Spirit Of The Week: Cazcanes No. 9 Blanco Tequila
A trio of 100 percent additive-free blanco tequila for lovers of all-natural agave.
An homage to the Cazcanes natives of Mexico—the last indigenous people to be conquered by the Spaniards—Cazcanes Tequila looks to honor the art of the tequilero by staying true to fundamental processes, using only all-natural ingredients, and offering full transparency to consumers. Sure, a lot of tequila brands make these promises—some less truthfully than others. But as far as we can verify, Cazcanes stays true to this ethos.
Founded in July 2015 by brothers Colin and Chris Edwards with friend Jose Santillan, the idea first hatched a couple years earlier when Colin began studying how to make tequila deep in the jungles of Mexico.
Crafted in Amatitán by Jalisco native Francisco “Chico” Jiménez Lazcarro at Tequilera Tap (NOM 1614) just minutes from his home, they say the recipe is based upon 300-year-old indigenous instructions found in a moonshine jungle still. For that reason they promise Lazcarro, who’s spent the last four decades honing his craft locally, only uses 100 percent real blue agave, fermented with natural wild yeast, roasted in ovens and then distilled in alembic stills.
“Cazcanes is grateful to have Chico oversee every step of our distillation process—from plant to product—where his unwavering pride and passion in his craft is palpable in each and every bottle,” says Colin. “He is a true Master Distiller.”
Because authenticity is so important to the team, Cazcanes made the effort to acquire Tequila Matchmaker’s “100 percent Additive Free Verification.” For those who don’t know, the official Mexican regulatory body, the CRT (Tequila Regulatory Council), permits brands to use a set amount of allowed additives, dubbed abocantes (i.e. “mellowing agents”), yet still label their juice “Additive Free”— an issue causing outright havoc in the tequila industry today.
These additives—including caramel coloring, natural oak extract, glycerin and sugar/flavoring syrup—allow volume makers to better control and homogenize their product. Others argue that additives can also cover up an inferior product and create misleading flavor profiles.
While additives are in and of themselves not an absolute evil, many tequila aficionados are calling for greater transparency in labeling so consumers can know if a bottle they’re buying is only “Additive Free” according to the CRT, or if it is legitimately additive-free—100 percent absent of any colorings, sugars and artificial vanillin to mask flaws or a frankly inferior spirit.
The subject could warrant its own book, but long story short, respected outlet and app Tequila Matchmaker set about to create its own process to “verify” if a brand uses abocantes. Cazcanes has achieved that abocante-free verification, along with such respected labels as Arrete, Cascahuin, Don Fulano, El Tequileño, Fortaleza, El Tesoro and more. (See full list here.)
“Overall, the “100 percent Additive Free” verification is crucial for Cazcanes because it reinforces the brand’s dedication to quality, authenticity, transparency, and consumer trust, all of which are key components of its identity and success in the competitive tequila market,” Cazcanes CEO Jon-Paul Fortunati tells Maxim.
As further evidence of Cazcanes’ dedication to pureblood tequila fans, the label offers a trilogy of blanco options in their core portfolio. This unique marketing decision caters to the dedicated agave fanbase, who widely prefer the unadulterated profiles of the unaged (and therefore un-touched by oak) blanco spirit.
Starting with their Still Strength (which they dub ‘No. 10’ at 54 percent ABV or 108-proof) Cazcanes then proofs their tequila down with natural spring water trucked in from the Navichi Springs located one-and-a-half hours from the distillery (more on this later). With this mineral rich water Cazcanes creates a trio of Blancos: No. 7 (40 percent ABV or 80 proof), No. 9, (50 percent ABV or 100 proof) and No. 10.
“Since the spirit is made up of 40 to 60 percent water, starting with high-quality water is crucial,” argues Fortunati. “The clean, silky texture and mineral content of the water contributes to the tequila’s smooth and refined mouthfeel, as well as its distinct flavor, setting it apart from other tequilas.”
As big fans of over-proofed (or better said, less watered-down) tequila, this decision is a blessing. Our Maxim Spirit of the Week goes to the 100-proof No. 9 bottle, which was voted Best Blanco Tequila and Best Unaged White Spirit by the San Francisco World Spirit Competition in 2018, capturing Double Gold medals from the prestigious spirits shootout every year it was entered.
Honestly all three work, however, Cazcanes’ three-headed approach really leaves it up to the consumer’s palate to decide which blanco rings their bell.
“Despite originating from the same base tequila, each has its own distinctive flavor profiles and characteristics,” promises Colin.
“We offer three different blancos to cater to individuals at various stages of their tequila journey, and everyone’s unique palate. Like the Goldilocks story, there’s a Cazcanes Tequila that is ‘just right’ for everyone.”
That single-source water bubbles from underground springs located deep beneath the ancient native lands of the Cazcanes. The natural artesian water starts off as precipitation high-up on the pristine peaks of the San Pedro de los Landeros mountains, sinks through the volcanic soil’s natural minerals then slowly travels through the hills before emerging at the Navichi springs.
After proofing their all natural, small batch tequila with this Navichi water, Cazcanes then bottles it in unique glass inspired by an ancient apothecary bottle Colin found while hiking in the mountains behind his house in California. The area near Lake Isabella, well known for turn-of-the-century mining, is a literal goldmine for ancient equipment. (True story: Years ago we followed a vintage denim hunter down some of these abandoned mines as he plundered them for long discarded denim.)
Taken in total, Cazcanes offers lovers of pure, unadulterated tequila a trio of blanco expressions to pick their favorite, bottled in unique glass, with a vow of purity. Find Cazcanes No. 9 Blanco Tequila for $90.
Follow Deputy Editor Nicolas Stecher on Instagram at @nickstecher and @boozeoftheday.
