In 2020 we launched our Tequila Matchmaker Verified Additive Free program for brands and distilleries that want to be super transparent about their production processes and their non-use of additives. It is an opt-in program, which needs to be renewed each
Tony Salles, Master Distiller at tequila El Tequileño, had a dilemma. His brand had recently achieved wider distribution outside of Mexico and into Canada, and some customers to the North were complaining that they could see solids in their bottles. He
In this strange pandemic year asking adults what they did during quarantine has become as common as asking kids what they did during summer vacation. While most of North America was in peak sourdough bread making, we decided to tackle a
There’s no doubt that 2020 has been one hell of a year, but if you’re a tequila lover there has been some sweet relief: a handful of delicious new products to restore your faith in the world. The latest is Fortaleza’s
Why we decided to address the industry’s lack of transparency on additive use If this headline has given you pause, it should. After all, 100% agave tequila traditionally comprises of three things: cooked agave, water, and yeast (before aging). But increasingly,
Why it exists, how it works, and what you should expect. For the past several years we’ve been conducting blind tasting events for bartenders, aficionados, and casual tequila fans. These groups of people tend to have wildly different preferences when it
Barrels aren’t new to the tequila industry, but carefully aging products in barrels may be. Back in the early 1800s tequila was transported around Guadalajara in small wooden barrels, according to writer and tequila historian Ted Genoways. Later in that century
Every week we receive at least 2 emails from people who want to start their own tequila brand, looking for guidance on how to get started. This isn’t really part of what we do—we’re focused on tasting, education and providing information
Last year was a busy time in the tequila world, and we expect the frenzy to keep rolling into 2020 and beyond. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves with some predictions for the year ahead, let’s take a
Blind tastings are the best way to find out what you really like, free of marketing hype, bias, and previous experiences. They also give you the opportunity to experience tequila in a whole new way—using only your senses. That’s why we
When’s the last time you were surprised by your own palate? It’s probably been a while. That’s because we tend to gravitate toward the foods, flavors and brands that we are familiar with. The problem with this approach is that we
Tequila is meant to be shared with friends. This is especially true when it comes to exciting, new-to-market products. So, when we realized we were sitting on three exceptional newcomers, we decided to visit every tequila lover’s friend, Emilio, the owner
Merriam-Webster: Smooth: having a continuous even surface; not sharp or harsh We recently got an email from a Tequila Matchmaker app user saying that our search filters didn’t help him, since he wanted to search for “sweet, smooth” tequilas, “good for
Land in Guadalajara and it won’t take long before you’re feeling thirsty. Blue agaves decorate the landscape, mariachi music rings in the air, and billboards for tequila pepper the landscape. Good thing we’ve got you covered with the best places in
This holiday season there is no better gift—to yourself or others—than a great tequila! First, tequila is made for sharing and if you’re going to get together with family and friends, why not drink something special? And, if you’re not exactly
Agave, water, and yeast. Unbelievably, those three ingredients are all you need to make tequilas with an enormous variety of aromas and flavors. That’s because while the ingredients are simple, the process is anything but. If you’ve ever wondered why tequilas
Anyone who has visited Guadalajara recently was probably bombarded with billboards and bar menus touting the latest tequila trend: “Cristalinos”. These are aged tequilas that have been filtered to remove any color added by the barrel during the aging process, leaving
Along with blancos, reposados represent some of our favorite tequilas. A light repo goes perfectly with meals, while a more aged repo can serve as a great dessert tequila, for the end of evening. But “rested” tequilas, which can spend anywhere
Put the words “tequila” and “smoky” together and most people think of mezcal. This is because most mezcal makers still use the artisanal process of cooking agaves in earthen pits, creating smoky aromas and flavors, as opposed to steam-powered autoclaves and
Tomorrow is “National Tequila Day”, which is pretty much every day in our house. But, in honor of this annual event, we thought it would be fun to dig into the Tequila Matchmaker database and pull out some statistics that will
