A Guide to All the Different Types of Tequila

What are the different types of tequila?

1. Blanco
2. Joven
3. Reposado
4. Añejo
5. Extra Añejo

  Arguably, one of the most popular party drinks across the world is tequila. No wild night out would be complete without someone sprinkling and subsequently licking a dash of salt from the palm of their hands, swallowing a shot of the famed liquor, and then biting on a slice of lime fruit. Another way of drinking this liquor involves lining the rim of a glass with salt crystalline. Though known famously by one name, there actually exist five different types of tequila in the world.

  There is still so much to learn about this well-loved liquor eponymously originating from the great country of Mexico, and you and your friends probably have not yet scratched the surface. If you want to make the most out of your friends’ festive tequila nights, here are five of its varieties you should definitely not miss out on.

Blanco

  As previously mentioned, the liquor drink tequila originated in North America from a town of the same name in Mexico, in the 16th century. In recent times, the city still actually exists, located around 40 miles outside Guadalajara in Mexico in Jalisco. Producing the drink involves the distillation of the juice of the heart of a fruit called the blue agave.

  It’s interesting to note that the classification of tequila is determined by the length of time the tequila spends aging in the barrels. With Blanco – “White” in English – being the first on the list, you can already surmise that this type of tequila is the least aged among the remaining four. In fact, there is a lack of aging because it is bottled immediately after being distilled.

  If you’ve never had a chance to drink tequila at all, ever in your life, perhaps a good start would be to begin with Blanco tequila. Due to the lack of barrel aging, there is no oak flavor to mask the “true” taste of the popular party drink. This type of tequila can, however, be also stored in a stainless steel container.

  It’s easy to mess up your maiden experience of Blanco tequila if you don’t know where to look for it. To make sure that you get only the best experience, only buy from Alcoline’s select choice of Blanco tequila from Casa Noble. Made from 100% distilled agave, this drink will offer your taste buds with a sweet peppery and citrusy flavor to refresh your palate.

Joven

  This next type of tequila is a type of Blanco tequila which contains a mixture of some aged tequila, like Blanco, or Añejo. By adding this other variety of tequila, the resulting mixture ends up becoming richer and more mature in taste. Joven tequila can also be aged by up to a few weeks before it can be bottled.

  One of the curious facts about this category of tequila is that it is difficult to find because it’s so rare. If you ever encounter this type of tequila, it would do you well to know that it is also blended with glycerine.

  The purpose of adding glycerine to liquor is that it acts as a thickener to further amplify the thickness of the drink, resulting from the distillation process. It’s also added to other types of liquor to make them denser, allowing one to create colorful layers of an alcoholic mixture.

  If you ever encounter this type of tequila at home, you can craft your own golden margarita mix. Simply buy the following ingredients: Joven tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, sour mix, and a lime wedge. Afterwhich, you need only to combine and thoroughly shake the ingredients inside a cocktail shaker containing ice. Whip out a glass or two for yourself, and you can already enjoy a golden margarita party at home.

Reposado

  The next type of tequila is aged the longest, comparing it with the previous two that you’ve encountered so far. Known as Reposado, the agave is aged inside an oak barrel between a period of about two months and less than a year. Because of the time, it takes to age inside an oak barrel, the resulting flavor can be characterized as being mellow and containing hints of vanilla. If you’re looking to mix tequila with other types of drinks to come up with a Margarita cocktail, then using a Reposado tequila will be your safest bet, because of the softness that it offers your resulting cocktail mix.

  As a standalone drink, this is also a good choice. Simply pour generous amounts of this liquor in several shot glasses, and watch your low-alcohol-tolerance friends drop like flies on the floor as this strong drink filled with so much personality begins entering their systems.

  If you want a classier experience of Reposado tequila, you can concoct a classic, old-fashioned recipe that takes only around three minutes to make. For this recipe, you’ll need only two slices of nectarine, two cherries, a tablespoon of agave nectar, three ounces of Reposado tequila, and two dashes of Angostura Bitters. For the next step, you’ll want to combine the cherries, nectarine, and agave nectar inside a glass. Using a muddler, smash the ingredients until they’re completely mixed. Next, you’ll want to add some ice to the glass, then pour in the tequila and the bitter. With a garnish of cherry, you’ll soon enjoy a fancy, bar-quality drink in no time.

Añejo

  Añejo, being the third on our list, is aged for approximately one to three years inside oak or bourbon barrels. Translated in English as “vintage”, this tequila is mellower, and softer in taste compared to the previous three that you so far, have had the pleasure of knowing.

  If you like to constantly drink alone, then you’ll be happy to know that you won’t have to feel embarrassed if you’re caught drinking Añejo tequila alone. It is after all, considered as the best type of tequila for sipping because of the smooth flavor, with hints of caramel. This type of tequila also exhibits an amber coloring. Taking longer to age compared to Blanco, Joven, or Reposado, for example, it won’t be surprising to note that this tequila is more expensive.

  You won’t have to come up with complicated ingredients to come up with a cocktail mix, as you can enjoy drinking this tequila on its own. Just be sure you’re drinking at a considerably appropriate time of the day.

Extra Añejo

  Unlike the four tequila categories already mentioned, perhaps the extra Añejo tequila is something that producers will find they can take great creative advantage of. Typically, any type of tequila that is aged beyond three years can be classified as extra Añejo. Similar to the previous kind, this tequila can also be aged inside an oak or bourbon barrel, and is more suitable for sipping, rather than as part of a cocktail mix.

  Following the trend of our list, it won’t be surprising to find that this is the most expensive category of tequila yet. If you want to add this to your home liquor rack, then it might do you well to prepare yourself to spend a lot more.

Key Takeaway

  Tequila is one of the most versatile alcoholic drinks in the market. It can be primarily used as the main ingredient for a Margarita mix, or you can also get creative and come up with a variety of different cocktail mixes. Thanks to this beloved drink originating from the country of Mexico, party scenes around the world have been made livelier. If you’re one such person who enjoys such parties, then knowing the different types of tequila has hopefully provided you with some ideas for your next night out with friends.

Click here to check out Alcoline’s line of world-class tequilas!