Updated March 2026.
Cristalino is not a CRT age class — it is a style: aged tequila that has been filtered to remove barrel color. The bottle still has to meet reposado, añejo, or extra añejo time before that filter. Clear does not mean blanco. Most US cristalinos print 40% ABV, so a 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA drink. This is not a 2023 top-ten tasting and not a hologram ranking.
Don Julio 70 is a widely stocked named example, not a medal. Related: reposado vs añejo, añejo for sipping, Don Julio.
What the clear bottle actually is
| Claim | What it is |
|---|---|
| CRT class | Blanco / reposado / añejo / extra añejo — not “cristalino” |
| Style | Aged, then filtered for color |
| Typical US ABV | 40%. Higher-proof SKUs exist — read the neck |
| 1.5 oz drinks | 1.00 at 40% |
| Named grocery example | Don Julio 70 — distribution, not a score |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks. Four pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. No invented MSRP. Pour math: tequila drinks.
Sources
- NOM-006-SCFI age classes. Cristalino is a commercial style, not a sixth CRT class.
- 27 CFR 5.148. Don Julio FAQ lists 70 Añejo Cristalino in the US core line.
- NIAAA December 2025.