Casamigos Reposado vs Blanco

A lot of people have distrust in colored, or brown, tequila. I know I did for awhile. That’s because my first experience was with Jose Cuervo Gold, a very cheap tequila that uses coloring to achieve the goldish brown hue. However, real brown tequila can be quite the treat as it gets its color from being aged in oak casks, similar to whiskey.

In this Casamigos Reposado vs Blanco guide, we’re going to touch upon the differences between blanco/silver/clear/unaged tequila vs reposado/dark/aged tequila. We’ll also touch on how these differences can change the flavor of tequila, specifically that of Casamigos Reposado vs Casamigos Blanco.

Casamigos History

One reason for Casamigos’ popularity is the founder, or co-founder I should say. George Clooney and two of his friends, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, co-founded Casamigos back in 2013. Apparently, they created this tequila for just themselves, and their families and friends. It was never meant to be released to the public, so we’re told.

However, Clooney and his friends sold Casamigos to Diageo for a whopping $1 Billion, with a B, back in 2017. Diageo is a multinational spirits and beverage company that owns brands such as Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Bulleit, Crown Royal, and Guinness, among many many others.

Casamigos Reposado vs Blanco Overview

	Casamigos Reposado	Casamigos Blanco
Spirit:	Tequila Reposado	Tequila Blanco
Owned By:	Diageo	Diageo
Distilled At:	Productos Finos de Agave	Productos Finos de Agave
ABV:	40%, 80 Proof	40%, 80 proof
Aged:	7-8 months in American Oak	2 months in stainless steel
Distillation/Mashbill:	100% blue agave/agave azul	100% blue agave/agave azul
Price:	$45	$40

As you can see, the only real difference here between Casamigos Reposado vs Blanco is the aging process. Casamigos Reposado is aged for 7-8 months in American oak barrels while the Blanco selection spends 2 months in stainless steel tanks for oxidization.

Casamigos does not have it’s own distillery, so it’s produced at Productos Finos de Agave, the same place that distills Avion and Clase Azul.

Tequila must be produced by 100% blue agave, and it must come from the Jalisco state of Mexico in order to fulfill legal requirements of Tequila. Hence, Casamigos is made in Jalisco, with blue agave from Jalisco.

What is Reposado Tequila? What Does Reposado Mean?

Reposado is a Spanish word for rest, or restful. This is in reference to Tequila aging, or resting, in oak barrels. However, in the world of Tequila, it means something a little more specific.

• Tequila Blanco is unaged, clear tequila. It often spends a small amount of time in stainless steel barrels to oxidize and keep the clear color.

• Tequila Reposado refers to tequila that is aged, or rested, anywhere from two – twelve (2-12) months in oak barrels.

• Tequila Añejo, Añejo being the Spanish word for old, refers to tequila that has been aged for 1-4 years.

Distillate, the liquid left after the process of distillation is always clear. Vodka, gin, whiskey, tequila – it’s all clear. Only in the aging process, or with additives and colorings, does a spirit attain a color. Whiskey is usually aged 2+ years in oak, with most popular whiskey spending much longer in the barrels, so whiskey typically has a darker color. Casamigos Reposado spends about 8 months in oak, so the spirit won’t be quite as dark as most whiskey.

Casamigos Reposado vs Blanco Tasting Notes

Now that we’ve covered all there is to know about Casamigos the brand, it’s time to jump into Casamigos the tequila. More specifically, is Casamigos Reposado good? Is Casamigos Blanco good? What do they taste like? How are they different? Well, we’ve got that covered for you.

Casamigos Reposado Flavor Profile

Nose: A very sweet agave with orange peels that have tons of citrus behind it. Vanilla becomes more prominent the more I let it sit. There’s almost a candy aroma to it, too.

Palate: Much more mild than I anticipated off the nose. More complexity, too. The agave and citrus, which were dominant on the nose, ease up a bunch. Vanilla, a light pepper and floral spice, and a nuttiness are much more prominent on the nose. It’s smooth with almost no sharpness to it.

Finish: Not a super long finish, but a pleasant one. Pepper is there, but lightly and with a floral note. Green pepper, light citrus. The vanilla coats your mouth pretty well, too.

Casamigos Blanco Flavor Profile

Nose: Yep, about what I was expecting here. The sweet agave and citrus. It’s almost the exact same as the Reposado, just without the vanilla.

Palate: I was expecting there to be a stronger tequila punch to this since it didn’t spend time in oak barrels, but it’s nearly equally smooth. Floral spice, but sweet agave and citrus are still prominent.

Finish: The finish is fairly short here, too – which I think is a good thing for a tequila blanco. Green pepper and citrus, a tad more sharp, but easy.

Casamigos Reposado vs Blanco – Which is Better?

There’s a reason Casamigos is one of the most popular tequilas in the world, and it’s not just because George Clooney. This is good tequila that is super easy to drink.

I’m a whiskey guy and not a huge tequila drinker, though I’m drinking more and more. However, Aged tequila just does so much more for me than blanco. Vanilla coats your mouth and relinquishes any tequila punch. Oak and almond add a level of complexity, and the green pepper is much more mild than a black pepper/citrus combo.

So, yes, I prefer Casamigos Reposado vs Blanco. There’s more flavor, better flavor, and a touch more smooth as well.

With that being said, Casamigos Tequila Blanco may be my favorite clear tequila on the market. It has all the flavor of tequila and almost none of the bite.

Casamigos Reposado vs Blanco Value

When it comes to value, especially of a tequila, there are many things to look at. Of course, the main part is taste and price. Casamigos Reposado is only $5 more expensive than Casamigos Blanco, so it’s easy for me to give the nod to the Reposado based on liking the taste more.

However, another thing to consider to consider is, how to drink Casamigos. If you’re a whiskey fan, Casamigos Reposado will probably be your choice. If you’re looking to party and take shots and like tequila blanco, Casamigos Blanco is probably your go-to.

Regardless, we’re going to cover the best ways to drink each.

Best Ways to Drink Casamigos Reposado

1. Neat, on the rocks, with a splash of water – We often think of tequila as the party alcohol, but enjoying/sipping tequila neat is something you may consider trying, especially for fans of whiskey.

2. Tequila Old-Fashioned – We’re sticking with popular whiskey drinks here. This may be better with the anejo version of Casamigos, but the reposado selection will work just fine!

3. Spicy Margarita – It doesn’t matter how long you put tequila in a barrel, I’m still going to enjoy it an a margarita. Add a jalapeno or firewater bitters to your favorite marg recipe.

Best Ways to Drink Casamigos Blanco

1. Shots – No surprise here. When it’s time to party, when it’s time to rip some shots, tequila is one of the best ways to go. Casamigos Blanco makes for an easy shot, too, even for those who don’t like tequila.

2. Paloma – Coming from someone who typically doesn’t like palomas. Something about grapefruit juice and tequila just never mixed well for me, but Casamigos Blanco seems to make it work.

3. Margarita – When it comes to the finish of Casamigos Blanco vs Reposado, the finish is more sharp with Blanco, so I’m going for a more classic margarita here and the spicy marg for reposado.

Casamigos Reposado vs Blanco Summary

Casamigos Reposado vs Blanco is about as even as a comparison can get. I mean, they are essentially the exact same spirit, but Casamigos Reposado spends 7-8 months in oak barrels. The quality of this spirit is nearly the same. I’d give a slight nod to reposado, but the blanco selection is also $5 cheaper. Basically, the winner of this battle comes down to personal preference.

Casamigos Reposado is your better option if you’re looking to drink tequila neat, or if you’re a whiskey drinker. If you’re looking to take shots, make margaritas and mixed drinks, then, yeah, go for Casamigos Blanco.

Regardless of which you may prefer, both of these tequilas are very good. Clooney has certainly helped on the marketing and image side of things, but you can’t fake tasty, smooth tequila.