What Does Tequila Taste Like? (2023 Updated)

Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Lydia Martin

Since 2019, Hollywood celebrities, including A-listers, are opening their tequila businesses left and right. Tequila is famously known for being the main ingredient of Margarita, a best-selling cocktail. Many people believe that it has health benefits, that’s why it’s famous.

But for those who haven’t drunk tequila yet, you may be asking- what does tequila taste like?

Tequila: How Does It Taste?

The taste of tequila is generally sweet, which comes from its main ingredient—the blue agave plants. This drink has two categories, the mixed and the 100% agave. Most people consider the mixed tequila inferior, and it has a harsher finish.

There are four levels of tequila, and each one varies on the aging it takes inside a cask. The Silver usually didn’t go through aging. Then the next levels are Aged (two weeks to one year), Extra-Aged (not more than three years), and Ultra-Aged (three years).

It is a gluten-free alcoholic drink like wine and rum. But with all the types we mentioned, what does tequila taste like in a shot glass?

Most Common Types

Joven Tequila

Joven Tequila is mixed, which means it is not a hundred percent agave plant. It still has the plant’s original essence, sweet and sugary, followed by notes of vanilla and cinnamon. The oak extract gives it a smooth texture but burns on the finish.

It mostly fits into cocktail recipes or for a cooking mix.

Blanco Tequila

Blanco Tequilas are the best choice for beginners to taste tequila in the most organic form. It most commonly has no wood touch and maintains the rich sweet taste of the main ingredient. It is best known for the dominant citrus and spice flavors blended well with a fruity essence.

Blanco Tequila is also one of the top mixes in fruity margaritas. It contains the purest aroma and flavors of the blue agave plant.

Extra-Añejo Tequila 

Extra-Anejo is an expensive tequila and the latest addition to its variations. It is most commonly aged in a French or American barrel for at least three years, making it tastes like whiskey. The barrels impart the spicy, sweet, and smoky flavor notes of wood. It has the richest and smoothest tequila we have ever tasted with all the chocolate, dried fruits, oak, and agave in one harmonious blend.

But, what’s the real difference between whiskey and tequila?

Añejo Tequila

The next one on the list is an aged tequila of not more than three years. For that reason, this tequila has a uniquely smooth texture and oaky savor. It gives a long finish with the rich flavors of fruity notes, traditional peppery taste, and woody profile. 

After a few shots of this tequila, there is a distinguishable hint of banana, oak, and nuts. But, how many shots of tequila will get you drunk?

Reposado Tequila

Reposado or the “rested tequila” is a Blanco aged at least two months to one year inside an oak cask. It still has a sweet fruity and honeyed flavor, but this time, with a smoother and rounder finish. 

The time spent inside the oak barrels caused the combined taste of vanilla and caramel with the earthy and spicy notes of the wood. We noticed a hint of sweet chocolate and black pepper mixed in as we tested a bottle.

Gold Tequila

Gold tequila is a mixed tequila, just like the Joven. It includes cane syrup, among other additives, contributing to its varying taste and color. It combines Blanco tequila with other aged tequila, resulting in oaky and spicy notes.

Gold tequila is much cheaper than the other styles of tequila, but it still makes a good cocktail mix at a huge party. It still has the sweet undertone of the plant but with bolder flavors.

Also Read: Does Tequila Make You Sick?

Tequila vs Mezcal: Their Difference In Taste

Tequila and Mezcal are both distilled spirits made from agave piñas. Tequila uses blue agave, giving it sweet and fruitful flavors, while Mezcal comes from different agave plants. It makes the flavors of Mezcal vary depending on the plant used.

The different process used by both spirits results in Mezcal being smokier than tequila. Mezcal involves the agave’s leaves roasted in earthen pits with hot rocks and burning woods, while tequila uses brick ovens. [1] 

Tequila is a category under Mezcal spirit. They both have a sweet fruity, and floral tone, but Mezcal has a distinctive smokey flavor. But if you’re taking a pause from alcohol, you can check out these virgin drinks here. 

Read: Dos Hombres Mezcal Guide

FAQs

Is tequila sweeter than vodka?

Yes, tequila is sweeter than vodka, which is flavorless or very much like water with a hint of bitterness at the finish. Learn more about tequila vs vodka here. 

Does tequila taste bad?

No, tequila does not taste bad. To drink tequila in its purest form, you’ll taste sweet and fruity notes that can be drunk straight or mixed with spicy cocktails or juice highballs in shot glasses. You can take a good tequila chaser right after, too. 

In Conclusion

Tequila is a sweet, distilled spirit produced exclusively in Mexico. It has citrus and pepper notes and a burn in the throat as it goes down. For those new to the world of tequila, Blanco is a good choice with a sweet and citrusy essence. 

You can drink tequila that went through the aging process straight to savor its richness. Mixed tequilas are the better choice for a huge party because of their pricing. Drinking tequila depends on a person’s taste buds, but it usually starts with licking salt, taking shots, and sucking lime.

References:

1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mezcal-vs-tequila#