Updated June 2026.
Jose Cuervo Especial Silver and Gold are 40% ABV / 80 proof in the United States on the current cuervo.com product pages. A 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA standard drink. Especial is a mixto (at least 51% blue Weber agave; the rest other sugars) — not 100% agave. Tradicional and Reserva de la Familia are the 100% agave shelves. Gold is a joven blend, not a higher proof.
Mexican domestic bottles can print 35–38%. US tequila as a class sits in the CRT 35–55% band; most US bottles are 40%. We will not reprint a 2021 price list. Margarita math: alcohol in a margarita and tequila drinks. Mix expire: Cuervo mix.
Mixto vs 100% agave
| SKU | Typical US ABV | Agave class | 750 mL drinks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Especial Silver | 40% | Mixto | ~17 |
| Especial Gold (joven) | 40% | Mixto | ~17 |
| Tradicional Silver / Reposado | 40% typical US | 100% agave | ~17 |
| Reserva / extra añejo | Read the neck | 100% agave | Do the math |
A 1.75 L 40% handle is about 39.5 standard drinks. Four Especial pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. CRT NOM is on the label if it is tequila. Identity: tequila types.
Sources
- cuervo.com Especial Silver and Gold: “(40% ABV-80 proof).”
- CRT / TTB tequila identity; mixto ≥51% agave. Most US bottles 40%.
- Mexican domestic 35–38% reported, read that market’s label.
- NIAAA standard drink (December 2025). No invented MSRP.