01. Legal Definitions of Aging Terms in Tequila
Aging is the slow transformation of tequila as it spends time resting in wood barrels. This process allows the spirit to gain additional flavor characteristics through the natural physical and chemical processes that take place over time. understanding the aging process for each type of tequila will illustrate how each one is special.
There are five legally defined classes of aged tequila:
GOLD
A sweetened and/or caramel- colored spirit. Gold tequilas, and Joven (Spanish for ‘young’), were originally created to simulate aging. These are often mixtos, or tequilas formulated with sugar from sources other than agave. Joven are usually a blend of unaged and aged tequilas, and may also be colored. Glycerin and other mellowing agents (Abocantes) are allowed up to 1% by weight. Patrón makes no gold tequila and uses no mellowing agents or additives in any of our tequilas.
SILVER OR BLANCO
Aged no more than two months.
REPOSADO
Aged for two to twelve months in any sized oak container.
AÑEJO
Aged in small (158 gallon) oak barrels for one to three years.
EXTRA AÑEJO
Tequila has stayed inside a small (158 gallon) oak barrel for at least three years.
This video is part of,“From Field to Glass,” a collaborative series from Vinepair and Patrón highlighting the importance of naturally perfect and authentic tequila.
In this episode, Adam and Joanna from Vinepair head to the barrel rooms with PATRÓN bulk coordinator Ricardo Mora to see how the PATRÓN Silver tequila is barrel-aged to become the popular Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo expressions. Then Miryam Segura, PATRÓN bottling manager, shows Adam and Joanna all the stations of the bottling process and the many devoted employees who make it possible.