Blanco vs. Reposado vs. Añejo: A Guide to the Types of Tequila
Blanco, reposado, añejo — the words are on every tequila list, but what do they actually mean? The short answer: they tell you how long the tequila spent in a barrel, and that changes everything about how it tastes. Here’s how the types of tequila differ, how to drink each one, and how to find your way around the 150+ tequilas at Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar.
How Tequila Is Made: The Short Version
Tequila is a spirit distilled from the blue Weber agave plant, produced only in designated regions of Mexico, mainly the state of Jalisco. The agave hearts are cooked, crushed, fermented, and distilled. What happens next — how long the spirit rests in wood, if at all — is what separates a blanco from a reposado from an añejo.
Blanco / Plata / Silver
Blanco, also labeled plata or silver, is unaged tequila — rested less than 60 days and often bottled fresh from distillation. It’s the purest expression of the agave itself: agave-forward, with notes of citrus and pepper. This is the tequila behind most margaritas, including our House Margarita, and the one to try first if you want to taste what agave actually tastes like.
Reposado
Reposado means “rested.” These tequilas spend two to twelve months in wood barrels, and the barrel adds notes of wood, oak, caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla to the cooked agave. Reposado is the middle ground — smooth enough to sip, still bright enough for a cocktail. It’s the tequila in our Celeste’s Cadillac margarita.
Añejo
Añejo means “aged.” These spend a minimum of one year and up to three years in oak casks, and the flavor goes deeper: intense caramel, oak, and toffee, while the sweet, peppery agave still shines through. Añejo is a sipping tequila — pour it neat or over a single large cube and treat it the way you’d treat a good whiskey.
Extra Añejo, Cristalino & Selects
Past añejo, the list keeps going. Extra añejo is aged more than three years. Cristalino is an aged tequila, usually añejo or reposado, filtered to remove its color, so you get barrel smoothness in a clear spirit — the Maestro Dobel Diamante in our Rocco Rita is one. Our Selects & Reserves section gathers the most aged and limited bottles on the list: extra añejo blends, ultra añejos, and premium mezcal from rare wild agave.
Mezcal vs. Tequila
All tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila. Mezcal can be distilled from any type of agave native to Mexico, while tequila must be made from blue agave in designated regions. The agave for mezcal is traditionally roasted in earthen pits, which gives it its signature character: notes of campfire smoke mingled with chili pepper, sweet corn, and a mineral finish. Our Mezcal section is the place to start if you like a smoky spirit.
Tequila Flights at Rocco’s
The fastest way to learn the difference is to taste it side by side. At our Florida locations, the tequila menu includes five flights — Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, Selects & Reserves, and Mezcal — each featuring three one-ounce pours. Taste a blanco next to an añejo and the barrel does the explaining for you. Ask your server about flights and the full tequila list at your location.
How to Drink Tequila
A few guidelines from the bar:
- Blanco — in a margarita, or neat and slightly chilled to taste the agave
- Reposado — neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail where you want a little barrel warmth
- Añejo and extra añejo — neat, in a proper glass, sipped slowly
- Mezcal — neat, with an orange slice if you like, and no rush
Good tequila doesn’t need salt and lime — that ritual exists to cover up rough spirits. Sip it, and let the agave do the talking.
Tequila FAQ
What’s the difference between reposado and añejo? Time in the barrel. Reposado rests two to twelve months; añejo ages one to three years. Añejo is darker, richer, and more caramel-and-oak; reposado keeps more of the fresh agave.
What is the smoothest tequila for beginners? Start with a reposado — it has enough barrel to soften the edges without losing the agave. Then try a blanco and an añejo on either side of it.
Is cristalino a type of tequila? Yes — it’s an aged tequila filtered clear. You get the smoothness of añejo with the look of a blanco.
How many tequilas does Rocco’s have? More than 150, organized on the menu by type: Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, Selects & Reserves, and Mezcal.
The Tequila Bar Near You
Every Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar pours from a list of 150+ tequilas. Find yours:
Florida: Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Sarasota, Tampa, and West Palm Beach
New York: Huntington Station at the Walt Whitman Shops
Massachusetts: Burlington at the Burlington Mall
Pull up a seat at the bar, start with a flight, and finish with a margarita made with the tequila you liked best.