Before your favorite tequila ends up in your margarita or sipping glass, it starts as a humble agave plant tended by a jimador (agave farmer) in the soils of Jalisco, Mexico. Just like Champagne or any other terroir-specific wine or spirit, sustainability is a top priority for tequila makers. After all, there’s only so much land to go around, and farmers need to take care of it to keep producing the best tequila possible.
Tequila’s recent boom in popularity (due in no small part to the wave of celebrity-owned brands) has tequila makers stopping to reflect on their farming and distillation practices and making strides to ensure Jalisco’s farmland is stewarded properly for generations to come. Keep reading for our top nine sustainable tequila brands that you can sip with pride.
New to tequila? Watch our breakdown of tequila tasting for beginners before diving into the brands below.
Starting off strong with one of the most respected names in tequila, Don Julio Tequila was the first brand ever to receive the Environmentally Responsible Agave Certification from the Tequila Regulatory Council and the Government of the State of Jalisco, Mexico in 2021.1 The certification’s purpose is to assure consumers that the tequila they are drinking has been manufactured in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner with no deforestation in the production process. This certification recognizes Don Julio’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and conserving natural resources, all while producing the same great tequila they’ve been making since 1947.
CavAgave, a collection of tequilas out of the most awarded distillery in Mexico, was recently added to ABC’s trusted Sourced & Certified Collection of premium wines and spirits. CavAgave tequila is additive-free and bottled in 50% recycled glass bottles. Additionally, the distillery’s leftover agave fibers are donated to the textile industry, so this useful byproduct doesn’t go to waste. CavAgave is a high quality, ABC-exclusive, must-sip tequila.
We really could write a dissertation on Mijenta’s sustainable production process, but we’ll try to keep it brief. Mijenta is a carbon neutral company and the world’s first B Corp tequila, which is awarded to companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Its labels are made from agave waste, bottles and corks are made from recycled glass and boxes are made from 100% post-consumer recycled material. Leftover agave fibers are composted for parks, gardens and agave fields. This year, the distillery will implement solar panels to reduce greenhouse emissions. If you’re looking for a tequila that eats, sleeps and breathes sustainability, this is it.
The agave plant is known for its beautifully long, spindly leaves, but tequila production doesn’t even touch this above-ground part of the plant. Tequila is only made from the piña, or the heart of the plant, and even still there are agave fibers leftover from the fermentation and distillation process that often get tossed. Agave fiber is an incredibly durable and versatile material, and that’s why Jose Cuervo started The Agave Project to tap into this tequila byproduct’s massive potential. Cuervo’s recycled agave fibers have been made into biodegradable straws, guitars, surfboards, honey, car parts and more. Who knows what Cuervo will make next? Regardless, sip happily knowing no agave goes to waste!
For a legendary name in tequila that means “big boss,” Patrón definitely has some bossed up sustainability practices. It was the first tequila distillery to install a natural gas pipeline as a main energy source, reducing CO2 emissions, and it also utilizes a state-of-the-art water treatment system to reclaim clean water from the production process for reuse in cooling towers and for cleaning. Most importantly, Patrón is looking ahead to the future of tequila production by funding a study with a top agricultural research center in Mexico on how to protect the all-important Blue Weber Agave plant used in tequila production for years to come.
Another tequila with a significant name, Teremana means “spirit of the earth;” this brand’s commitment to protecting the planet is part of its DNA. The company, owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, takes 100% of the leftover agave fibers from production and turns them into natural compost that is used as an organic fertilizer for the agave fields. Teremana also uses an innovative water filtration system that cleans the wastewater left over from production. Hollywood’s sweetheart has clearly imparted his selflessness and good nature into the brand’s operations.
This tequila started as a family recipe, so you know it’s made with love, both for you and the environment. Cazadores’ tequila and distillery is 100% powered by agave, literally. The distillery has a biomass boiler, which converts spent agave fibers and other renewable, carbon-neutral resources like clean waste wood, biomass briquettes, sawdust, coconut shells and tree cuttings into steam power that fuels the distillation process.2 The company also treats its residual liquids and uses the byproduct to irrigate its fields. Cazadores’ waste? Zero. Its deliciousness? Like, a billion and one.
As the tequila producer that invented the first reposado tequila expression in 1974, Casa Herradura boasts a history of quite a few firsts. It was the very first tequila producer to receive the Environmental Excellence Award from Mexico’s Attorney for Environmental Protection in 2015. It was also one of the first tequila distilleries to build a wastewater treatment plant that met Mexico government regulations. Herradura’s ability to seamlessly integrate sustainability practices (like zero-waste production) into its operations means it’s a brand eco-conscious tequila lovers need on their spirit shelves.
Innovating to find yet another second life for used agave fibers, Hornitos combines leftover fibers with residual solids from its water treatment plant to create a natural, nutrient-rich fertilizer for its agave fields. Oh, and did we mention Hornitos was the first tequila company to build a water treatment plant that treats 100% of its wastewater? Even Hornitos bottles are made using 15-60% recycled glass. We’ll raise a paloma to that.
