Updated May 2026.
Jose Cuervo Especial Gold and Especial Silver are two mixto tequila SKUs, not a 100% agave tasting flight. Mixto tequila may be as little as 51% agave sugars under CRT rules. Gold is not reposado just because the liquid is gold — joven/oro can take caramel color and flavoring. Typical US Especial bottles print 40% ABV, the official Cuervo pages were not readable. A 1.5-ounce pour at 40% is one NIAAA drink.
Tradicional and Reserva de la Familia are different, usually 100% agave lines. Related: tequila types, budget margarita tequila. Casamigos current NOM is 1609; 818 is 1607; Clase Azul tequila is 1595.
Gold is a color, not a CRT age
| Especial Silver | Especial Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical class | Mixto blanco / joven — read the label | Mixto joven/oro — read the label |
| ABV used here | Typically 40% | Typically 40% |
| 1.5 oz drinks | 1.00 if 40% | 1.00 if 40% |
| 100% agave? | Only if the label says so | Only if the label says so |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks. Four pours are four drinks. Pour math: tequila drinks.
Sources
- NOM-006 mixto ≥51% agave; 100% agave must be labeled. Gold/joven may include permitted color.
- Typical US Especial 40% — official josecuervo.com blocked. Bottle wins.
- 27 CFR 5.148. NIAAA December 2025. NOM not invented.