More than any other type of beverage, casual drinkers seem to have a distinct relationship with tequila in particular. Typically, it is an acquired taste that rewards its lovers with subtle flavors based on the type and brand. Unfortunately, the popularity of tequila in the United States has led to a mélange of cheap and bad tequilas which sometimes even a casual tequila fan won’t recognize. Thus, to get the best tequila experience, it usually pays to have some basic knowledge about authentic as well as the best aged tequila.

Today, we will discuss all the basic information that will help you make the selection more easily and decide on what to expect from what type of tequila.

What is tequila? What is it made of?

Tequila is usually made by the fermentation and distillation of blue agave. The origin of tequila dates back to thousand years ago when Aztecs used to drink a fermented milky drink called pulque.

As per the current Mexican legislation, tequila can only be produced in the state of Jalisco – a state in central Mexico and limited municipalities in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas.

In fact, Tequila is recognized as a Mexican designation of origin product in more than forty countries.

For any spirit to be officially called tequila, it must contain at least 51 percent of blue agave plant distillate. That’s why tequila is considered to be harder than vodka which contains only 40 percent of alcohol by volume.

Types of Tequila

• Blanco – It is bottled immediately after the distillation process. Some are aged for a very short period of time.
• Reposado – This type of tequila is aged between 2 to 12 months in oak barrels.
• Joven – It is a hybrid variant of Blanco and Reposado tequila.
• Añejo – It is aged between 1 and 3 years in oak barrels; however, Extra Añejo is aged for three years or more.
• Mixto – It is a tequila spirit containing less than 100% blue agave and typically mixed with sugars or other spirits.

Which one is the best tequila?

This is a debatable issue as it varies based on people’s preferences. While some tequila lovers considered Blanco to be the best as it is blessed with the authentic taste of blue agave, some people considered Añejo to be the best-aged tequila as it is aged more and feels smoother than its counterparts. However, due to aging, aged tequilas come with different flavor characteristics based on the type and age of barrel used in the process.

For instance, some tequilas are aged inside bourbon barrels that add spices and darker textures to the flavor profile while softening the bite. On the other hand, some tequilas, especially with a higher flavor profile, are aged in oak barrels.

Among most tequila connoisseurs, Blanco and Añejo are considered superior to Mixto and Joven.

However, we would recommend you to try them all so that you find what best suits your taste buds and what kind you prefer because everyone has a unique taste. So, not one type can be best for all.