Tequila has been a most loved drink for centuries. It is made from the distillation of juice from the blue agave plant. Pure tequila is made of 100% blue agave, whereas Mixito tequila is mixed with sugar or molasses before fermentation.
There are five types of tequila, depending on the process of fermentation:
- Gold Tequila
In many cases, gold tequila is the result of caramel coloring added to agave juices before fermentation to give the spirit a more “refined” look. Look out for brands that don’t list “100% agave”. These brands have added colour and sugar to obtain the gold look. Gold tequilas are not usually aged and contain only about 51% agave tequila. Sometimes, silver tequila and an aged tequila are combined to make 100% agave gold tequila. Since quality aged tequila has a gold hue, the caramel addition was a marketing tactic to improve the “image and look” of cheaper brands.
- Silver Tequila
Silver tequila, also known as Blanco, is aged only a couple of weeks. This is why it’s the purest form of tequila. It is the most preferred type of tequila to use in mixed drinks, especially in margaritas.
- Reposado
Reposado means “rested” in Spanish. As the name suggests, reposados rest anywhere from two months to a year before being bottled. Reposados have the gold hue from barrels in which they are aged – typically in oak or white oak barrels. The type of barrel changes the flavour of each distillery’s tequila.
- Añejo
Añejo means “vintage”, and is darker than reposado tequilas. Añejo tequilas are considered the best type of tequila because of their smooth flavour. It is aged between one to three years.
- Extra Añejo
Extra or ultra añejo tequilas are aged exclusively in French oak and is a mélange of 30% three years, 40% four years, and 30% five-year tequilas
This is a relatively new type of tequila, gaining official classification in 2005. It is the most expensive of tequilas that improve with age. Seeing it is aged for up to five years, distilleries only allow their best spirits to age for so long. Extra añejo tequila should be enjoyed by sipping and savouring, not mixed.
Try different types of tequila at On the Border and pick your favorite.
