Tequila: blanco, reposado or añejo?
How long it rests in oak changes the taste. What to expect from each style, and where mezcal fits.
Same plant, three styles. The difference is time in oak.
Tequila is distilled from the heart of the blue agave plant, grown in Mexico. The longer it rests in oak, the softer and darker it gets.
Three ages, side by side
 Teremana Tequila Blanco 700ml |  Teremana Tequila Reposad 700ml |  Teremana Tequila Anjeo 700ml | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rested in oak | Under 2 months | 2 to 12 months | 1 to 3 years |
| Tastes like | Agave, citrus, pepper | Vanilla, caramel | Oak, toffee, spice |
| Best for | Margaritas, palomas | Mixing or sipping | Sipping neat |
| Per nip | $3.26 | $3.70 | $4.13 |
| Price | $74.99 | $84.99 | $94.99 |
Blanco: unaged, bright and peppery
Tequila as it comes off the still.
Bottled straight away or rested for under two months. It tastes of cooked agave, citrus and pepper, and it is the one for margaritas and palomas.
- Rested
- Under 2 months
- Tastes like
- Agave, citrus, pepper
- Per nip
- About $3.26
Reposado: rested in oak
Two to twelve months in oak.
The oak rounds off the pepper and adds a little vanilla and caramel. Good in a margarita, and smooth enough to sip.
- Rested
- 2 to 12 months
- Tastes like
- Agave, vanilla, caramel
- Per nip
- About $3.70
Añejo: one to three years in oak
Darker, richer and softer.
Closer to a whisky or an aged rum. Sip it neat or over one ice cube.
- Rested
- 1 to 3 years
- Tastes like
- Oak, toffee, spice
- Per nip
- About $4.13
Tequila or mezcal?
Mezcal is the smoky cousin.
Tequila has to be made from blue agave, and most of it comes from the state of Jalisco. Mezcal can be made from many kinds of agave, and most of it comes from Oaxaca.
The bigger difference is how the agave is cooked. For mezcal the hearts are usually roasted in pits in the ground, which gives it a smoky taste. Tequila agave is mostly steamed in ovens, so it tastes cleaner and sweeter.
All tequila is a kind of mezcal, but not every mezcal is a tequila. If you like a smoky whisky, try a mezcal next.
Quick answers
Which tequila is best for margaritas?
Blanco. Its bright agave and citrus taste comes through the lime. A reposado works too if you want it a little smoother.
Can you sip tequila neat?
Yes. Reposado and añejo are made for it: pour a nip into a small glass. You do not need the salt and lime.
What does 100% agave mean?
The tequila is made only from blue agave. Tequila without it on the label can be up to 49% other sugars.
Does tequila go off once opened?
No. Keep it upright, sealed and out of the sun and it lasts for years.
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