Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, Extra Añejo and Cristalino — the names describe how a tequila was aged (and, for Cristalino, filtered), and that transforms the flavour in your glass. Here's how each of the five expressions tastes and which one to reach for.
Every style below starts life as the same thing: clear, 100% agave spirit fresh off the still. What mainly separates them is time in oak barrels — the longer the rest, the deeper the colour, the softer the edges and the more the barrel's caramel, vanilla and spice come forward, while the bright agave character gently recedes. There's also one modern twist, Cristalino, which adds a filtering step — we'll get to it. New to the whole category? Start with Part 1.
Blanco
Silver / Plata — the pure taste of agave
Blanco is tequila with nothing to hide — no barrel to lean on, so quality (and additives) show instantly. It's the connoisseur's benchmark and the best way to learn what a distillery really tastes like. Excellent sipped, and the backbone of a great Margarita.
Best for: purists, cocktail lovers, and anyone who wants to taste the agave itself.
Shop Blanco TequilaReposado
“Rested” — the crowd-pleaser
Reposado is the sweet spot for most newcomers. It keeps the agave character of a Blanco but rounds off the edges with just enough barrel to feel smooth and inviting. If you're buying one bottle to win over a room, this is it.
Best for: beginners, gifting, and sipping neat.
Shop Reposado TequilaAñejo
“Aged” — smooth, sippable, sophisticated
Añejo drinks a lot like a fine aged whisky or rum. Rich and slow-sipping, it's the bottle to pour after dinner, neat, in a proper glass. Whisky drinkers curious about tequila usually fall for Añejo first.
Best for: whisky & rum fans, after-dinner sipping, special occasions.
Shop Añejo TequilaExtra Añejo
“Ultra-Aged” — the top shelf
Introduced as a category in 2006, Extra Añejo is tequila at its most luxurious and collectible. These are contemplative, savour-every-drop bottles — and they make an unforgettable gift.
Best for: collectors, connoisseurs, and standout gifts.
Shop Extra Añejo TequilaCristalino
Aged flavour, crystal-clear looks
Cristalino is the newest style — an aged tequila that's been carbon-filtered to strip out the colour while keeping much of the barrel character. It exists for a clear reason: a younger generation of Mexican drinkers moved away from dark, heavy spirits, and Cristalino offers the smoothness of age in a modern, clear pour.
Best for: curious drinkers who want aged complexity without the weight — just look for additive-free.
A note on colour: age it, don't fake it
Barrel aging deepens colour naturally — but colour can also be added (caramel colouring) or stripped out (Cristalino filtration), so on its own it's an unreliable guide.
Why additive-free matters here
With an additive-free tequila — whether it's a golden Añejo or a filtered-clear Cristalino — what's in the glass is honest (we explain it fully in Part 1). Every bottle we stock is additive-free.
One catch worth knowing on Cristalino: filtering removes flavour along with colour, so most Cristalinos are “doctored” after filtration — producers add sweeteners back in to replace what the charcoal took out. That's why the category has a mixed reputation. But a well-made, additive-free Cristalino can be a genuinely great pour — proof that the style itself isn't the problem, the additives are.
Quick reference
Not sure where to start?
A Reposado is the easiest style to love first
Browse our additive-free selection and find the bottle that fits your palate.
Keep learning
You know your styles — now learn to serve them.
How to Drink Tequila: Sip, Serve & Simple Cocktails
