A cristalino is an aged tequila — reposado, anejo or extra anejo — that is filtered after barrel aging until it pours crystal-clear, keeping the oak depth of an aged spirit with the bright clarity of a blanco. At Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned San Diego, California store, the tequila collection runs from Cazadores Anejo Cristalino at $39.99 to Don Julio 70 and Volcan de Mi Tierra at $79.99 — and every bottle below is in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
How a Cristalino Is Made
The spirit ages normally in oak first — that is where the vanilla, caramel and spice come from — then a slow filtration, often through charcoal, strips the barrel colour. Cazadores Anejo Cristalino ($39.99) ages 12 months in new American oak in Arandas, Jalisco, before its thorough filtration at 40% ABV. Maestro Dobel Diamante Reposado ($46.99), the original cristalino, blends reposado, anejo and extra anejo aged in new Balkan white oak and double-filters it clear. Herradura Ultra Anejo ($64.99) blends anejo with extra anejo aged up to 49 months, finishes with a hint of agave nectar, and filters crystal-clear in Amatitan.
The Bottles in Stock
- Cazadores Anejo Cristalino Tequila — $39.99. 750mL, 40% ABV. 12 months in new American oak, then filtered — anejo warmth, blanco brightness.
- Maestro Dobel Diamante Reposado Tequila — $46.99. 750mL, 40% ABV. The original cristalino: reposado, anejo and extra anejo, double-filtered.
- Herradura Ultra Anejo Tequila — $64.99. 750mL, 40% ABV. Anejo plus extra anejo to 49 months, a hint of agave nectar, filtered clear.
- Don Julio 70 Anejo Claro Tequila — $79.99. 750mL, 40% ABV. 18 months in American white oak, charcoal-filtered; created in 2012 as the world's first clear anejo.
- Volcan De Mi Tierra Anejo Cristalino Tequila — $79.99. 750mL, 40% ABV. Anejo in ex-whiskey casks blended with extra anejo in ex-Cognac barrels, charcoal-filtered.
Which Cristalino Should You Pour?
Don Julio 70 ($79.99) is the benchmark — 18 months in American white oak at La Primavera in Los Altos, then charcoal filtration, made to mark 70 years of Don Julio Gonzalez's tequila-making. Volcan de Mi Tierra ($79.99), the Moet Hennessy and Gallardo family venture, is the most wine-like of the set, splitting its aging between ex-whiskey and ex-Cognac casks. Serve cristalinos neat or over one large cube — the clarity is the point, and the aged depth rewards slow sipping. Compare them with our anejo tequila guide and the mezcal shelf, or browse the blog index for more agave guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cristalino tequila?
Cristalino is aged tequila — reposado, anejo or extra anejo — that is filtered after barrel aging to remove the colour, so it pours crystal-clear while keeping aged flavours like vanilla, caramel and oak spice.
Does filtering remove the flavour of a cristalino?
No. Filtration removes colour compounds, not the core aged character. A cristalino like Don Julio 70, aged 18 months in American white oak, still tastes like an anejo — it simply looks like a blanco in the glass.
What is the difference between cristalino and blanco tequila?
A blanco is unaged (or rested only briefly) and tastes of fresh agave, citrus and pepper. A cristalino starts as a fully aged tequila and is filtered clear, so it adds oak depth — vanilla, caramel and baking spice — that a blanco does not have.
Where can I buy cristalino tequila online?
Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, California stocks Cazadores, Maestro Dobel Diamante, Herradura Ultra, Don Julio 70 and Volcan de Mi Tierra cristalinos, all available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.