What does 'agave-forward' tequila mean?

Agave-forward tequila is made from 100 percent blue Weber agave (no added sugars or grain neutral spirit) and has the vegetal, slightly sweet, peppery character of the agave plant front and center.

By law, tequila must be at least 51 percent blue Weber agave. The other 49 percent can be cheaper sugar sources — typically cane sugar — fermented and distilled to neutral spirit, then blended in. This is called 'mixto' tequila and is what cheap brands use. 'Agave-forward' means 100 percent blue Weber agave, no fillers, often labeled '100% de agave' on the bottle. The flavor difference is dramatic: 100 percent agave tequila tastes like the agave plant — vegetal, slightly sweet, peppery, with notes of cooked pineapple and pepper. Mixto tastes mostly like neutral spirit with a tequila finish. Look for: '100% de agave' on the label, the NOM number (a producer-identifier number), and bottles that don't list added sugars or 'glucose' on the back. Brands worth seeking out for agave-forward character: Espolòn, Casamigos Blanco (criticized for sweetness but undeniably popular), El Tesoro, Fortaleza, Tapatío, Siete Leguas, Don Julio Blanco. For Margaritas, agave-forward blanco is non-negotiable; the cheap stuff turns the drink into a sugar bomb.