Different Types of Tequila: Complete Guide (2023 Updated)

Last Updated on December 29, 2022 by Lydia Martin

All types of tequila come from the blue agave plant, but you may have noticed that they do not taste the same. 

But what are the different types of tequila, and how do you distinguish one from the other? We’ve got the answer here. 

6 Types of Tequila

6. Blanco 

Also Known As: Silver, Plata, or White 

Age Statement: Up to two months in a stainless-steel tank

Average Price: around $12 to $36

Tasting Notes:

• Palate: Raw vegetal agave taste, citrus, black pepper, and some natural sweetness from agave
• Nose: Citrusy and grassy herbal notes
• Color: Crystalline or silvery clear
• Finish: It finishes long with little sweetness but more herbaceous character, crispness, and spice

How To Enjoy It:

The tequila Blanco like Patron Silver works best in famous Margarita drinks. Blanco is unaged tequila distilled from the blue weber agave plant.

Because of its lack of aging, tequila Blanco holds prominent citrusy flavor, agave sweetness, and pepper flavors, which are great for mixed drinks.

But you can also enjoy brands such as Don Julio Blanco tequilas by sipping it neat or on the rocks if you want to chill it a bit.

5. Reposado (Aged)

Also Known As: Aged or Rested 

Age Statement: Between 2-12 months in American or European oak barrels

Average Price: around $29 to $99

Tasting Notes: 

• Palate: Present agave sweetness, vanilla, cinnamon, and citrusy flavors.
• Nose: Bold aroma of agave and oak, vanilla and caramel.
• Color: Yellowish pale maple or subtle gold hue.
• Finish: The finish is medium-long, smooth, and warm with a kick of zest.

How To Enjoy It:

You can enjoy a reposado tequila by taking a shot or sipping it neat. You might indulge in the sweeter and spicier aromatics of this tequila-aged agave spirit.

A reposado tequila deserves to be called aged tequila, as it matures in oak for at least two months.

Aged tequilas like reposados can also be versatile in cocktails. Since it is not overly mature like the Añejo, reposado tequilas can create dynamic and flavorful Margaritas.

4. Joven (Gold)

Also Known As: Gold or Oro

Age Statement: Unaged or matured for fewer than two months

Average Price: roughly $20 to $360

Tasting Notes:

• Palate: Earthy agave flavor, sweet hints of apple and citrus.
• Nose: Notes of sweet agave, spice, and subtle fruity aroma.
• Color: Light yellow or gold
• Finish: It has a long finish with lingering spice.

How To Enjoy It:

A Joven or gold tequila made from 100% agave is often good for shots. Some Joven or gold tequila is typically a mixto tequila. A mixto has sugars and other additives, artificial flavoring, and caramel coloring to give it a smoother taste, making it good for shots.

Joven tequila suits bold, mixed beverages like the Mexican Mule, which is a combination of tequila, lime juice, beer, and agave syrup. 

3. Añejo (Extra Aged)

Also Known As: Extra Aged or Vintage

Age Statement: 1 to 3 years in an oak barrel

Average Price: around $20 to $94

Tasting Notes:

• Palate: Has creamy caramel base, vanilla, and peppery hints.
• Nose: Cooked agave, floral aromas, and notes of baking spices like vanilla.
• Color: Medium or pale amber color.
• Finish: Creamy with woody notes and refined with a lingering peppery bite and floral aroma.

How To Enjoy It:

Añejo tequila shines best when drunk straight and on the rocks so that you can taste the rich tones of its flavor.

Since Añejo is an extra-aged tequila, it has a more complex flavor and even darker color. The aging process imparted the natural color of these aged tequilas.

This smooth tequila is great on its own but not so much in a Margarita. However, this can also be enjoyed in recipes as an alternative base spirit in the place of whiskey.

Read: Popular Anejo Tequilas For Sipping

2. Extra Añejo (Ultra Aged)

Also Known As: Ultra Aged

Age Statement: More than three years

Average Price: roughly $125 to $250

Tasting Notes:

• Palate: Spicy oak flavor, caramel, and sweet fruit hints
• Nose: Dark chocolate, toasted oak, caramel, and spices
• Color: Deep amber or copper
• Finish: Have a long, refined finish

How To Enjoy It:

The well-aged Extra Añejo tequilas are made to be consumed on their own, either neat or over ice.

Blending this extra añejo tequila into cocktails might ruin the tasting experience, so mixing Extra Añejo tequila with other drinks is not recommended.

1. Cristalino 

Also Known As: Añejo Claro 

Age Statement: 18 months in American and French oak barrels

Average Price: around $69 to $85

Tasting Notes:

• Palate: Sweet, crisp agave is balanced by oak, vanilla, caramel, and apple hints
• Nose: A mix of milk chocolate, mellow woods, apples, cinnamon, and vanilla notes
• Color: Clear
• Finish: Medium-length finish of sweet cream, peppery and fresh cut grass

How To Enjoy It:

Cristalinos are tequilas that are best served neat or poured over a single large ice cube. You can expect delightful toasted oak, vanilla, and intriguing flavor profiles with this premium clear tequila.

The Cristalino is a great sipping tequila that needs no other ingredients. 

Read: What’s A Top-Shelf Tequila?

Is Mezcal A Tequila Type?

No. Mezcal is not a tequila type. But both tequila and mezcal come from agave plants. Although tequila and mezcal are made from agave spirits, that is where the similarities end. It is because they are produced and distilled differently. [1]

Mezcal is made from more than 30 varieties of the agave plant and is considered the Americas’ oldest distilled spirit.

In comparison, tequilas are mostly made from the agave tequilana or blue agave plant. That’s why all tequilas are mezcals, but not all mezcals are tequilas. But is mezcal stronger than tequila?

FAQs

Which tequila type is best for shots?

Some people recommend gold tequila as best for shots because they’re less harsh and smoother than fresh tequilas. [2] However, silver tequila is the most budget-friendly, so many are making it an affordable option, especially for first-timers. Here are some great chasers for tequila. 

Which tequila type is best for no hangover?

Blanco or silver tequila is the best tequila for no hangover. Blanco tequila is made from 100% agave tequila production, which, based on studies, will give you the least hangover.

However, it will still depend on how much you drink. For a worry-free night, drink tequila in moderation.

Final Thoughts

The different types of tequila are a good fit whatever your mood is. Each type is versatile and can be enjoyed individually, as a shot, or for sipping.

You can also mix and combine it with other drinks to make famous cocktails, such as Margaritas. 

So, whether it’s aged or not, smooth or strong, the best-tasting tequila will always be the one that will suit your taste preference.

References:

1. https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/differences-between-tequila-mezcal 
2. https://www.myrecipes.com/course/drink-recipes/difference-between-gold-and-silver-tequila