There’s nothing more convenient than buying alcohol online and having it shipped straight to your door. Provided that you’re of legal age and live in a state or municipality that allows for the delivery of spirits, online shopping allows you to access a vast array of brands and spirits — many of which your local liquor store simply doesn’t have the shelf space to stock.
But buying tequila online can be problematic if you don’t know the right way to go about it.
Buying in a state-licensed liquor store guarantees that you’re buying authentic products; buying online could subject you to counterfeit goods, poor quality spirits, or overpriced products that aren’t nearly as good as they appear to be.
Here’s what you need to know about buying tequila online, plus tips to ensure you get top-quality, authentic products.
Research the Brand or the NOM
There are more than 2,000 different tequila brands, and products among them range from very low-end to premium, top-shelf quality. Rather than being wooed by a bottle, or a label, or a price tag you like, take the time to research the product before ordering.
The Consejo Regulador del Tequila, also known as the Tequila Regulatory Council or CRT, assigns every tequila distillery a NOM — a number that indicates it’s an authentic product of Mexico. If you look at a tequila bottle that doesn’t have a NOM, that means it’s not made to the standards set forth by the CRT, or it’s not made in Mexico, or it’s not even tequila at all.
For a spirit to be called tequila, it must be made in Mexico from blue weber agave. When made according to CRT standards, it has a NOM. If you want to know where the tequila is made and what type of ingredients it includes (or doesn’t include), research the NOM online.
Shop for Additive-Free Tequila
It’s important to know that even if tequila is labeled as 100% agave, it might not be so. The CRT allows distilleries to include up to 1% liquid weight of additives in tequila prior to bottling. The additives they allow include caramel coloring, glycerin, oak extract, and sugar-based syrups called jarabes.
Additives change the color, taste, flavor, and mouthfeel of the spirit. Most distilleries use them to shortcut production processes and make a tequila appear as if it has been aged longer than it has been.
The most authentic and finest quality tequila is additive-free. Tequila is intended to be sipped and savored, not downed in shot glasses or masked with sugary or fruity cocktail mixers. If you want to order tequila you can sip and savor, stick to authentic, additive-free brands like Cierto that make their tequila with the necessary ingredients only: agave, water, and yeast.
To view the complete list of additive-free tequila brands, visit the Tequila Matchmaker website, where you can research NOMs, learn more about individual distilleries, and more.
Avoid Tequila Packaged in Plastic
When shopping for tequila online, it’s best to avoid purchasing products packed in plastic bottles. While some forms of plastic are generally safe, many types of plastic can release toxins that seep into the liquid. Conversely, the alcohol stored inside can dissolve the plastic itself.
If you’re considering buying tequila packed in a plastic bottle, assume that it’s not of the highest quality. Top-shelf brands take great pride in both their spirit and their packaging, and they generally bottle their spirits in elegant glass bottles.
Speaking of bottles …
Don’t let the bottle alone sway you into making a purchase. From skull-shaped bottles to hand-painted ceramic decanters, tequila comes in an array of cool, interesting vessels — none of which guarantee that the tequila inside is any good.
Purchase From a Reputable Source
Perhaps the most important thing to know about buying tequila online is this:
Only buy from a reputable source.
There are dozens of online retailers that sell and ship spirits around the country. Stick to trusted, respected retailers with great customer service solutions and secure payment methods. Buying from an unknown retailer might result in ordering counterfeit products or random agave spirits, mixtos, or mezcals that aren’t tequila at all.
If you know the specific brand you want to purchase, consider ordering directly from the manufacturer’s website. This cuts out the middleman and allows you to obtain the tequila you want straight from the source. The manufacturer’s website will let you know if the law allows shipping to your zip code.
In Conclusion
Buying tequila online is much easier if you identify the brand you want to buy first. If you’re a seasoned tequila drinker, you may already have a favorite. If you’re sampling and tasting tequila for the first time, we recommend narrowing your options down to brands that are certified additive-free.
With additive-free brands made at esteemed distilleries with well-respected NOMs, you can be sure that you’re getting not just real tequila but great tequila that you can sip, savor, and enjoy the way tequila connoisseurs do.
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