Blanco

Blanco Tequila, also called plata or silver Tequila, is generally bottled immediately after distillation. Typically it will not see any time in barrel, and it is the most traditional class and the purest expression of the art of distilling crystal-clear Tequila.

Blanco Tequila may be in contact with oak for a very short period of time from a few days up to 60 days. These Tequilas should feature a more cooked agave aroma and more oak and sweeter flavours.

The agave-influenced flavours of Tequila Blanco shine in cocktails like margaritas and palomas and we think the best Blanco Tequila for margaritas is something simple like the No Do Tequilana Blanco or El Cristiano Blanco Tequila.

There’s no such thing as “regular” Tequila. Blanco Tequila is just one of five categories of Tequila:

• Blanco
• Reposado
• Añejo
• Extra Añejo
• Gold (though we do not recommend this type of lesser-quality Tequila)

Cristalino is also sometimes mentioned, but this is technically not an official category of Tequila. It is a refinement process that strips out colour to return barrel-aged Tequila back to Blanco. In almost all cases, sweeteners, glycerin and other additives are used to replace what was removed during the refinement process.

The categories essentially refer to how aged a Tequila is, or in the case of Cristalino Tequila, how it is processed, so Blanco Tequila is just the youngest / least barrel-aged style of Tequila.

Our collection of the best Blanco Tequila includes varieties from artisanal family producers in Mexico, imported so we can share these flavours with you.

The time a Tequila spends ageing in barrel is what determines whether it will be a Blanco (not aged), a Reposado (aged minimum two months and up to one year), or an Añejo (aged a minimum of one year and up to three years).

Because a Blanco is not aged, all the flavours come from the agave from which it is made and for this reason it is aptly called the purest form of Tequila. In comparison, a Reposado has been aged in an oak barrel, so it has picked up flavour and colour from the wood of the barrel, introducing new flavours and creating a different drinking experience.

If you like lighter, more herbaceous flavours, you’ll enjoy our range of the best Tequila Blanco imported directly from our partner producers. Or explore our selection of Tequila Reposado for a more complex, smoother flavour.