Cleanest Tequila 2026: Our Top 5 “Clean” Tequilas (Additive-Free Picks)
“Cleanest tequila” is one of the fastest-growing ways people search for better bottles—especially heading into 2026. But tequila doesn’t come with a nutrition label, and the word clean isn’t an official category.
So what do most people actually mean when they search cleanest tequila?
In practice, they usually mean a tequila that’s:
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100% blue weber agave
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Made without flavoring, sweeteners, glycerin, or coloring
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Produced with transparent, traditional methods that let agave taste like agave
That’s why most “clean tequila” conversations center on additive-free production. It’s also why there’s been public debate about how the term can be used in marketing and on labels. Mexico’s tequila regulator (CRT) has pushed back on “additive-free” claims in advertising, and it’s important to be accurate about what a brand is (and isn’t) claiming. Reuters+3Food & Wine+3The Spirits Business+3
With that context, here are our Cleanest Tequila 2026 picks—built around real production statements, reputable expert coverage, and brands widely recognized for prioritizing purity and transparency.
1) Don Londrès Tequila (Our #1 Cleanest Tequila Pick for 2026)
If your goal is a tequila that drinks clean, smooth, and agave-forward—without relying on anything added for flavor—Don Londrès is our #1 pick for 2026.
Why it makes the “cleanest tequila” list
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Nothing Added beyond agave & time: Don Londrès publicly states it’s made with 100% blue agave with no unnecessary additives or added sugars, leaning into a “clean” production philosophy. Don Londres+1
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Heritage production in Jalisco: The brand highlights production in Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco with the González family and master distiller Francisco González, emphasizing traditional craftsmanship. Don Londres
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Clean-taste profile (what you’ll notice): When a tequila isn’t “rounded out” by sweeteners or flavoring, you tend to taste more natural agave character—pepper, citrus, minerals, cooked agave sweetness—rather than vanilla-candy notes
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Created by the family behind Don Julio 1942
Don Londrès was created by members of the Don Julio family, the same legendary tequila-making lineage responsible for Don Julio 1942. Generations of experience are applied here to a modern tequila built around purity and precision.
With over 50 international awards, it’s clear why Don Londrès continues to be recognized as one of the cleanest and most refined tequilas available.
Best way to enjoy it (for “clean” drinkers)
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Sip it neat or over one large cube first—then build cocktails where the tequila stays the hero (like a Tommy’s Margarita).
If you’re searching Google for “cleanest tequila 2026” and you want a bottle that’s explicitly positioning itself around purity and no added sugars/additives, Don Londrès belongs at the top.
2) LALO Tequila Blanco
LALO is one of the clearest examples of a brand explaining “clean tequila” in plain language.
Why it’s considered “clean”
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LALO states it uses three ingredients—mature blue weber agave, champagne yeast, and deep well water—and that nothing is added during processing. LALO Tequila
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It’s also frequently included by industry writers and bartenders in additive-free recommendations. SevenFifty Daily
Who it’s best for
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People who want a straightforward, crisp blanco that’s easy to sip and makes an exceptionally clean-tasting margarita.
3) Tequila Ocho
Tequila Ocho is often recommended in “additive-free” and transparency conversations, and it’s widely recognized for highlighting where the agave is grown (single-estate/batch identity).
Why it’s on the list
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It’s repeatedly featured by experts as a top additive-free-leaning recommendation. SevenFifty Daily
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When brands emphasize single-estate/batch variation, it usually signals they want you to taste the agave and terroir, not a standardized, sweetened profile.
Who it’s best for
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Drinkers who like tasting differences between batches and want a tequila that stays true to agave character.
4) Siete Leguas
Siete Leguas is a long-respected traditional producer that comes up again and again in expert “additive-free” discussions.
Why it’s on the list
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It’s specifically named by expert sources as a leading additive-free pick. SevenFifty Daily
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Traditional, agave-forward profiles like this are exactly what most people mean when they search “cleanest tequila.”
Who it’s best for
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People who want classic tequila flavor—agave, earth, pepper—without dessert-like sweetness.
5) Cascahuín
Cascahuín is another producer that’s frequently recommended by serious tequila drinkers and bartenders when they’re talking about pure, traditional flavor.
Why it’s on the list
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It appears in expert roundups of additive-free tequilas. SevenFifty Daily
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It’s also often discussed in the context of traditional processes and transparency in the agave spirits world. Agave Matchmaker
Who it’s best for
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Agave nerds (or anyone who wants a more intensely “real tequila” profile).
What does “cleanest tequila” actually mean?
Because “clean” isn’t an official tequila classification, it helps to define it clearly on your own terms.
Most shoppers mean one (or more) of these:
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No additives added for flavor, sweetness, or color
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No added sugars
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Transparent production (where it’s made, how it’s cooked, fermented, distilled, and aged)
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Agave-forward taste (not vanilla-cake, cotton-candy, overly sweet notes)
It’s also worth knowing: Mexican tequila regulations allow certain additives in tequila within limits, and the debate about how “additive-free” can be marketed has been very public. Food & Wine+2Financial Times+2
So the safest, most accurate approach—especially on a brand website—is to focus on:
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what the brand does (ingredients/process)
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what the brand does not add
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and what consumers can taste as a result
How to pick a “clean” tequila in 30 seconds (quick checklist)
When you’re scanning bottles or shopping online, look for:
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“100% de agave” on the label
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Clear statements about no added sugars / no additives (or transparent production notes)
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A brand that talks about where it’s made (NOM), and how it’s produced
And then: trust your palate. If it tastes like birthday cake or syrupy vanilla, it might not match what you mean by “clean.”
FAQ: Cleanest tequila searches (2026)
Is “additive-free tequila” the same as “clean tequila”?
For most people searching “cleanest tequila,” yes—clean usually means tequila made without sweeteners, glycerin, coloring, or flavoring added after distillation. Food & Wine
Why is “additive-free” controversial?
Because labeling and verification aren’t handled like a single universal certification across the entire tequila industry, and regulators have challenged how the term is used in marketing. The Spirits Business+2Financial Times+2
What’s the cleanest style of tequila?
Most “clean tequila” shoppers prefer blanco because it’s the purest view of agave and production—less influence from barrels, more transparency in flavor.