(Photo: Tequila Ocho)
On Thursday, Tequila Ocho announced the third iteration of its Plata Puntas Blanco. Intended as an ode to the science of distillation, the release boasts a few hallmarks under the hood that are sure to impress agave spirits die-hards.
The expression is bottled at 54% ABV, one notch lower than the legal maximum in the U.S. and one notch higher than last year's Plata Puntas expression. In addition to classic flavors of fresh roasted agave, expect notes of cacao and butterscotch alongside aromas of dried fruits and salted chocolate.
"Puntas 2024 is our highest proof in the Ocho line up, but the real significance of this is, by using less water to proof down the tequila, we can preserve even more character of the agaves," commercial director Fany Camarena remarked in a news release. "The result is an explosion of flavors that evoke all of the senses and a beautiful sipping tequila that expresses the unique terroir from which the agaves were harvested.”
Called "overproof" or "still strength," high-ABV tequilas have witnessed a surge in popularity over the past couple of years. Championed by acclaimed additive-free brands like Fortaleza, El Tequileno and Pasote, these expressions have ushered in a welcome change of pace from the near-ubiquitous 40% ABV spotted on most agave spirits. Many consider this burgeoning genre the cream of the crop within the tequila world.
Tequila Ocho, however, has a trick up its sleeve intended to distinguish Plata Puntas from the competition.
The distillation of any spirit yields what's known as the heads, hearts and tails. Used to describe three steps of vaporization in the distillation process, the vast majority of brands utilize the hearts — high in ethyl alcohol and flavor — in the bottling of their products. Heads, rich in esters and volatile alcohol, and tails, often watery, are typically left on the sidelines.
Plata Puntas, Spanish for "silver tips," breaks tradition by harnessing the heads for an added blast of high-proof flavor.
"By separating only the end of the heads and beginning of the heart of the distillation - we call this the “neck and shoulders" - it gives us an incredibly aromatic and flavorful result, one that is an even closer reflection of the agaves at the time of harvest," Camarena said.
The limited-edition release is slated to roll out later this month at a suggested retail price of $74.99.
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