Blanco, Reposado, Añejo: Reading a Tequila Label

The category on a tequila label is really a story about time in oak. Blanco (or silver) is bottled right after distillation, bright and unaged, tasting purely of agave and pepper. Reposado — 'rested' — spends two months to a year in barrels, softening into vanilla and gentle spice.

Añejo ages one to three years, growing darker, rounder, and more complex, with notes of caramel and oak. Beyond that, extra añejo rests over three years and drinks almost like a fine whiskey or cognac. There is also joven, a blend of blanco with aged tequila for a middle path.

None is better than another; they are different moods. Reach for a blanco in a margarita where the agave should shine, and an añejo when you want to sip slowly and let the glass open up. Ask our bartenders — they love walking guests through the shelf.