Conquistador Gold

Gold Tequila—or Tequila Joven—is a generic category for tequila that is nearly always a tequila mixto with conspicuous caramel coloring. The point of a joven is to modify an unaged tequila to give it milder/smoother characteristics one might associate with wood aging while employing little or no actual wood aging. Tequila joven is not inherently “poor quality”—although sadly much of it is. Nevertheless, tequila joven meets a demand in the marketplace for inexpensive tequila, principally for use in mixed drinks where cost control is a priority. A few jovens exist that are not mixtos and are instead blends of 100% agave blancos, reposados and añejos. (These exceptions will not be listed as examples of this category.)