What is Additive Free and why it matters

“Additive-free tequila” sounds like something a marketing team made up to charge you more for a bottle.

In reality, it’s the opposite: it means you’re not paying for shortcuts, sweeteners, or smoke and mirrors.

Montaukila is additive-free. Here’s what that actually means — in plain English, no chemistry degree required.

First Things First: What’s in Real Tequila?

Real tequila is simple:

• 100% Blue Weber agave
• Water
• Yeast
• Time and heat

That’s it. The process can be nuanced and nerdy — cooking, crushing, fermenting, distilling — but the ingredient list is short. When a tequila is made well, you don’t have to “fix” it later.

So… What Are Additives?

Additives are the little “helping hands” some brands use after distillation to change how tequila tastes, smells, or looks. Common ones include:

• Sweeteners – to make it taste smoother or “dessert-y”
• Glycerin – to fake a thicker, silkier mouthfeel
• Flavoring – to add vanilla, caramel, cake, etc.
• Coloring – to make it look older or richer than it really is

None of this is technically illegal. But it does mean you’re not just drinking tequila — you’re drinking tequila with makeup on.

How to Tell If a Tequila Has Additives

You won’t see “glycerin” or “vanilla flavor” on the label, so you have to use your senses instead. A tequila might have additives if:

• It smells like birthday cake, frosting, or candy
• It tastes more like a vanilla latte than an agave spirit
• It’s weirdly sweet for something that’s supposed to be dry
• The finish feels syrupy or sticky instead of clean

If your tequila tastes like dessert, you’re probably not just drinking agave.

Why Brands Use Additives in the First Place

Short answer? Convenience.

• Rushed production = harsher spirit
• Harsher spirit = needs smoothing out
• Additives = shortcut to “smooth” and “sweet”

It’s easier to cover things up than fix the process. But you can tell the difference when you actually sip it.

What “Additive-Free” Means for Montaukila

When we say Montaukila Blanco is additive-free, we mean:

• 100% Blue Weber agave from Mexico
• No sweeteners added after distillation
• No glycerin to fake “smoothness”
• No flavor packs to make it taste like vanilla cake
• No artificial coloring to trick your eyes

The flavor you taste comes from the agave, the cooking, the fermentation, and the distillation — not from a lab trying to “fix” things at the end.

What You’ll Actually Taste

Additive-free doesn’t mean “harsh.” It means honest. With Montaukila Blanco, you’ll get:

• Aroma: cooked agave, citrus, pepper
• Palate: bright, clean, crisp
• Finish: naturally smooth, dry, not syrupy

If you can sip it neat without making a face, that’s the point.

Why It Matters (Even If You Just Drink Margaritas)

“If I’m just mixing it, does any of this really matter?”

Yes. Here’s why:

• Additives + sugar mixers = brutal hangovers
• Real tequila + fresh ingredients = cleaner drink, cleaner morning
• Better base spirit = better cocktail, every single time

Even in a margarita, you can taste the difference between “tequila-ish” and actual tequila.

How to Order Smarter

Next time you’re out, ask:

• “Do you have any additive-free tequila?”
• “What 100% agave tequilas do you recommend for sipping?”

If they carry Montaukila, you already know the move.

The Bottom Line

Additive-free tequila isn’t a trend. It’s just tequila the way it’s supposed to be:

• Real agave
• Real process
• Real flavor

Montaukila is built on that idea — no shortcuts, no fake sweetness, no dessert disguise. Just clean, bright tequila that actually tastes like tequila.

If your favorite bar, restaurant, or liquor store doesn’t carry Montaukila yet, tell them we distribute through RNDC in New York and they can order us just like any other spirit.