Whenever we hear the word ‘tequila’ a few things come to mind: gulping down a shot glass in under a second, complete blackout, cracking headache the next morning. Sure, tequila has a hard reputation outside Mexico where it is preferred as the go-to drink for a night out party, but that’s because a lot of movies and TV shows portray tequila in the same image every time. What many don’t know about is the existence of best-sipping tequilas, the ones whom you need to slowly sip and savor the deep, rich taste, just like you’d sip a glass of 100+ years old wine.
There are many types of tequilas available, and all of them are aged in a different manner, lending them their unique tastes. Here are 4 of the most commonly manufactured tequila variants in Mexico that are available worldwide:
Blanco Tequila
This is the purest form of tequila spirit, because the fermented drink is not aged at all, giving the tequila a clear, water-like appearance and lending it the original taste of blue agave spirit. Blanco tequila is the one you’d normally use as shots to gulp it down in a second, and are typically the strongest due to it being freshly produced without aging.
Reposado Tequila
Reposado tequila is typically aged between 2 months to 1 year, neither more nor less. It is the common man’s tequila, as it sells for a lesser price than premium tequilas and is the cheapest of all aged tequilas. Reposado tequila is aged in oak barrels, often in barrels that have housed other drinks such as whiskey or wine, to lend them a unique and differentiated taste, helping each individual Reposado tequila seller stand out from their competitors.
Añejo Tequila
The first of the premium line of tequilas, Añejo tequila is aged for more than 1 year, up to a maximum of 3 years. The more they are aged, the deeper their color becomes, a far cry from the pure, colorless spirit of Blanco tequila. The deep color is a result of aging in okay barrels, sometimes in barrels that have been used to age other beverages such as wine, cognac, whiskey, etc. Many manufacturers avoid mixing in such barrels and use fresh oak barrels to give Añejo tequila a unique taste. It is considered as one of the best sipping tequilas.
Extra Añejo Tequila
Widely considered as the best sipping tequilas, extra Añejo tequilas are the most premium tequilas you can lay your hands on. These are aged for more than 3 years, with no limit to the maximum time they can be aged to, with the price per bottle increasing with age. They are hard to come by and are available only in big shops or bars that have customers that buy this variant. The Mexican government has strict guidelines regarding the manufacture of Añejo and Extra Añejo tequilas. The taste of Extra Añejo tequila is very smooth, making it the perfect sipping tequila.
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