Updated August 2026.
Silver (blanco / white / plata) is tequila that is unaged or rested less than two months. Gold (joven / oro) is not a guaranteed extra-aged reposado. Many grocery “gold” bottles are mixto (as little as 51% agave) plus caramel coloring and flavoring. A true CRT joven is blanco blended with aged tequila. The words “100% de agave” are the split that matters. US bottles are usually 40% ABV; CRT allows 35–55%.
Reposado (≥2 months oak) and añejo (≥1 year) are other types. Jose Cuervo Especial Gold is the classic mixto gold; Tradicional is the 100% line. Related: tequila guide, Jose Cuervo, margaritas.
CRT types, not colors
| Label word | What CRT means | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|
| Blanco / silver / plata | Unaged or <2 months rest | Still can be mixto if it lacks “100% de agave” |
| Joven / gold / oro | Blanco + aged, or (in practice) colored mixto | Gold ≠ automatically reposado |
| Reposado | ≥2 months, <1 year oak | Oak, not caramel, should be the color story |
| Añejo / extra añejo | ≥1 year / ≥3 years | Wrong tool for a lime-forward margarita |
A 1.5-ounce 40% pour is one NIAAA standard drink either color. A 750 mL is about 17 drinks. Four pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. “Gold is smoother” is marketing, not a CRT test. Mixto vs 100% is on the front label. Pour math: tequila drinks.
Sources
- CRT tequila types (blanco, joven, reposado, añejo, extra añejo); mixto ≥51% agave vs 100% agave.
- US labels typically 40%; CRT 35–55% band.
- NIAAA standard drink (December 2025). No invented MSRP or tasting scores.