Tequila El Patron Silver and the Tequila Ageing Guide

What are the types of tequila?

Tequila is made from blue Weber agave and classified by how long it ages. Blanco (also plata or silver) is unaged or rested under two months. Joven or gold is typically blanco blended with aged tequila or coloured and flavoured. Reposado spends between two months and a year in oak. Añejo ages between one and three years, and extra añejo more than three.

Cristalino is aged tequila that has been filtered to remove colour, which gives a clear liquid with oak softness. Each style has its own use, and none is automatically better.

What is reposado tequila?

Reposado means “rested”. It matures in oak barrels for at least two months and up to a year, taking on a pale gold colour and soft notes of vanilla, caramel and spice while keeping the cooked agave character. It is the most flexible tequila for beginners.

Good examples include Don Julio Reposado and Jose Cuervo Reposado 1L. Reposado works neat, on the rocks, and in drinks such as a richer margarita or a paloma.

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What does blanco tequila taste like?

Blanco is the purest expression of the agave. Expect fresh cooked agave, citrus, pepper and herbs, with a clean, slightly peppery finish. Because it has not been softened by oak, it shows the distiller’s craft directly.

It is the best choice for cocktails where you want the agave to shine, such as a margarita, a paloma or a ranch water. Try Don Julio Blanco or a white tequila from our range.

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What is añejo tequila, and is it worth the price?

Añejo is aged one to three years in oak, usually smaller barrels. It becomes amber, smooth and complex, with caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, cocoa and toasted oak notes. The agave becomes subtler and the spirit more like a good aged brandy or whisky.

Because ageing costs time and evaporation, añejo is pricier. Drink it neat or over a large ice cube rather than in a cocktail. The Don Julio 1942 is a well-known example, and Don Julio Añejo is a more accessible way into the category.

What does “100% agave” mean?

Tequila labelled “100% de agave” is made entirely from blue Weber agave. A tequila without that statement is a “mixto”, which can contain up to 49 per cent sugars from other sources and often carries additives. Mixto is cheaper and can be fine for mixed drinks, but it tastes less pure and can cause harsher hangovers.

For sipping, always buy 100% agave. The label will also carry a NOM number that identifies the distillery, which is useful if you like to compare brands that share a producer.

How do you drink each type of tequila?

Blanco: margaritas, palomas, ranch water, or sipped from a small glass. Reposado: neat, on the rocks, or in richer cocktails. Añejo and extra añejo: neat in a snifter, with a few drops of water. Use lime and salt as a tradition, not a necessity. Good tequila does not need to be disguised.

To learn more about the Mexican agave spirit that is not tequila, read our guide to mezcal versus tequila, or compare two famous houses in Don Julio vs Patrón.

Which tequila should you buy first?

If you will use it for cocktails, start with a 100% agave blanco. If you want one bottle for everything, buy a reposado. If you are treating yourself or giving a gift, choose an añejo.

Browse all options in our Don Julio collection and the Patrón collection. Buyers must be 18 or over.

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What are the common tequila myths?

There is no worm in tequila, which is a mezcal marketing tradition. Tequila is not meant to be a shot with salt and lime, a habit that began to mask poor quality. Gold tequila is not necessarily aged: most gold tequila is a mixto coloured with caramel. And tequila is not made from cactus: it comes from the blue Weber agave, which is a succulent related to lilies.

Another myth is that añejo is always better. It is smoother and more complex, but blanco tastes more of the plant and is often the better cocktail base.

What are the classic tequila cocktails?

A Margarita: 60 mL blanco tequila, 30 mL lime juice and 30 mL orange liqueur such as Cointreau, shaken with ice and strained over a salted rim. A Paloma: 45 mL blanco, lime juice and grapefruit soda over ice. Ranch Water: tequila, lime and sparkling mineral water. A Tequila Sunrise combines tequila, orange juice and grenadine.

Use a 100% agave blanco or reposado for the best result. Browse Cointreau and other orange liqueurs to complete your margarita kit.

What is the difference between highland and lowland tequila?

Tequila from Jalisco’s highlands (Los Altos) tends to be sweeter, fruitier and floral, because the red clay soil and cooler climate produce larger, sweeter agave. Tequila from the lowlands (the valley around the town of Tequila) is more earthy, herbal and peppery.

Neither is better. If you like soft and fruity tequila, look for highland producers, and if you like savoury and earthy tequila, try lowland ones. The producer’s website or label may state the region.

How do you read a tequila label?

Look for “100% de agave”, the category (blanco, reposado, añejo), the NOM number that identifies the distillery, and the region. The NOM lets you find which brands share a distillery, so you can compare styles. Check ABV as well: most tequila is 38 to 40 per cent, while some are bottled stronger.

Be wary of bottles that are very cheap and do not say 100% agave, because they are likely mixto. Also note additives: some tequilas use small amounts of glycerin or sweeteners for smoothness, which is permitted but can change flavour. Brands that say “additive-free” are making a statement about purity.