Updated May 2026.
Reposado and añejo are oak-time classes, not two proofs. NOM-006: reposado rests at least two months in oak; añejo at least one year in vessels ≤600 liters; extra añejo at least three years. Those are minimums — a longer reposado can still be labeled reposado. Most US bottles are 40% ABV. A 1.5-ounce 80-proof pour is one NIAAA standard drink either way.
Color is not a lab assay. Caramel and “abocado” additions are a separate CRT fight; the NOM on the bottle is still the factory. Related: reposado vs blanco, silver vs gold, tequila types.
NOM-006 clocks
| Class | Minimum oak | Vessel cap |
|---|---|---|
| Blanco / plata | None required (or <2 months if rested) | — |
| Reposado | ≥2 months | Not the 600 L cap |
| Añejo | ≥1 year | ≤600 liters |
| Extra añejo | ≥3 years | ≤600 liters |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 standard drinks. Four 1.5-ounce pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. “Better” is not a CRT score. Pour math: tequila drinks.
Sources
- NOM-006-SCFI-2012 §§ 4.36.3–4.36.5 and 6.4 (reposado 2 months; añejo 1 year / 600 L; extra añejo 3 years).
- TTB 27 CFR 5.148. NIAAA standard drink (December 2025). No invented ranking.