Walk into any liquor store and you’ll see it: rows of bottles, some dark, some gold, and then the ones that look like water but definitely aren’t. That’s clear tequila. Also called blanco tequila. Or even silver tequila, if a brand’s trying to be a little more fancy.
Simply put, clear tequila is tequila at its most direct. You don’t age it in a barrel, there’s no tint and nothing extra except some (hopefully) great agave flavor.
Psst. Curious where to start? Try Celosa. It’s a clear tequila perfectly aged in wine barrels to give it that signature Rose colour… and a lot of character and sophistication.
It’s called blanco
Blanco means white, but really it just means it didn’t sit around in oak. It’s fresh off the still; clean, clear, and kind of impossible to fake. You get the full picture. If something was off in the cooking, the fermentation, the distillation… you’ll taste it. And if it was done right? That shows up too.
All the different types and names of tequila slowly melting your brain? Read this article on types of tequila.
It tastes like agave
…. which is kind of the whole point. You should get something crisp, a little grassy, maybe some citrus or pepper depending on how it was made. There’s no barrel to round it out, so what you’re tasting is the agave core. It’s like eating fruit straight off the tree, except the fruit has spent seven whole years growing in Jalisco.
Not all clear tequilas are equal
Some blanco tequila is quick and dirty. It’s cooked fast, distilled even faster, and then sweetened with additives to add “depth” and a premium feel.
Do not buy this kind of clear tequila.
Instead, look for tequila that’s a 100% Blue Weber agave. That’s the good stuff. Anything less and you’re asking for a terrible drinking experience and an even worse hangover.
In tequila speak, the bad stuff is called mixto, and here’s a nice little read on how it’s different from 100% Blue Weber agave tequila. Read here.
Quick test: does it finish clean?
Take a sip and give it a second. If it coats your mouth like syrup or leaves a weird vanilla aftertaste… not it. A proper silver tequila fades out with a little heat, nothing sticky.
It’s not just for cocktails
Sure, blanco is generally the first choice for cocktails because of its crisp, clear flavor ready to take on whatever personality the cocktail has. But that’s not the whole story. Blanco can be used as a sipping tequila, as long as it’s the good kind. It holds its own incredibly well in a glass, sipped slowly and savored.
What to avoid
Gold tequila that isn’t aged? Usually just blanco with dye. And if it smells like cake or hits like vodka, don’t even entertain it.
When to reach for it
When you want a clean, no nonsense tequila that tastes like the brightest earthiest of the agaves.
Celosa’s a joven, which means it’s a clear tequila that’s rested a bit; long enough to get some softness, but not long enough to hide the agave. It spends time in red wine barrels from Napa, the kind that held Pinot Noir and Cab. That’s what gives it the brilliant pink hue and that little extra smoothness you’ll feel right away.
It still drinks like a blanco, fresh and direct but with a little more ease to it. You pour it when you want something simple but full of character. Or when you want to hand someone a glass and let the tequila do the talking.
So next time you’re in the mood for something satin-soft and finished like a kiss you weren’t expecting, pour yourself some Celosa Pink Tequila. Shop online or find a distributor near you.
