Reposado tequila must be aged for at least two months under Mexico’s tequila rules.
The Spanish word reposado means “rested,” reflecting the category’s position between unaged blanco tequila and longer-matured expressions. To qualify as reposado, tequila must spend at least two months in oak containers before bottling. Producers may age it longer, but the legal minimum is two months.
Oak maturation can give reposado tequila a pale gold color and flavors associated with wood, including vanilla, caramel, and spice. The exact result varies with the type of oak, barrel size, previous contents, and length of aging.
Reposado is sometimes mistaken for añejo because both are aged. The distinction is the minimum period: reposado begins at two months, while añejo begins at one year. Extra añejo begins at three years.