The piña is baked, then shredded and fermented for between three to 10 days. The fermented mix, known as mosto is then distilled, usually twice. Certain brands introduce more additives with aged expressions, which may taste more artificial, sweet, and have unnatural vanilla flavors. To replicate the aging process, añejos are likely to have more additives than reposados. My personal thoughts

Reposado tequila: Reposado tequila has a light amber or golden hue, which it acquires during its aging process in oak barrels. This coloration is a result of the interaction between the tequila and the wood, as well as the gradual oxidation that occurs as the spirit rests in the barrels. Inspired by the PATRÓN Silver Classic Margarita, the PATRÓN Reposado Perfect Margarita brings a cooked agave flavor to the timeless recipe, along with lime and orange notes. PATRÓN Reposado has a unique color and flavor profile produced by the sophisticated handling of the tequila. Its light amber color is a result of being aged in a blend of new and used oak barrels. This also gives the spirit its subtle taste of oak that rounds out elegant agave notes of fruit, citrus, and honey, and provides a light floral and vanilla finish. The “freshness” of the barrel – first use barrels and barrels that have been re-charred pass on more color. When they are ready, workers called jimadors harvest the blue agave by cutting off the spiky leaves and taking the core of the plant, known as the piña. The first feel in mouth is peppery and alcoholic as expected and very strong cooked agave. Again as expected given the lighter colour. It is tingly on the tongue but not too strong. The intensity of the agave is quite full and catches the nasal senses taking the flavour into the nose.The PATRÓN Silver Classic Margarita’s bright, citrusy flavor pairs perfectly with acidic dishes that incorporate citrus fruits, chilled appetizers, and seafood, which is basically the definition of ceviche . The Peruvian dish is served as either an appetizer or main course and uses the traditional Latin American method of preparing fresh white fish or shrimp by soaking them in lemon juice rather than cooking them. Chili peppers bring the heat, while red onions add crunch, and chopped cilantro brightens the dish. Mexican baked white fish in cilantro sauce is another light seafood dish to serve alongside the PATRÓN Silver Classic Margarita for a complex flavor combination. This tasty main course is usually made with tilapia filets but can be substituted with halibut or another white fish. The tasty marinade of blended lemon juice, garlic, and onion also doubles as a flavorful and stunning green sauce for serving. Chart showing tequila production percentage between añejo, reposado, blanco and joven for 2022. Extra añejo is included in añejo (0.5%). Source: CRT How do you pronounce añejo?

The final syllable, “ho,” is pronounced with a silent ‘h’ and a short ‘o’ sound, as in the word “hot.” For reposado it is lighter than others, much closer to a Joven that expected, which goes some way to explain the rest of the experience. It is a pale golden colour and when poured is a watery consistency. Aroma Tequila was originally all blanco, with reposado only being introduced in 1974 by Herradura. Find out more about blanco vs reposado tequila. Añejo is better than a reposado because it develops more character and flavor due to the long aging process compared to a Blanco tequila. For the same brand, añejos are likely to be smoother and richer than reposados. Plus they are more expensive. On the other hand reposados will retain more agave character and the complexity that goes with it. Some extra añejos are not so distinguishable from cognac or even aged rums. If you like that, great, but I like to appreciate the agave.

One great reason to barrel age a tequila is to mellow the rough edges that are sometimes left in the spirit after distilling. Reposado should have personality but be easily sippable. The rich, dark amber color of añejo tequila sets it apart from both blanco and reposado tequila, reflecting its status as a more aged and sophisticated spirit. Caramel coloring is more likely to be used for añejos to provide a greater distinction from reposados. Cristalino reposados and añejos This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services. Mixto tequila is made with caramel coloring, artificial flavorings and other additives, and is considered less desirable relative to 100 percent blue agave. What Type Of Tequila Is Meant For Sipping? For this reason, Patron is often considered a premium spirit because of how difficult it is to produce large quantities. Once the plant has grown to produce fruit with optimal sugar levels, the fruit (known as the piña) is then harvested.

While Margaritas can take many shapes, from the familiar mango and strawberry to the more experimental variations that incorporate cold brew coffee or even fresh horseradish, the beauty of a Margarita is its simplicity: tequila, orange liqueur, lime, and simple syrup. It’s because of this simple preparation that the quality of those ingredients matters most. The limes should be freshly squeezed, the orange liqueur should be of high quality, and the spirit, well, that should always be the star of the show. Decadent and luxurious are just some of the adjectives used to describe tequilas that fall into the extra añejo category. A newer class that was added in 2006, these premium tequilas are barrel-aged for a minimum of three years (also in barrels that cannot exceed 600 liters), but can spend even longer in wood depending on the distiller. Varying in color from deep gold to reddish-brown, extra añejos are smooth, complex, and offer drinkers a unique experience like no other spirit. Cristalino The best reposado tequilas have an incredibly smooth texture, the finest flavors, and just the right amount of alcohol bite. Our list includes bottles we tasted and found surpassing other competitors because of their unique traits. The two new serves were handcrafted with Tequila and Mezcal enthusiasts in mind, Patrón has said in a press release. They have been distilled using 100% Weber Blue Agave and an innovative production process. The production process for all types of tequila is the same up until the finish of distillation. Blancos or silver tequilas are unaged, or aged for less than two months. Reposados and añejos differ only in the period of time they are aged.Note – in both cases distilled water is usually added prior to bottling to reduce the alcohol volume to its intended level, usually 40% ABV / 80 proof. Tequila production method According to Mexican law, tequila can only be produced within five Mexican states: Jalisco (where the majority of the spirit is made), Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. The spirit must also include a minimum of 51 percent blue agave, though most critics agree that superior iterations are made from 100 percent. Whether any coloring has been added. Tequila producers can add caramel coloring without disclosing it, even in “100% agave” bottles. One exception to the coloring is cristalino tequilas. These look just like blanco tequila. Cristalino tequila has been charcoal filtered to remove all color and some flavor notes. You can have cristalino reposados, añejos and extra añejos and they all come out clear and colorless. It is a relatively new practice and not yet an official tequila classification. Popularity of reposado vs añejo

The rules for tequila categories and what you call them are controlled by Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council ( Consejo Regulador del Tequila, or CRT). The official rules are known as the NOM or Norma Oficial Mexicana. Añejos are not necessarily better than blancos just because of extra aging and a higher price. The flavors of agave are complex and interesting enough to drink it unaged. Contrast this to other spirits like whiskey where most of the desirable flavors come from the wood itself. For whiskies, it’s mostly the case that more years aging results in a better product.No one’s stopping you from shooting añejo. For that matter, no one’s stopping you from mixing it with coke. But the more pragmatic choice for shots is a reposado. Best for margaritas: Reposado Tequila is made from the cooked and fermented sap of the blue Weber agave ( agave tequilana). The agave plants grow on farms and take five to nine years to mature. The fruity, spicy notes of agave are what makes a tequila. Purists love to taste that raw material in the bottle. No aging process should erase that. Other brands outside the list are also exceptional, such as El Tesoro. We decided on the names on the list based on how other tequila drinkers perceive them too. This list proves that price is no longer the basis of how these brands operate but in delivering the best reposados to their patrons. The accent over the “n” is the clue that añejo can be a little difficult to pronounce. Here’s a phonetic breakdown to help you pronounce this Spanish word correctly: