What are the differences among the various types of tequila?
Tequila is a distilled spirit made from a sharp-leafed plant in the lily family called agave. There are four types of tequila. They differ depending on whether they’re aged and for how long. To age tequila, it’s placed in oak casks for several months to seven years. As with scotch, bourbon and cognac, barrel aging draws out harsh tannins, imparting an amber hue and subtle wood flavor. BLANCO (also called white, silver or platinum) is a clear, assertive, economical spirit that is bottled for immediate sale, without aging. It’s best suited for mixed drinks. JOVEN ABOCADO (also called gold) has been aged two to six months. It can be sipped straight (with salt and lime) or used for mixing. REPOSADO is typically aged eight to 10 months. This is often sipped straight up. ANEJO is the best tequila. It owes its finesse to a minimum aging of one year, with some aged up to seven years. As with the reposados, these are best enjoyed when sipped straight up. Most tequilas are actually a blend of di
