Updated May 2026.
Blanco is the unaged (or barely rested) tequila class. Reposado has a two-month oak floor. NOM-006: blanco/plata is bottled without the reposado clock — or after a short rest under two months. Reposado must mature at least two months in oak or holm oak. Most US bottles of both are 40% ABV. A 1.5-ounce 80-proof pour is one NIAAA standard drink either way. Oak time is not extra ethanol.
“Gold” or joven is often blanco with color or a splash of aged tequila — read 100% agave vs mixto. Related: reposado vs añejo, silver vs gold, tequila for margaritas.
What the words require
| Class | Oak | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Blanco / silver / plata | None required | Margarita, ranch water, Paloma |
| Reposado | ≥2 months oak | Highball or sipping — still 40% on most US necks |
| Joven / gold | Not the reposado clock | Often colored; confirm 100% agave |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 standard drinks. Four 1.5-ounce pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. IBA Margarita is 50 ml tequila — see cocktail specs. Pour math: tequila drinks.
Sources
- NOM-006-SCFI-2012 (blanco vs reposado ≥2 months).
- TTB 27 CFR 5.148. NIAAA standard drink (December 2025). No invented ranking.