagination with the launch of Santo Tequila. Though all of Santo's products are fantastic, notably including a genre-bending "
Mezquila ," we'd like to give a shout-out to the brand's 110-proof Blanco. Bottled at the legal maximum ABV for tequila, the expression explodes with bright flavors of roasted agave, bell peppers, black pepper and wafting floral notes. High-ABV
still-strength tequila has witnessed a renaissance over the past year, though the trend has often been confined to limited bottlings and wildly inflated price tags on the resale market. In comparison, Santo 110 clocks in at just $59.99, a steal within the category and an easy recommendation to anyone in search of a flavorful solo sipper.
Quintaliza Tequila Reposado
The rise and fall of
Patron XO Cafe ushered in a wave of tequila-based coffee liqueurs destined for syrupy espresso martinis and regret-inducing party shots. Like many, we love the idea in concept but aren't quite as keen on the viscous, all-too-sweet final result. Reinterpreting the blueprint with a nuanced eye, Quintaliza has debuted what it calls the first coffee-aged tequila. Rather than infusing flavors after the fact, the brand rests its spirit for six months in American oak barrels that previously held coffee beans sourced from Chiapas, Mexico. The process (which is patented according to Quintaliza) results not in a capital "C" "Coffee tequila" but a more subtle blend of agave and caffeinated bite. Expect aromas of maple, cocoa and leather followed by a palate crammed with barrel spice, tobacco, lingering honey and fresh ground coffee beans. A bottle of the spirited brew will run you $70.
Alma Del Jaguar Reposado
In keeping with its name, Alma Del Jaguar donates a portion of proceeds to protect wildcat populations in northern Mexico and the U.S. The lion's share (pun intended) of donations go toward the Northern Jaguar Reserve, a bi-national conservation effort that oversees a 56,000-acre refuge located in the state of Sonora. Behind the ethos lies some fantastic tequila. Aged for two months in American white oak bourbon barrels before transferring to toasted French oak wine casks, the brand's reposado embraces an osmosis of influences. On the nose, many have noted the presence of a distinct fresh banana note, followed on the palate by flavors of cinnamon, cooked agave and stone fruit. It's also worth noting that Alma's distiller subscribes to the Mozart method, wherein fermentation occurs to the tune of the constantly pumping classical music. Whether or not the difference can be quantified on the palate is for you to decide; bottles of the brand's symphonic reposado will cost you $60.
La Pulga Añejo
Introduced by Fort Worth natives Sarah Castillo, Stephen Slaughter and Andrew De La Torre, La Pulga pays homage to a 12-acre flea market in the founders' hometown where local vendors have been selling eats and drinks since the 1970s. In case you're curious, La Pulga translates literally to "the flea." Its añejo, which spends 18 months in ex-bourbon casks, successfully tackles the tricky task of balancing distinct oak flavor with recognizable agave. The bottling hits you with a blast of cherry on the nose and palate, afterward giving way to a mix of earth, dried fruit, anise, chocolate and minerality. Expanding its repertoire beyond the typical three expressions, La Pulga recently forayed into a
salmiana mezcal and reportedly has plans to launch a sotol and other niche agave spirits in years to come. The brand's dedication to its craft shows, especially in its $70 bourbon-inflected añejo.
Mijenta Cristalino
Cristalino tequila, believed to have been invented around 2010, is characterized by the charcoal filtration of an aged reposado or añejo. The technique rerenders color to that of an unaged blanco while rounding out harsher oak notes. Though enormously popular, many spirits enthusiasts will tell you that tequila's best qualities are lost in the process. In pursuit of smoothness, a great deal of character is sacrificed. Recently, a handful of acclaimed brands have attempted to put gourmet twists on the concept. Chief among them is Mijenta, the world's first B-Corp-certified tequila and an iconic additive-free distiller in its own right. Its take on a cristalino, unveiled earlier this year, is aged for eight months in Symphony barrels built from staves of American oak from the forests of Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Subtle aromas of butter, orange rind and vanilla sneak to the nose while its palate leans into aged flavors of nutmeg, caramel, coffee and coconut. Though Mijenta Cristalino may not be able to convince die-hard cristalino skeptics to change their ways, if you have even a hint of curiosity then this expression is well worth checking out to understand what the charcoal-filtered hype is all about. Bottles can be found between $90 and $120.
Cazcanes No. 7 Extra Añejo
The rising popularity of additive-free tequila in the U.S. has elevated a small cachet of brands to near-god-like status in the eyes of their followers. So-called unicorn bottles — once exemplified primarily by whiskeys like
Blanton's Bourbon and
Pappy Van Winkle — have now expanded to include elusive picks like
Fortaleza Tequila . Unlike Fortaleza, which has veered too fast into the hands of snooty collectors, Cazcanes walks the perfect tightrope between quality and obtainability. Made with natural spring water and tahona-crushed agaves, all of Cazcanes' expressions pop with a terroir-forward bite and copious herb notes of mint and rosemary. Also unlike Fortaleza, Cazcanes produces an extra añejo. Brimming with complexity that far surpasses its peers, Cazcanes XA boasts intermingling flavors of butterscotch, apple, allspice, prunes and a hint of salt that balances out the palate. Though findable, this expression will still run you up a pretty penny of around $249 depending on where you buy it. [newsletter-promo]
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