Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.(Photo: Tequila Ocho)
On Monday, acclaimed additive-free distiller Tequila Ocho uncorked its first extra añejo in two years. It's the brand's second wholly new bottling since its design refresh hit liquor store shelves in March.
The spirit begins life with Tequila Ocho's signature overripe agaves, purportedly harvested after eight years in the field. Industry-standard hovers around seven years, though many have observed the figure drift lower and lower as demand for tequila in the U.S. skyrockets. Ocho's technique allows extra time for sugar to develop in the plants and, of course, serves as an on-the-nose nod to its brand name.
The distiller is keen on these kinds of parallels — its Reposado, for example, is rested for eight weeks and eight days.
Rather than opt for a whopping eight years, the brand's new extra añejo is aged three years in ex-American whiskey barrels that previously held several fillings of tequila. The end result is said to pair darkened aromas of cherries, dark chocolate, prunes and raisins with a palate of cooked agave, roasted coffee and orange peel.
Bottles of the 40% ABV spirit are available now at a suggested retail price of $249. The release has been limited to just 720 cases, so prices will likely rise once resellers enter the equation.
"Our Extra Añejo has always pushed the boundaries of how long a tequila can be aged while still retaining full agave flavor, brand ambassador Jesse Estes remarked in a news release. "The ability to age a tequila for three years and still have the coveted agave notes remain front and center, while being subtly highlighted, accentuated, and lifted by the oak notes is a testament to Carlos Camarena’s mastery of his craft. "
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The bottling was preceded by the high-ABV Tequila Ocho Plata Puntas, which was unveiled at the end of August. Like its predecessor, the extra añejo leans into a new look. Parting ways from the understated wine bottle design of years past, Tequila Ocho's upcoming releases all feature a "fingerprinted" glass texture that pays homage to the agaves distilled within. Each bottle is complete with a scannable QR code containing information on the field profile, characteristics and terroir of each vintage.
If you're hoping to track down the release, find more information here.
Tequila OCHO Extra Añejo 2024 Tasting Notes, Per the Brand
Nose: Dried fruits like raisins and peach, dark chocolate, salted caramel, vanilla, cooked agave, toffee and fresh oak.
Taste: Cooked agave, roasted coffee, nuts, orange peel, hints of black pepper, cherries and oak.
Finish: Long-lasting vanilla, coffee and fresh oak finish, intense cooked agave and round mouthfeel.
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