Premium Tequila

The main difference between premium tequila and inexpensive tequila is the percentage of blue agave tequila in the mixture. The best Mexican tequilas are 100 percent blue agave tequila. They are derived entirely from the Weber blue agave, a type of lily that grows in the arid climate of Jalisco and a handful of other Mexican states.

Other tequilas are known as mixtos, meaning that they are mixed. To be called tequila, the bottle must contain at least 51 percent blue agave tequila. The remaining 49 percent can be a mixture of sugars. Not all tequilas take advantage of the opportunity to drop down to a lowly 51 percent, but many of them do.

Categories of Premium Tequilas

Premium tequila breaks into three different classifications. These are blanco, also known as plata, reposado, and anejo. Blanco (white) tequilas, which are also known as plata (silver) tequilas, have not been aged at all. This allows the full, distinct flavor of the peppery agave to be revealed. Unfortunately, while blanco tequila is full of wonderful flavor, it also lacks the smoothness of its aged cousins. This makes it a better blending tequila than sipping tequila.

Reposado premium tequilas have been aged, or rested, in wooden barrels, for up to a year. This imparts smoothness, a mellow, golden color, and a slightly oaky taste. Anejo tequilas have been aged for over a year. They are rarely aged beyond four years, for fear that the distinctive flavor of the agave will be lost.