Joven is a blend of Blanco and aged tequila and can often be gold in color. This category also contains tequila known as mixto, which can be clear or gold in color and is not 100% agave, but rather a blend of at least 51% agave with the balance being made from other fermentable sugars. Its gold color usually comes from caramel coloring and not from being aged in a wood barrel. Use caution when shopping in this category to make sure 100% agave is written on the bottle.

100% blue agave distilled twice and unaged. Also known as Silver or Plata. Blanco is the most popular type for cocktails and mixed drinks but is also great to sip.

100% blue agave distilled twice and barrel-aged for a minimum of two months and up to one year. The barrels give a light golden hue as well as add character and soften the tequila.

100% blue agave distilled twice and barrel-aged for a minimum of three years. This rare tequila is generally produced in limited quantities. Extended aging mellows the spirit and tends to showcase sweeter characteristics. Tastes similar to Cognac.

100% blue agave distilled twice and barrel-aged for a minimum of one year and up to three years. Used Bourbon barrels are most common for aging. Longer time in the barrel generally produces a darker, and more complex flavor profile.

Aged tequila is put through a filtering process to remove the color from barrel aging. The result is a crystal-clear tequila that retains most of the flavors from aging to deliver a smoother and softer sipping tequila. Cristalino is also branded as Platinum, Primero, and Diamante since it is not yet an officially recognized category.