Tequila is a favorite spirit of many people around the world. It’s also quite popular in the United States as well. Tequila comes from the blue agave plant. It’s made from this plant and then different varieties of it are produced for different types of tequila.
There are two main categories for tequila – Blanco, and reposado, and there are several more subcategories within those categories as well. Knowing a little bit about the different types of tequila can help you choose which one will be right for you.
What are the different types of tequila?
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There are a few different types of tequila that you’ll find on the market today. Knowing what they are and what makes them different can help you make a more informed decision about which one is right for you.
Blanco
This is the base type of tequila. It’s 100% agave and it’s clear when it’s made. It’s made in a very different way than the other types of tequila, so it’s not a good choice if you’re looking to learn more about the process. Blanco tequila is made by distilling the agave right into the bottle.
The fermentation takes place inside the bottle, so it’s the least filtered out for impurities. Some Blanco tequila comes unaged, and it’s clear with no flavor added.
Añejo
This is an aged type of tequila. It’s made from an agave-based liquor, but it’s aged in a barrel for at least one year. Añejo tequila can also be aged for longer than one year, which is known as Extra Aged. This type of tequila is a bit more expensive, but it does have some distinct differences between Blanco and reposado. Anejo tequila is aged, and there’s more of a difference in the flavor.
This is because there’s a bit more filtering out of the impurities. However, there is a distinct flavor difference because of the added barrel flavor. Añejo reposado is a bit different again. It’s aged in a barrel for at least two months, but it’s also been aged in an añejo barrel.
The result is a more distinct flavor than a reposado. Añejo reposado is a bit less distinct from Blanco, but it’s still a favorite among many tequila drinkers.
Extra Añejo (XA)
This is aged for at least two years. A typical bottle of tequila will have a tiny print on it that will say “100% Agave,” which is the base for the agave-based liquor. In this tight market, some brands will sneak “100% agave” onto the bottle, but it’s definitely not true.
There are quite a few ways to extend the shelf life of a bottle of liquor, and one of these ways is to age it. Bottles of many liquors will have ingredients that say they’ve been aged for at least two years. This is the one kind that’s been aged for at least three years.
Extra Añejo tequila is the most expensive type of tequila, but it also has the most distinct flavor. It’s aged for a long time, so it’s quite full-flavored. A bottle of XA tequila will be quite expensive – expect to pay at least $100 for it.
Where can I find tequila types?
There are quite a few places where you can find the different types of tequila. Many of them will be in the spirits section of your local liquor store. If you’re looking online, there are a few places where you can find the different types.
One of these places is Amazon. Amazon often has quite a few different types of tequila as well as other liquor items. If you want to compare prices, you can always look at the reviews of the different products. There are quite a few websites that are dedicated to helping you find the best products.
Many of these websites will have a section dedicated to liquor items, and you can compare prices and check out the reviews for the different tequilas. There are also plenty of social media forums that are dedicated to helping you find the best products.
One of these places is Reddit’s /r/tequila board. This board is dedicated to helping you find the best products. They often have threads dedicated to which types of tequila are selling well at the moment.
Tequila Anejo (Extra Aged)
Tequila Anejo (also known as extra añejo or XA) is aged for at least one year in oak barrels. The aging process produces a distinct flavor in the tequila that’s very different from the other types of tequila. Anejo tequila has a somewhat sweeter and more complex flavor than the other types. A bottle of Anejo tequila may have a print that says “aged one year” or “aged one year in oak.”
A bottle of Anejo reposado can also have this same print. However, a bottle of Anejo extra añejo has a different print that says “aged X years in oak.”
Reposado
Reposado tequila is aged for at least two months. A reposado tequila can also have a hint of color, which is called “color.” A reposado will have a color of at least 40 parts per million. If the bottle has a different print that says “aged two months in oak,” then it’s a reposado.
If the bottle says “aged Spanish oak,” then it’s a reposado that’s been aged in Spanish oak barrels. Some reposados are aged for a bit longer than two months, but they’re not aged in Spanish barrels. A reposado can also have a hint of Anejo flavors. This is often found in a blend of reposados.
Extra Añejo (XA)
Extra Anejo tequila is aged for at least two years, and it has a distinct flavor from the other types of tequila. A bottle can have a print that says “aged two years in oak.” A bottle that says “100% agave” is likely not an extra añejo.
A bottle that says “100% agave” is likely just a Blanco that’s been infused with other flavors. Extra Anejo tequila is a more complex drink than the other types of tequila. It’s a bit more expensive than other types of tequila as well.
How are types of tequila made?
The process for making the different types of tequila is quite different. Blanco tequila is made by distilling the agave right into the bottle. It’s then bottled immediately. Añejo tequila is aged, so it’s bottled after it’s been bottled.
Reposado and extra añejo tequila are also aged, but it’s blended with other types of tequila after it’s been bottled. The different types of tequila are then stored in different ways. Blanco tequila is stored in a stainless steel container with a lid. Añedo and extra añejo tequila is stored in oak barrels. Reposado tequila is stored in steel barrels that have been made from American oak.
Why Are There Types of Tequila?
There are several reasons that there are different types of tequila. Some of them are based on tradition, and some are based on taste. Some people prefer a Blanco tequila because they don’t want the extra aging that an añejo tequila has. Others prefer the complex flavors that extra añejo tequila has.