unaged

Silver tequila, in case you don't know, is unaged, which is why it's clear as opposed to the cream-colored reposado and amber añejo tequilas.

Tony Sachs: Tequila's Battle of the Blancos: PaQui Silvera, Patron Silver, and Tres Generaciones Plata Go Head to Head 2010

I've mocked barrel-aged cocktails as gimmicky in the past, but one taste of this baby, especially side-by-side with its unaged counterpart, converted me.

Tony Sachs: Cocktail City: The Manhattan Cocktail Classic Is Already An NYC Tradition Tony Sachs 2011

Illustration by Jason Lee for The Wall Street Journal More discerning tequila drinkers know it comes from the agave plant and can recognize the difference between the major types: the unaged blancos; reposados, which are aged in oak between two months and a year; and añejos, which spend between one and three years in barrels.

Tequila Terroir 2011

There are three main categories of tequila: blanco, or unaged; reposado ("rested"), which is aged in oak barrels for 2-12 months; and añejo ("aged"), which is aged in oak for 1-3 years.

Tony Sachs: Sip, Don't Slam! A Dozen Aged Tequilas To Savor Tony Sachs 2011

I've mocked barrel-aged cocktails as gimmicky in the past, but one taste of this baby, especially side-by-side with its unaged counterpart, converted me.

Tony Sachs: Cocktail City: The Manhattan Cocktail Classic Is Already An NYC Tradition Tony Sachs 2011

Skip the unaged Joven, which tends to be too raw and fiery for slow sipping, and head straight for the Reposado, which is pleasantly smoky, with touches of cinnamon and citrus, or the vastly superior Añejo.

The Sipping Mezcal 2011

Also hopping on the clear spirits bandwagon is Remy Martin, with this new clear, unaged Cognac.

Tony Sachs: The Latest In Liquor For Autumn: New Rums, Tequilas, Liqueurs & More Tony Sachs 2011

I've mocked barrel-aged cocktails as gimmicky in the past, but one taste of this baby, especially side-by-side with its unaged counterpart, converted me.

Tony Sachs: Cocktail City: The Manhattan Cocktail Classic Is Already An NYC Tradition Tony Sachs 2011

In the wake of the surprising popularity of "white dog" or clear, unaged bourbons, spirits makers everywhere are trying to come up with their own clear variations.

Tony Sachs: The Latest In Liquor For Autumn: New Rums, Tequilas, Liqueurs & More Tony Sachs 2011

I've mocked barrel-aged cocktails as gimmicky in the past, but one taste of this baby, especially side-by-side with its unaged counterpart, converted me.

Tony Sachs: Cocktail City: The Manhattan Cocktail Classic Is Already An NYC Tradition Tony Sachs 2011