Organic Tequilas: The 10 You Need To Try
by Grover Sanschagrin - Originally published on Taste Tequila/Agave Matchmaker
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Organic food and drink has seen steady growth in recent years, especially among younger generations. Organic tequila is growing faster than other spirit segments, thanks to consumer trends around health, authenticity, sustainability, and premiumization. In response, a number of tequila producers have stepped up with certified organic tequilas to appeal to these conscious consumers.
According to the Agave Matchmaker database, there are currently 22 tequila distilleries with USDA Organic certification, so we thought it would be interesting to compare products from different distilleries in a blind tasting with members of the Agave Matchmaker tasting panel. Do they have a similar aroma and flavor profile? And are they different from non-organic products?
To find out we selected 10 high-quality organic blancos, all from different distilleries, to see how they compared when tasted blind by 22 members of our tasting panel.
Before we get into the results, let’s get into some interesting facts and clear up misconceptions about organic tequilas.
- Organic agave fields are typically full of weeds that can cover the agave plants, as seen in the photo above. Some farmers will cut the weeds back by hand, or allow animals (horses, mules, cows, etc) to eat the weeds. Herbicides and pesticides are not allowed to be used unless they can come from natural, certified organic sources.
- To earn an organic certification, a distillery must use 95% of their materials from traceable organic sources. This leaves 5% for non-organic ingredients.
- If a product is “certified organic”, it does not mean that it’s additive free. As mentioned above, that extra 5% leaves plenty of room for non-organic additives. Plus, organic additives are also available.
- The USDA does not employ inspectors. Instead, they rely on independent agencies to perform the required annual on-site inspections and lengthy documentation audits. That’s why distilleries in other countries can still obtain a USDA certification.
- The USA isn’t the only country with rules for organic certification. Europe and Japan, for example, have their own set of requirements. The same agencies that are authorized to perform USDA inspections are usually also capable of certifying products for these other countries.
- Organic agaves cost more. The non-use of pesticides often results in a lower yield, and farming practices are more labor intensive. As a result, prices are higher. Right now, producers tell us that prices are roughly 50% higher for organic agaves compared with non-organic agaves of the same age. This is why organic tequilas generally cost a little more.
Now let’s get to the results of our blind tasting.
We selected these tequilas because, a) they are all excellent examples of organic tequilas, and b) they are accurate representations of the distillery that makes them. We were most interested in identifying the aromas and flavors that our tasters would find in a blind setting to see if there are any similarities between organic tequilas made at different distilleries.
NOM 1646
Casa Azul Orgánico Blanco
In fifth is Casa Azul Blanco, a tequila that recently moved to a new distillery, so if you haven’t tried it in a while you may notice a subtle difference.
Agaves are cooked in brick ovens, extraction with a roller mill, and distillation happens in a copper pot still.
It’s now made at Destiladora La Roca (NOM 1646) in Amatitán, Jalisco, and it’s an organic tequila that sparked a lot of conversation among tasters. It’s an earthy, aromatic tequila with both intrigue and edge.
On the palate, Casa Azul Blanco walks the line between savory and sweet. A few tasters found unique notes of root beer, and even corn masa and tamarind, which added layers of texture. The body leans to creamy and buttery. It’s a tequila that shifts with each sip—earthy, herbal, and spicy one moment, then showing flashes of sweetness the next.
The finish is warm and peppery with a touch of minerality that lingers. Some found a faint bitterness, while others compared its earthy backbone to something like El Tesoro. Overall, Casa Azul Blanco is bold and full of personality, capturing the rugged, mineral-driven character of Amatitán.
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