Tequila can only be produced in five Mexican states — principally Jalisco — from Blue Weber Agave, subject to strict CRT regulation. Within those rules lives an enormous range: the snappy mineral bite of a highland blanco, the vanilla softness of an añejo, the punchy higher-proof expressions built for cocktails. The most important purchasing decision: 100% agave, not mixto.
"The agave plant takes seven to twelve years to mature. That's why good tequila costs what it does. Mixto cuts that investment with cane sugar. You can always tell the difference."
— Tomas Estes, Tequila AmbassadorBlue Weber Agave & the NOM
The agave piña is harvested by hand by jimadores, then roasted, crushed, fermented, and double-distilled. Every producer is assigned a NOM number printed on the bottle. Mixto — at least 51% agave, up to 49% other sugars — is legal but noticeably inferior. Bottles labeled "100% agave" are the only ones worth buying for serious mixing.
The Age Statements
Blanco (Silver)
Unaged or rested fewer than 60 days. The purest agave character — mineral, vegetal, sometimes herbal. The right call for most cocktail applications: Margaritas, Tommy's, Palomas. Higher-proof blancos like the Tapatio 110 are particularly suited to shaken drinks that dilute aggressively.
Reposado
Aged 2–12 months in oak. Picks up vanilla and light oak notes without obscuring the agave. The most flexible category — usable in cocktails and enjoyable neat.
Añejo & Extra Añejo
1–3 years and over 3 years respectively. At this point the oak dominates. More appropriate for sipping — though some bartenders use añejo deliberately in stirred cocktails where whiskey depth is intended.
Bottle Guide
Six bottles, six tiers — evaluated for mixing utility.
Tahona-crushed, pot-still distilled at one of Mexico's oldest tequila families. Exceptional complexity at a fair price for what it is.
Designed with bartender input specifically for Margaritas. Bright, peppery highland agave. One of the best-value 100% agave blancos available.
Balanced between agave freshness and subtle oak. Works in shaken and stirred formats. Forgiving across a wide range of cocktails.
From La Alteña distillery. The 110-proof expression has extraordinary agave intensity that survives heavy dilution in a shaker.
Bold, high-proof blanco with uncompromising raw agave character — mineral, herbaceous, almost savory. Not for the faint of heart.
George Clooney's brand, sold to Diageo for $1B in 2017. Mild, slightly sweet, and priced at premium for a product that competes with mid-shelf.
The Margarita — the world's most-ordered cocktail — is the defining tequila application. Blanco for classic applications; reposado where oak depth is welcome.