What are the aging requirements for añejo tequila?
Anejo tequila must age at least one year, but less than three, in oak barrels of no more than 600 liters, according to the rules set by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila. Reposado needs 60 days in oak, and extra anejo needs at least three years. The label tells you the category.
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What are the aging requirements for anejo tequila?
Anejo (the word means aged or old) tequila has to rest in oak barrels for at least one year and less than three years. The barrels may hold no more than 600 liters. The category is set by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), the body that regulates tequila. If a tequila is aged in larger tanks or barrels, it cannot use the anejo name, no matter how long it sat.
How do the aging categories compare?
| Category | Aging in oak |
|---|---|
| Blanco | Little or no aging |
| Reposado | At least 60 days; barrel size can vary |
| Anejo | At least 1 year, under 3 years, barrels up to 600 liters |
| Extra anejo | At least 3 years (an official category since 2006) |
What does the aging do?
Time in oak turns the spirit amber and adds flavors of vanilla, caramel, baking spice and toasted wood. The agave flavor becomes softer and rounder. Rely on the category word on the label, not the shade of the liquid.
What should you check on the label?
- The word Anejo or Extra Anejo.
- 100% agave, if you want a tequila with no other sugars.
- The producer’s own statement on how long and in what barrels. Producers set their own aging details within the category rules.
How should you drink anejo?
Anejo is usually sipped neat at room temperature in a snifter or tulip glass. It also works in a stirred cocktail such as an old fashioned, where its oak flavors stand out. In a margarita, much of the fine aging character is likely to be lost, so many people use a blanco or reposado there.
Is older always better?
Not necessarily. Longer aging brings more oak and less raw agave. If you like the fresh, peppery taste of agave, you may prefer a reposado, and some drinkers find very old tequila too woody. Taste a few categories side by side to find your preference.
Where can you check the rules?
The CRT publishes the official standard (NOM-006). Rules can change, so check the current text for legal or certification questions.
People also ask
How long is anejo tequila aged?
At least one year and less than three years in oak barrels of up to 600 liters.
What is the difference between anejo and extra anejo?
Extra anejo is aged at least three years; it became an official category in 2006.
How long is reposado aged?
At least 60 days in oak, in barrels of any size.
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