Updated April 2026.
Anejo is a CRT age class, not a sipping score. The norma requires one to three years in oak casks no larger than 600 liters. Extra anejo is three years or more. Tequila is 35-55% ABV; most US anejos print 40%, so a 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA drink. “Best for sipping” is 100% agave you actually like neat — not a 2022 top-20 tasting. Mixto can still say tequila.
Cristalino is aged tequila that has been filtered for color — still aged, different look. Related: reposado vs anejo, tequila types, reposado.
What sipping actually requires
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Anejo vs extra anejo | 1-3 years vs 3+ years (CRT) |
| 100% agave | Oak can hide mixto sugar |
| ABV | US often 40%. Higher-proof sipping SKUs exist — read the neck |
| NOM | Distillery. Not a medal |
| Widely stocked class examples | Don Julio Anejo, Herradura Anejo, Patron Anejo — distribution, not scores |
A 750 mL 40% anejo is about 17 drinks. Four neat pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. No 2026 MSRP. Hours are state law. Pour math: tequila drinks.
Sources
- CRT / NOM-006 anejo and extra anejo; oak no larger than 600 L. 27 CFR 5.148.
- Named bottles are distribution examples, not a ranking.
- NIAAA December 2025. No invented MSRP.