In 2025, people are more conscious than ever about what goes into the things they consume. Of late, a hot new buzzword has erupted on the agave-based spirits scene: “additive-free,” which is being championed by a new crop of tequila brands that proudly declare it through their advertising.
Additive-free tequilas are compiled on Reddit threads, shouted-out in TikToks and named in one spirits-media listicle after another. According to the TikTok Creative Center, “The use of #additivefreetequila on TikTok jumped 50% in 2024 alone, showing just how much demand there is for tequilas that don’t include extra ingredients.” It’s enough to make the average consumer imagine that additive-free must be a whole new category that came into existence overnight and is chiefly practiced by small-scale brands that most tequila drinkers have never heard of. But the truth is that there’s been a 100 percent additive-free tequila sitting on store shelves, back bars, and home liquor cabinets for decades, and you likely know its name: PATRÓN Tequila.
Since PATRÓN Tequila’s founding in 1989, the company has honored its original commitment to produce tequila of the very highest quality — and with nothing added to alter its authentic flavor or color. Through the brand’s four-decade history, it remains a founding principle that they have never strayed from. These are standards PATRÓN established at its inception, which have since cemented its reputation as a creative pioneer, with a sophistication that helped to change the public perception of the tequila category.
PATRÓN is transparent about its ingredients and its process. PATRÓN is made with just three simple, all-natural ingredients: 100 percent Weber Blue Agave, water, and yeast — because to PATRÓN, less really is more.
It’s an important time to take notice of that distinction, as many consumers today are unaware of potential additives in their tequila and how they influence the spirit’s taste and appearance. The truth is that Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council allows for additives in tequila as long as the total amount remains under 1 percent of the spirit’s total weight. What this means in practice is that a tequila labeled “100 percent agave” can contain trace amounts of the additives of glycerin, sugar-based syrup, wood extract, and caramel coloring.
That long-standing PATRÓN pledge is also evident in its latest release, PATRÓN CRISTALINO, which brings its own additive-free ethos into the ultra-premium tequila category. PATRÓN CRISTALINO is crafted by filtering PATRÓN Añejo through wood charcoal, resulting in a tequila that is crystal-clear in appearance, yet possesses a rich, velvety mouthfeel found in aged expressions.
So, the next time you hear about “additive-free” — a term you’ll likely be hearing, reading, and listening about more often— it’s worth remembering that one audacious brand has stayed committed to that standard long before it became a trend: PATRÓN. As the tequila landscape evolves, it’s reassuring to know that some things — like PATRÓN Tequila’s dedication to craftsmanship — have always remained the same.
This article is sponsored by PATRÓN Tequila.
