Tequila fans, get ready to hear a new refrain: “additive-free.” One of the biggest controversies in the tequila world right now revolves around sweetening syrups, caramel color, glycerin and oak extracts intended to make a tequila seem smoother, older or tastier.
Tequila advocates refer to the “1% rule:” namely, by Mexico’s law, producers are allowed to use up to 1% of these additives without disclosing it. But according to tequila database Tequila Matchmaker, around 70% of all tequila includes undisclosed additives, ranging from vanilla extract to stevia.
“It’s a transparency issue,” explains Grover Sanschagrin, cofounder of Tequila Matchmaker. “The common thread seems to be people feeling deceived.”
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Sanschagrin, along with cofounder Scarlet Sanschagrin, founded the Additive-Free Program in 2020. From their home base in Guadalajara, Mexico, they tour distilleries and take samples at various points in the production line, using lab testing to verify that samples align with what’s sold on liquor store shelves.
“We said, hold on, people are getting confused about what is real and what is fake,” Sanschagrin recalls. “And the fake is being labeled like it’s real. And we have to do something about it.”
While additives—or lack thereof—are rarely specified on labels, it’s easy to search the Tequila Matchmaker for a preferred brand. (Look under “other” for the “no additives” tag.)
For tequila makers, the confirmation helps stoke confidence in the product—and it doesn’t hurt sales, either.
“Many of the
This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
