Tequila FAQ — The Most-Asked Tequila Questions Answered | The Liquor Connoisseur®
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- 3 days ago
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The most-asked tequila questions — answered by Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur®.
What is the difference between blanco, reposado, and añejo tequila?
Blanco (silver) is unaged or aged less than 2 months — the purest expression of the agave. Reposado is aged 2-12 months in oak, adding a golden color and mellowing the agave's bite. Añejo is aged 1-3 years, becoming richer and more complex. Extra Añejo is aged over 3 years — closest to whiskey in character.
What does 'additive-free' mean in tequila?
Mexican law allows tequila producers to add up to 1% of certain substances — including glycerin (sweetness), caramel coloring (color), oak extract (wood flavor), and sugar syrup — without disclosing them on the label. Additive-free tequilas contain none of these. LALO, Yéyo, Volans, and Tromba are among the brands Crystal and Roger have reviewed and confirmed additive-free.
What is a NOM number?
NOM stands for Norma Oficial Mexicana — the official Mexican standard. Every licensed tequila distillery has a unique NOM number that appears on the bottle label. If two tequilas share the same NOM, they were made at the same distillery regardless of brand name. It's a transparency tool for consumers.
What is the difference between Highland and Lowland tequila?
Highland (Los Altos) agaves grow at higher elevation in Jalisco, resulting in a more floral, fruity, and complex agave character. Lowland agaves grow in the valley around the city of Tequila and tend to be earthier and more herbal. LALO, Yéyo, and Volans are Highland expressions Crystal and Roger frequently recommend.
What is mezcal and how is it different from tequila?
Tequila is made exclusively from Blue Weber agave in designated Mexican states. Mezcal can be made from over 40 agave varieties, primarily in Oaxaca, using traditional roasting methods that produce a smoky character. All tequila is mezcal technically, but not all mezcal is tequila. Crystal and Roger have reviewed Del Maguey Vida, Corte Vetusto, and Kilinga Bacanora.
What is Bacanora?
Bacanora is a regional agave spirit made exclusively in Sonora, Mexico from the Pacifica agave. It was banned from 1915-1992. Lighter in smoke than mezcal and drier than tequila, it's one of the most distinctive agave spirits in existence. Crystal and Roger covered it in a three-part series with Kilinga Bacanora.
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