Hornitos Plata
Jalisco (Los Valles), Mexico (NOM 1102)
Unaged and double distilled in a column still. Agave Matchmaker lists diffuser extraction with an autoclave stage, while the brand's own FAQ describes crushing the cooked piñas; the two accounts conflict.
- Congeners
- Low
- Histamines
- Low
- Polyphenols
- Low
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Very Low
- Sugar
- Low
- Additives
- Moderate
In its favor
- ✓100% agave
- ✓Unaged, no barrel congeners
What to watch
- !Diffuser extraction listed by Agave Matchmaker (brand describes milling)
- !Not on any additive-free list we could verify
Factor by factor
Congeners Low ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Low ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Low ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Very Low ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Moderate ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Hornitos Plata is a budget 100% agave blanco. Several reviewers on Agave Matchmaker describe an artificial sweetness; those are tasting impressions, and the brand has not published an additive statement.
Hornitos Plata questions
Is Hornitos Plata gluten-free? ▾
Yes. Hornitos Plata is gluten-free, with no wheat, barley or rye at any stage.
What proof is Hornitos Plata? ▾
Hornitos Plata is 80 proof, which is 40% alcohol by volume.
Does Hornitos Plata give you a bad hangover? ▾
Hornitos Plata scores 5/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 4/10 for tequila overall. It is low on every hangover factor we track, so most of the morning after comes down to how much ethanol you drink.
Is Hornitos Plata additive-free? ▾
Not confirmed. Hornitos Plata was not on the Additive Free Alliance list, the independent list started by Tequila Matchmaker, when it was last published in October 2024, and that list has been empty since. Mexican rules let tequila contain up to 1% caramel colour, oak extract, glycerin or sugar syrup by weight, and the tequila regulator (CRT) does not allow "additive free" on labels, so the bottle itself cannot tell you.
Is Hornitos Plata vegan? ▾
Yes. Hornitos Plata is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.