What is the minimum aging period for añejo tequila?

Añejo tequila must be aged for at least one year in oak containers. Mexican tequila regulations place añejo between reposado and extra añejo in the aging hierarchy.

Reposado tequila is aged for at least two months, while añejo requires a minimum of twelve months. Extra añejo, a later category, requires at least three years of maturation. These periods refer to the time the tequila spends in oak containers, where it develops color, aroma, and additional flavor.

Añejo does not simply mean any dark tequila. Color can be adjusted within regulated limits, and a darker appearance does not automatically prove longer aging. The classification depends on the official category and its production requirements.

Añejo is commonly enjoyed neat because barrel maturation softens some of the sharper flavors found in young tequila. It can also be used in spirit-forward cocktails.