Were you wondering what the next celebrity-backed tequila brand might be? No? That’s too bad, because we got the goods for you: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is the muscle behind the new Tequila Volteo, and the good news is that this brand is in the process of being verified as additive-free.
The reason why that is good news is because so many celeb-backed tequila brands kind of taste like vanilla, cotton candy, and frosting. Legally, they are allowed to do that, because up to one percent additives can be used to flavor and color the spirit without being disclosed, and often that kind of sickly sweet flavor profile is the result (think 818). Taste is entirely subjective and if that’s your thing, you do you. But the problem is that additive-filled tequila is helping to change the perception of what tequila actually tastes like, especially among a younger generation that might be more easily swayed by star power.
Tequila Volteo, it appears, is trying to do things a bit differently. According to a press release from Zamora Company USA, the American arm of a Spanish spirits company, Prescott has joined Volteo with a “founder-level investment.” The tequila is distilled at Destileria Casa de Piedra (NOM 1586) in Jalisco, Mexico, and has been in development for about two years now. The brand is launching with three expressions: blanco ($70), reposado ($90), and (of course) a cristalino expression ($100). The reposado was aged for three months in bourbon barrels, while the cristalino was aged for three months in French oak wine barrels before being filtered to remove its color. All three are being touted as organic and additive-free, although they are currently being verified by the Additive Free Alliance, virtually the only independent organization dedicated to this task.
You might be wondering, why Dak Prescott? According to the brand, he’s faced more than a few challenges in his life, including losing his mother to cancer and a brother to suicide. A portion of the sales proceeds will go towards his Faith Fight Finish Foundation, which was established to fund colon cancer research and mental health initiatives, among other things. “As an athlete, Dak is very thoughtful about what he eats and drinks, so when we began developing this tequila with him, he was insistent that we keep it clean and natural, with no sugar or other additives–and that’s exactly what we did,: said Zamora Company USA CEO Matt Appleby in a statement. That language veers a little close to the concept that some types of alcohol are better for you than others, which is nonsense. Booze is booze, full stop, and alcohol is fine in moderation but it’s not clean or healthy. That being said, there are many drinkers who are looking for additive-free tequilas based on taste alone, so this is a welcome new addition if that holds true.
Tequila Volteo launches this Friday, so if you want to make sure you get your bottle ASAP you can sign up on the website to be notified when it’s available in your neck of the woods.
