Reposado vs añejo tequila – which is best?

Reposado and añejo tequilas are aged in oak barrels for a smoother, richer taste. Reposado, meaning “rested”, tequilas are aged for just a few months, from two to 12 months. Añejos are aged between one and three years. Extra Añejos are aged for more than three years. Aging impacts the appearance, the taste and the suitability for shots, sipping, margaritas and other cocktails.

Both expressions are made from the same blue agave using the same process up until aging.

Reposado vs añejo tequila comparison table

Reposado vs añejo production process

The production process for all types of tequila is the same up until the finish of distillation. Blancos or silver tequilas are unaged, or aged for less than two months. Reposados and añejos differ only in the period of time they are aged.

Reposado tequilas are aged for at least two months and up to a year in oak casks. Añejo tequilas are aged for between one year and three years in oak casks before bottling.

The rules for tequila categories and what you call them are controlled by Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council (Consejo Regulador del Tequila, or CRT). The official rules are known as the NOM or Norma Oficial Mexicana.

The official classes of tequila are:

1. Blanco (AKA “plato” or “silver”)
   • Unaged tequila or aged for up to 2 months in oak barrels
2. Oro (AKA “gold” or “joven”)
   • A blend of blanco and other aged tequila
3. Reposado (AKA “aged”)
   • Tequila aged between 2-12 months in oak barrels
4. Añejo (AKA “extra aged”)
   • Tequila aged 1-3 years in oak barrels
5. Extra añejo (AKA “ultra aged”)
   • Tequila aged more than 3 years in oak barrels

Tequila was originally all blanco, with reposado only being introduced in 1974 by Herradura. Find out more about blanco vs reposado tequila.

Distilled water is usually added before bottling both types of tequila to bring them to the intended alcohol strength, usually 40% ABV / 80 proof.

Tequila production method

Tequila is made from the cooked and fermented sap of the blue Weber agave (agave tequilana). The agave plants grow on farms and take five to nine years to mature.

When they are ready, workers called jimadors harvest the blue agave by cutting off the spiky leaves and taking the core of the plant, known as the piña.

The piña is baked, then shredded and fermented for between three to 10 days. The fermented mix, known as mosto is then distilled, usually twice.

Read more about the tequila production process.

Reposado vs añejo taste and appearance

Taste

Reposado tequila: Oak aging mellows the agave flavor and adds vanilla, caramel, oak and spices. Reposados are smoother and more balanced, ideal for sipping or cocktails that highlight the tequila’s flavors. Their short time in oak leaves most reposados with some agave flavor.

Añejo tequila: Longer oak aging makes the flavor richer and sometimes more complex. It softens the agave taste and adds deeper notes of dried fruits, chocolate, toffee and oak. You may also taste spices and a hint of smokiness.

Añejo’s smooth, velvety texture and full-bodied taste suit sipping neat or on the rocks. Its deeper flavors also work in spirit-forward cocktails such as a Tequila Manhattan or Tequila Old Fashioned.

Taste reposado and añejo from the same producer in a tequila flight to appreciate the differences.

Appearance

The depth of color in aged tequila depends on:

• The amount of time they have been aged – longer time makes it darker.
• The “freshness” of the barrel – first use barrels and barrels that have been re-charred pass on more color.
• The size of the barrel – smaller barrels pass on more color than larger ones.
• Whether any coloring has been added. Tequila producers can add caramel coloring without disclosing it, even in “100% agave” bottles.
• Previous barrel use – tequila aged in recently used red wine or rosé barrels can become pink tequila.

Reposado tequila: Its light amber or golden color comes from contact with oak and gradual oxidation as the tequila rests in the barrel.

Oak type, barrel size and aging time can change the shade of amber. Reposado’s light golden color distinguishes it from clear, transparent blanco tequila.

Añejo tequila: Its longer time in oak, often in smaller or charred barrels, produces a richer, more intense dark amber or deep gold color. Compounds extracted from oak and continued oxidation over time contribute to flavor as well as color.

Añejo’s rich, dark amber color sets it apart from blanco and reposado. Caramel coloring is more likely to be used in añejos to make the distinction from reposados greater.

Cristalino reposados and añejos

One exception to the coloring is cristalino tequilas. These look just like blanco tequila. Cristalino tequila has been charcoal filtered to remove all color and some flavor notes. You can have cristalino reposados, añejos and extra añejos and they all come out clear and colorless. It is a relatively new practice and not yet an official tequila classification.

Popularity of reposado vs añejo

In 2022, almost 3x more reposado was produced than añejo, but blanco was by far the largest class of tequila. Añejo accounted for about 8% of all tequila produced, reposado 20% and blanco 58%. Joven made up the rest.

Joven tequila, also called gold, is made from a blend of blanco and aged tequilas. The most popular example might be party starter Jose Cuervo Especial Gold.

2022 tequila production. Extra añejo is included in añejo (0.5%). Source: CRT

How do you pronounce añejo?

Añejo is pronounced [ah-nyeh-ho]. The accent over the “n” is the clue to the sound that can make this Spanish word tricky to pronounce.

1. The first syllable, “ah,” is pronounced like the ‘a’ in “father.”
2. The second syllable, “nyeh,” has a ‘ñ’ sound, which is similar to the ‘ny’ in the English word “canyon.” Make sure to enunciate the ‘e’ sound as in “yes.”
3. The final syllable, “ho,” is pronounced with a silent ‘h’ and a short ‘o’ sound, as in the word “hot.”

Is añejo better than reposado?

Not necessarily. Extra aging and a higher price do not automatically make añejo better than reposado. The flavors of agave are complex and interesting enough to drink it unaged. Contrast this to other spirits like whiskey where most of the desirable flavors come from the wood itself. For whiskies, it’s mostly the case that more years aging results in a better product.

For the same brand, añejos are likely to be smoother and richer than reposados. Plus they are more expensive. On the other hand reposados will retain more agave character and the complexity that goes with it. Some extra añejos are not so distinguishable from cognac or even aged rums. If you like that, great, but I like to appreciate the agave.

Certain brands introduce more additives with aged expressions, which may taste more artificial, sweet, and have unnatural vanilla flavors. To replicate the aging process, añejos are likely to have more additives than reposados.

My personal thoughts

While I personally prefer a good blanco over aged tequila I can still appreciate reposados and some añejos. I just see añejos in a different category altogether. For me añejos are more of a digestif or dessert drink – rich, aromatic, indulgent. Just one at a time. For the price, I’d definitely prefer an upgraded reposado than an añejo. 

Best for drinking: Reposado vs Añejo

Best for shots: Reposado

No one’s stopping you from shooting añejo. For that matter, no one’s stopping you from mixing it with coke. But the more pragmatic choice for shots is a reposado. 

Best for margaritas: Reposado

While blancos are a more popular choice for margaritas, there’s nothing wrong at all with a reposado margarita. However there is something a bit wrong with an añejo margarita. Something about the lime and añejo don’t play that well together.

Best for fresher / fruitier cocktails: Reposado

If your choice is between the two, go reposado. Otherwise stick to blanco for fruit-forward and fresh cocktails. Anything with citrus or seltzer.

Best for stronger deeper tasting cocktails: Añejo

Spirit-forward cocktails like a Tequila Manhattan or Tequila Old Fashioned are extra indulgent with añejo.

Best for sipping: Añejo

Añejos are made for sipping. Either neat or with a large ice cube. Take your time and enjoy the ride.

Comparison of Popular Brands

For popular brands, añejos are typically 10% to 20% more expensive than reposados of the same brand.

Casamigos Reposado vs Añejo

Casamigos was famously founded by George Clooney and perhaps more famously sold for $1 billion dollars to Diageo in 2017. It’s easy drinking tequilas have introduced many to the agave spirit. The Casamigos añejo is aged for six months longer than the reposado.

Teremana Reposado vs Añejo

Teremana, co-founded by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, launched in March 2020 and grew rapidly in its early years. Unlike other celebrity tequilas Teremana is positioned as more affordable. Teremana doesn’t specify exactly how long it ages its tequilas but I expect it will be towards the lower end of the minimum requirements given its price positioning.

Patrón Reposado vs Añejo

Patrón emphasizes traditional tequila making and small batches. It is one of the top selling tequila brands worldwide. Patrón tequila is one of the very few major brands to be additive free.

Don Julio Reposado vs Añejo

Don Julio is one of the widest distributed tequilas. Both Don Julio Reposado and Añejo are aged for well above the minimums. The reposado is aged for 8 months and the añejo is aged for 18 months, both six months more than the respective category minimums.

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