14 Best Finishing Olive Oil Brands, Ranked
No kitchen is complete without a good selection of oils. From your everyday basic cooking types to specialty small batches that deserve to be savored, the world of oil is a deep dive into deliciousness. When it comes to the typical starting lineup, olive oil is commonly considered the culinary MVP (or rather, MVO). That's because along with being versatile, it's a super tasty and healthy option.
Not one to be limited to cooking only, quality olive oil can be enjoyed solo with bread and as a tasty topping for pasta, soups, salads, and more. Flavors vary depending on where the olives used are grown and many other factors. A taste test of extra virgin olive oils would be like taking a tour around the Mediterranean coast.
Like wine, olive oil is a flavor enhancer that comes in countless varieties. You'll find California-favorite arbequina and the moraiolo of Central Italy, along with Spain's picual, hojiblanca and more. Also like wine, certain olive oils are made for specific situations. Less pungent types are used in cooking more than robust-flavored ones, which are better saved for dipping or drizzling, unless you dig olive oil's earthy taste. To point you in the right direction, we've put together a list of olive oil brands that we consider the best for finishing.
14. Branche No. 1 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil
With so many olive varieties, the debate over who produces the best-tasting oil is ongoing. Is it the nutty and fruity profile of Spanish olives or the grassy aromatic notes of Italian ones? Or is it the peppery finish of Greek olives? Whichever team you root for, there's no denying that olives in general are delicious — especially when they come from quality brands like Branche No. 1 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Hailing from Southern Spain's arid Tabernas desert, it's harvested in small batches from a multigenerational closed-loop farm, which means it's nutrient-dense. If you wanna learn the major difference between Spanish olive oil and other kinds, this is a great brand to taste test with.
Branche No. 1 is for those who prefer bold and herbaceous flavors. It has just the grassy punch you want from a quality finishing olive oil. Unlike your average store-bought EVOO, it comes in a cleanly designed and eye-pleasing ceramic bottle. The mindful design choice probably also contributes to its hefty price tag; it will cost you nearly $50. It's worth the splurge — just use it on special occasions to impress your foodie friends. After all, it's the little things that let you know a brand is quality.
13. ILIADA Kalamata PDO Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Although there are countless types of olives, the two you'll most commonly find at your local grocery store are green and Kalamata. It just so happens that ILIADA's manufacturing facility is located in the actual city of Kalamata, Greece. If that doesn't let you know this brand cares about the quality of its olive oil, nothing will. In fact, last year alone it was given 10 awards for quality, solidifying its dedication to producing the best olive oil possible.
From traditional methods passed down through generations, ILIADA Kalamata PDO Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made using Greek Koroneiki olives. It has a robust flavor profile that's slightly peppery and pleasantly bitter and carries notes of green banana and herbs. It's also typically darker in color than other varieties of olive oils. This makes it great for infusing a dish with the wonderful flavor of the Mediterranean. In addition to excellent olive oil, ILIADA also offers a wide selection of olive blends and spreads that can be found at many retailers and online.
12. Kirkland 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Costco hit a home run when it decided to toss its hat in the olive oil ring. Unlike other generic store products, its in-house brand Kirkland 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil has somehow managed to become a go-to for regular consumers and professional chefs alike. Sometimes quality can come from the most surprising places. In addition to good taste, professional chefs also love Kirkland EVOO because it's an extremely affordable bulk buy. You'd be surprised to find that many of your favorite restaurants use Kirkland too.
Plastic container aside, when you're on a budget, Kirkland's EVOO is a perfectly good substitute for special batch brands. You'll enjoy finishing off your favorite salad just the same, all without having to break the bank. Another great thing about Kirkland olive oil is that you don't have to be a Costco member to find it; it's available at many major retailers as well. When it comes to life and food alike, appearances aren't always what they seem, and Kirkland is a great example of that.
11. Pompeian Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Robust
Good quality and affordability don't often share the same space, so when you find it, it's like stumbling across hidden treasure. One widely known and popular brand that offers both great taste and low cost is Pompeian Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Robust. The farmer-owned brand grows its olives in California and imports other varieties as well, ensuring a quality standard throughout its supply chain. Their website underscores this commitment with transparency, allowing curious customers to meet the farmers behind the olive oil magic.
Pompeian is a heritage brand that's been in business since the late 19th century. Clearly, they know a thing or two about making good-tasting olive oil. It's a great, pocketbook-friendly olive oil that pairs nicely with roasted carrots, salads, and pastas, and as a dipping sauce too. Most major supermarket chains carry Pompeian EVOO, making it an easy find and budget pick.
10. La Tourangelle Organic Bright & Peppery Extra Virgin Olive Oil
While La Tourangelle isn't the fanciest olive oil, nor the most budget-friendly, it offers great flavor at a reasonable price. Not to mention, it comes in a cool and unique container that makes it stand out amongst other brands. Made from olives grown in Andalucia, Spain, La Tourangelle Organic Bright & Peppery Extra Virgin Olive Oil carries a bold yet bright and peppery flavor profile that's excellent for finishing. In its homeland, locals often refer to it as "mountain olive oil" because of the mountainous region they grow in. The stressful environment actually helps olives develop loads of antioxidants along with a high oleic acid content, which makes this oil a very nutritious choice.
The olives used are harvested early, giving them a rich and full-bodied flavor to the oil that even pairs well with unexpected foods. Don't be shy; elevate your next recipe with a drip or two of La Tourangelle EVOO. It's a tasty finisher for rice, vegetables, and meat dishes. If that wasn't enough to convince you, each purchase goes towards the local farming families in the region that own the land, helping to support the traditions that make quality olive oil like this possible.
9. Monini Originale Extra Virgin Olive Oil
If you enjoy tasting the earthy region your olives grew in, Monini Originale Extra Virgin Olive Oil carries just the grassy accent your palate desires. The brand's noticeable terrestrial taste is joined by notes of fruit, subtle almond nuttiness, and slight bitterness with a mild peppery finish. It's harvested from Italy's Umbrian Hills, where the climate is colder and surprisingly accounts for only a mere 2% of the country's total olive production. That makes these extra virgin olives extra special.
Despite their seemingly meager market share, Monini Originale is actually the best-selling Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Italy. It's also friendly to your budget, costing in the lower range compared to most brands. That means it's a great bulk buy too. It's a wonderful finisher for afternoon snacks like toasted bread with chocolate spread, mid-day hankerings for your favorite salad, and even dinnertime recipes like savory roasted mushroom polenta. All you gotta do is drizzle and enjoy.
8. Enzo Organic Bold Koroneiki
Reliable sources for olive oil can be hard to come by, and up for debate, but when your brand is listed in Extra Virgin Olive Oil World Ranking's top 10 not once, but twice, it has to be a serious contender. ENZO is an award-winning olive oil maker that's based in California and lauded for its amazing flavor. Well-balanced and robust, it carries a taste that rivals the Mediterranean homeland, and it proves that quality olive oil is a badge of honor that California can proudly wear.
ENZO harvests Koroneiki olives, which originate from Greece, and are known for having a rich and peppery pear flavor that itches the back of your throat. They're also one of the more popular olive varieties due to their ability to grow in high-density climates around the world. ENZO's Organic Bold Koroneiki is the perfect premium compliment to savory sautées, go-to salads, and whatever your hungry heart desires.
7. Graza Drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Graza is a brand that recognizes that some olive oil lovers purchase specific kinds that taste so good, they only use them for drizzling. Maybe that's why the brand's "Drizzle" Extra Virgin Olive Oil doesn't need a fancy name — it's made for one job and one job only. It's normal to have a special olive oil; it's the bottle sitting toward the back of your go-tos that you routinely tell people not to cook with. And when you do pull it out, it's only for a few sprinkles.
Graza "Drizzle" has a refined flavor without the pinky-up presentation. Its bold finishing kick comes from olives that are harvested early, when they're young and tough-skinned. Oil is harder to extract from olives when they're young, that's why finishing olive oil typically has a more refined and pungent taste that can even be enjoyed solo. Cooking with finishing olive oil is never recommended, as it will burn away the oil's subtle range of flavors. To make your drizzle drip-free, Graza "Drizzle" even comes in a colorful squeeze bottle.
6. Bona Furtuna Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Corleone, Sicily-based organic farm Bona Furtuna checks the box on everything that makes quality olive oil: sustainable production, rich heritage, robust flavor, and classy packaging. From New York to Japan, Bona Furtuna has racked up win after win at many olive oil competitions. It was even ranked as No. 1 on The Daily Meal's top olive brands. Grown in the Sicani Mountain region on a 300-hectare farm, its olives carry a full-bodied bite that's complemented by accents of dried flowers and herbs.
Bona Furtuna's strong taste isn't for the faint of heart, but if you love the authentic earthy quality that olive oil is known for, you'll salivate for extra drizzle. This level of quality olive oil is meant to be savored, not used frivolously. Frolic on Bona Furtuna's grassy knoll and drizzle olive oil over your favorite bread, vegetable hodgepodge, or succulent steak dish.
5. Bragg Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A good indicator of quality olive oil is when it's made by a brand that has a reputation for quality products. Bragg has been a trusted ingredient-led products company for over 100 years. Their health-focused products were mostly kept to specialty foods sections at grocery stores or niche wellness markets before joining the ranks of consumer go-to's in recent years. Bragg's Extra Virgin Olive Oil is unrefined and made with Greek Koroneiki olives, giving it a grass-like piquant quality.
A well-rounded and flavorful finisher, Bragg EVOO's fresh and earthy olive taste makes it an excellent option. Drizzle it atop a wide selection of delicious recipes like crispy-skinned fish, grilled carrots, or roasted pepper caprese. It's definitely worth keeping handy in your holster in case a dish needs a quick draw. If you can't get enough of the taste, the best part is that the affordable price makes it a great bulk buy.
4. California Olive Ranch Everyday Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A constant fixture among "Best" lists, California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil has become a regular go-to choice for home chefs. Simply put, it's downright delicious. The taste is composed of floral, grassy, and aromatic notes that combine to create a rich complexity, boosted by solar-powered irrigation and closed-loop farming practices. Each drop is bursting with olive oil goodness; it'd be a crime not to drizzle it over a slice of fresh toast.
Along with its premium flavor, California Olive Ranch EVOO is affordably priced. You won't find many top-shelf olive oils in this range, which probably explains why a lot of people say it's the No. 1 brand in California. It's made with a blend of several olive types, and we recommend giving it a try next time the opportunity presents itself. Trust us, you won't regret the flavor boost. If this wasn't enough to convince you, the brand also carries an Olive Oil Commission of California seal (OOCC) too.
3. Kosterina Original Extra Virgin Olive Oil
This early harvest premium pick is packed with so much flavor, you'll be dreaming of olives. Kosterina Original Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made with the Greek Koroneiki variety, which gives it a strong grassy flavor, pear-like hints, and signature peppery aftertaste. The liquid itself is golden yellow, deeply delicious, and only sold in small batches. With an option of this quality, you'll have no problem identifying what separates extra virgin olive oil from regular olive oil.
To say Kosterina is a great finishing olive oil is an understatement — it's one of the best options, period, great for everything from freshly baked bread to savory dips and salads. Along with its pristine taste, Kosterina stands out from everyday olive oil options with its elegant all-white bottle, which helps retain quality by preventing over-exposure to light. If you prefer your products pesticide-free, their Organic EVOO also comes in a lovely all-blue bottle. You'll undoubtedly have the most popular summertime get-togethers in town with Kosterina Original EVOO.
2. Corto Truly 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil
There are some olive oils that you absolutely must try, and Corto Co. Extra Virgin Olive Oil falls into that category. Named the pick of the year by the EVOO World Ranking organization, it not only made No. 1 on its list but is also featured three additional times within the Top 30. It's 100% organic and made with a blend of Arbequina, Arbosana, and Koroneiki olives, each of which originates from Spain and Greece respectively. Mature arbequina olives taste similar to fruit oatmeal, carrying notes of apple, sweet almond, and artichoke.
Arbosana also has fruity undertones, along with a light and buttery consistency that ends slightly bitter yet smooth. As mentioned, Koroneiki tends to be earthy with a piquant finish. Beyond an authentic experience that's secured by a "flavorlock" feature on the bottle, Corto Truly 100% EVOO is also one of the best options price-wise. Your recipes will be in good hands with this top finishing olive oil pick.
1. Brightland Alive Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Coming in at No. 1 is Brightland Alive Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a beautifully designed bottle of cold-pressed deliciousness. It's smooth yet features a robust flavor of grassy olive oil that's specially made to be drizzled over salads, hummus, baked goods, and more. Grown in California's Central Valley, along with a fresh-cut grass accent, Brightland Alive EVOO also has notes of banana peel, almond, and butter.
While this bottle won't empty your pockets completely, it's far from the most budget-friendly option on this list. It's a mid-tier expensive olive oil that's worth every penny. Every inch of each bottle is covered by an eye-pleasing label that prevents ultraviolet rays from reaching the olive oil. Brightland's blend of quality olives is processed only two hours after being harvested to ensure the freshest-tasting product. Use it gleefully on salads, dips, and even on sorbet or chocolate.
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