There comes a time when you no longer buy a spirit planning to drink the entire bottle in one evening. You want to start having your preferred spirits on hand to mix a favorite cocktail whenever you want. You buy one bottle, then another, and suddenly, you have a collection of top-shelf liquors for a home bar capable of impressing friends. Once you reach this point of mixology mastery, it’s only natural to think about starting a tequila collection.
As one of the world’s fastest-growing and most popular spirits, tequila offers something for everyone. From the crisp, clean flavors of a Blanco to the aged complexity of an Añejo, a home tequila bar can provide inspiration when mixing drinks or offer a sophisticated solution when wanting to sip a spirit straight.
Ready to get started? Let’s look at what you need to know when curating a tequila collection at home.
Get to Know Your Tequilas
Before starting a home tequila bar, you need to know the differences between each type of tequila. When you buy a bottle of vodka or gin, you get basically the same thing regardless of the distiller. There’s no aging process for these spirits, so the taste varies mainly depending on the type and quality of the ingredients used.
Tequila has more nuance based on how long it’s aged. This changes the flavor and expression so that certain types of tequila are better suited for different drinking experiences. Knowing the difference will allow you to stock your home bar more effectively.
Blanco
Blanco, or clear, tequila is unaged and represents the purest expression of agave. It is bottled shortly after the distillation process is complete, creating a clean and crisp tequila, great for making classic cocktails like a Margarita, Paloma, or Ranch Water.
With the flavor of the agave featuring so prominently, the ingredients used to create it really matter. Suavecito Blanco Tequila is made with 100% mountain-grown Blue Weber agave cultivated at 7,000 feet in Mexico’s Central Highlands. Grown at a higher elevation gives our agave a sweeter, more citrus flavor than lowland-grown agave.
While Suavecito Blanco Tequila is perfect for sipping if you want a lighter flavor, Blancos shine in a home bar when used to create cocktails.
Reposado
When you want a spirit with a little more maturity, a Reposado, or rested, tequila can provide the sophisticated flavor that can elevate a cocktail to another level. Unlike a Blanco, a Reposado ages at least two months in oak barrels before bottling. The time spent in contact with the oak imparts mature characteristics that give this tequila more depth and balance.
Suavecito Reposado Tequila ages eight months in retired American Oak Bourbon barrels, infusing it with gentle hints of vanilla, spice, and caramel while giving it a lightly golden color. This deeper flavor profile is best appreciated when sipped on the rocks or when part of a cocktail where the taste of the tequila is more apparent, such as an Oaxacan Old Fashioned or Suavecito Martini.
A Reposado’s role in a home tequila bar is to provide a nuanced and robust flavor similar to that of a well-aged tequila while costing slightly less.
Añejo
Añejo, meaning “aged” in Spanish, takes the art of tequila to new heights. Añejo tequilas are aged for at least one year in oak barrels, allowing them to develop rich, complex flavors perfect for sipping. The extended aging process imparts notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak, creating a smooth and luxurious drinking experience.
Suavecito Añejo Tequila is aged for two years in retired American Oak Bourbon barrels, twice the minimum aging requirement. This extended aging period results in a deep amber color and a flavor profile that balances rich caramel and vanilla with hints of spice and oak. The complexity and depth of Suavecito Añejo make it an ideal choice for those who appreciate a more mature and refined tequila.
Añejo tequilas are best enjoyed neat or on the rocks to fully appreciate their intricate flavors. In a home bar, an Añejo tequila provides a premium option for discerning palates, ensuring that every sip is a celebration of artisanship and tradition.
Extra Añejo
If an Añejo takes tequila to new heights, an extra Añejo soars above with a complex flavor and bold finish unlike any other. The extended aging of the tequila allows the spirit to infuse with the characteristics of the oak it’s aged in, imparting depth and sophistication that’s more similar to a fine whiskey than a Blanco or Reposado tequila.
Suavecito Extra Añejo Tequila is aged for five years in American Oak, three years longer than the required time. During this patient process, the tequila develops a darker caramel-colored hue while still maintaining a remarkably smooth finish. Seductive spices and aged oak greet the nose, while the palate finds notes of silky caramel and subtle cinnamon.
As part of a home bar, an Extra Añejo is the good stuff you break out for special occasions or when you want to impress the whiskey or scotch drinker who doesn’t know how robustly complicated a finely aged tequila can be. Don’t bother using this in a mixed drink or classic cocktail. Enjoy neat or with a large ice cube to truly savor the experience of drinking one of the world’s best tequilas.
Reposado Cristalino
A recent addition to the tequila pantheon, Reposado Cristalino combines the smooth, crisp characteristics of a Blanco with the aged complexity of a Reposado to create the ideal cocktail tequila.
A Cristalino starts as a Reposado that undergoes a special charcoal filtration process to strip the color imparted to the tequila by the oak it’s aged in. This results in a tequila that possesses the same mature character as a Reposado but presents a lighter on the palate. Suavecito Reposado Cristalino Tequila is aged eight months and has a bright finish with notes of citrus and oak.
A Reposado Cristalino is a great choice when making sophisticated cocktails by offering a mature flavor that delights the taste buds while not overpowering the other ingredients.
Starting a Tequila Collection with Suavecito Tequila
When you’re ready to start your home tequila collection, Suavecito Tequila will make an excellent addition. Suavecito Tequila is aged twice the length of other premium tequilas, imparting a sophisticated flavor and unforgettable drinking experience that will stand out in any home tequila bar.
Ready to experience the difference yourself? You can find Suavecito Tequila at Total Wine & More or wherever exceptional tequila is sold.
