7 Best Additive-Free Tequila Releases of 2023

As the tequila market grows larger year after year, keen-eyed consumers are beginning to demand more from their spirits. Additive-free tequila — devoid of sugary sweeteners, caramel coloring and artificial oak extract — has experienced a renaissance, becoming the gold standard for enthusiasts looking to separate the wheat from the chaff.

But the distinction is surprisingly few and far between. According to Tequila Matchmaker, just 30% of tequila brands are confirmed additive-free.

In a year chock full of agave spirits releases, we’ve put together a list of seven excellent additive-free tequilas well worth their oftentimes high price point.

Tequila Ocho Plata Puntas 2023

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Plata Puntas 2023 — the latest in Tequila Ocho’s “Distiller’s Cut” series — was designed from head to toe as a treat for die-hard spirits lovers.

Bottled at a blisteringly high 53% ABV, Ocho’s new release capitalizes on the trending popularity of overproof still-strength tequila to amazing effect. The spirit is distilled from estate-grown agave (as is all of Tequila Ocho’s catalog) using deep well water sourced near its distillery. The final product, a mix of two batches, combines potent roasted agave flavor with vegetal notes of green chiles and charred pineapple.

So far as flavor, this is the ultimate celebration of blue weber agave. The only hiccup: Plata Puntas was unveiled as a limited-edition drop in October retailing for $75, and is now being hawked around the Internet anywhere in the range of $120 to $400.

Alma del Jaguar Reposado

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Alma Del Jaguar recently unveiled its second expression since launching earlier this year. The 2-month, additive-free reposado is aged in a combination of American white oak bourbon and French oak wine casks, imbuing a distinct mix of banana, honey and orange zest notes on the palate.

In keeping with its ferocious name, Alma Del Jaguar donates a portion of its proceeds to the Northern Jaguar Project, a binational conservation effort dedicated to protecting the flora and fauna of Mexico’s Northern Jaguar Reserve. The brand has raked in rave reviews from tequila enthusiasts over the past few months, so here’s hoping the team launches an añejo in the near future. Alma Del Jaguar Reposado retails for $59.

El Tesoro Mundial Edition: Knob Creek

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In 1999, cult-hit El Tesoro was acquired by Fortune Brands, better known today as spirits giant Beam Suntory. Over the decades, the two have collaborated on multiple releases capitalizing on Beam’s massive catalog, culminating in this year’s Knob Creek Rye-finished Añejo.

If you’re a whiskey fan, this is a must-try. Balancing tried-and-true agave flavor alongside oaky notes of cinnamon, dark chocolate, orange peel and peaches, this 12-month-aged expression offers a lot to like for spirits lovers of all kinds. Prices currently hover around $180 for this limited bottling.

Volcan de Mi Tierra X.A.

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At first glance, Volcan de Mi Tierra X.A looks exactly like the kind of glitzy “club tequila” that agave spirits snobs hate. The bottle even includes a toggleable light feature on the bottom.

The spirit contained within, however, is top-notch. Distilled at the brand’s dedicated NOM 1523 distillery, Volcan X.A is a blended mix of reposado, añejo and extra añejo tequilas aged between two months and 10 years in American oak Grace Casks. After popping its golden cork, you’ll be met with aromas of dried cherry, melon and baking spice followed by a palate brimming with roasted nuts and light caramel.

The towering bottle is the latest venture from LVHM, the French luxury megabrand behind Hennessy Cognac and Moët & Chandon Champagne. Expectedly, all that glitz comes at a price: Volcan de Mi Tierra X.A retails for $170.

Cambio Reposado

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An upcoming launch from Chicago-based Chef John Des Rosiers, Tequila Cambio aims to bring back the old-school — confirmed additive-free, tahona-crushed agave, 46% ABV — in a refreshing new package.

We had a chance to taste the lineup early and found a lot to like. The brand’s commitment to intricate barrel aging was on full display in its Reposado, rested in a combination of White Burgundy, White Bordeaux and French Oak Chardonnay casks. So far as flavor, expect delicate notes of ginger and rye bread followed by a long citrus-laden finish.

Unlike much of its similarly qualified competition, Cambio will be launching at just $60 in the coming weeks. At its price, this is one of the easiest recommendations on the market.

Suerte Still Strength 104

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Suerte Tequila’s rabbit logo was refashioned into a horned jackalope for its new Still Strength Blanco. Once you’ve gotten a taste, you’ll understand why.

The 52% ABV release packs in a clean alcohol bite alongside nuanced flavors of mint, anise, grassiness and plenty of earth. That distinct palate can be attributed to Suerte’s use of tahona-crushed agave, much lauded within the community for its terroir-driven undertones and gentle sweetness. The brand claims that this is “tequila in its purest form” and we’re inclined to agree.

Suerte released just 1,530 of this latest expression (an ode to its distillery, NOM 1530) at $70 a pop. Thankfully for spirits fans, that price has held stable despite widespread demand.

Entremanos Tequila

Launch Coverage

Entremanos — “between hands” in English — is finally bringing its spirit to the United States a little over a year after launching in Mexico and Spain.

Like many of the best brands, Entremanos focuses exclusively on its flagship blanco expression, within which you’ll taste greenery-soaked flavors of pear, black pepper, apples and dried fruit. The brand has also committed itself to social responsibility with a recycled bottle and the founding of Cultivando Lazos A.C., a non-profit dedicated to fostering gender equality in the tequila industry.

Best of all, Entremanos will be hitting the market at just $60 by the end of December. Keep an eye out.

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