The Best Finishing Olive Oil Brand Of All Has Top-Tier Quality

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Before you really learn about olive oil, it's easy to think that they're all the same. Sure, there are different types and names, and there are enough brands out there to choose from, but they all serve the same purpose, right? Well, kind of. Yes, olive oil is mainly used in food prep, but each one can taste so different; it's almost like whiskey, but without the hangover and just as big of a price tag. That's why there are cheaper cooking oils and more expensive finishing oils, and we can tell you one specific bottle that's worth splurging on: Brightland Alive Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

We tested out 14 of the best finishing olive oil brands and ranked them from worst to best, and this Instagram-worthy bottle topped our list for many reasons. Brightland only uses olives from family-run farms in California's Central Coast and Valley, which are milled just hours after harvest to ensure every oil is bottled at its freshest point. The result is an extremely flavorful product that stands out among the pack, especially when it comes to the Alive oil.

Made from a custom blend of Arbosana and Koreneiki olives, the cold-pressed oil is smooth and robust, with a slightly earthy flavor that pairs perfectly with salads, dips, and even sorbet. Our tester especially loved the notes of banana peel, almond, and butter, as well as the beautifully designed bottle, which is great for gift-giving or decoration.

Brightland has been a social media darling since it was launched in 2018. Businesswoman Aishwarya Iyer founded the company after she moved from New York to California and visited some local olive farms. One of her big focuses was the design of her bottles, which quickly caught the eye of big-time celebrities and influencers. Alive was one of the first oils Brightland sold, and it remains a firm favorite. 

It has an almost five-star rating on the company's website, where customers have called it a "game changer" and "freshest and purest quality" olive oil on the market. Amazon shoppers have also left rave reviews for the oil. One customer said there was "no better olive oil" out there, while another said, "Call me a convert. I'm on my second order." That same commenter followed up, writing, "[The oil does] indeed taste fresh, alive and zingy."

It can be okay to cook with finishing oils, but this one really is best used sparingly. One user noted that this oil "[shines] as a salad dressing oil or a dipping oil for bread," while others also like to drizzle it on fresh tomatoes, toss veggies in it, or simply enjoy it with some crusty sourdough bread. As one Amazon customer summarized in a review, "It's the details that can make something as simple as dipping bread in oil a memorable experience."