(Photo: Tequila Ocho)
On Tuesday, Tequila Ocho joined forces with the historic Old Fitzgerald Bourbon for a pair of 12-month añejos that aim to combine flavors of roasted agave with subtle wheat. It's the latest in a series of bespoke, limited-edition releases from the tequila brand.
Each batch hones in on Tequila Ocho's single-estate approach with a focus on a single field and harvest. The first of the duo was distilled from lowlands agaves in Rancho Corralillos and the other using agaves harvested at Rancho Potrero Grande.
The tequila was then aged for one year in recently emptied Old Fitzgerald Bourbon 10-YO Spring 2023 barrels, an expression we were quite keen on when we had a chance to try it at release. Loaded with hints of salted caramel, crème brûlée, honey and confectioners sugar, the bourbon was about as sweet and syrupy as a high-wheat mashbill can get. The whiskey currently holds an impressive Raided Score™ of 92 on our site.
Tequila Ocho's latest añejos, meanwhile, are said to boast aromas of toasted coconut, pineapple and light minerality that segue into flavors of coffee, toasted oak, orange peel and cocoa. The expressions are bottled at 48% ABV and are slated to launch this month at a suggested retail price of $110. The total lot has been limited to just 3,200 cases in the U.S., so prices will likely increase sharply once they hit the secondary market.
“Tequila Ocho has always been deeply rooted in tradition, heritage and legacy, while also constantly pushing the tequila category forward with innovative production techniques such as aging our tequila in a variety of casks sourced from around the world,” Global Brand Ambassador Jesse Estes remarked in a news release. “Tequila Ocho Añejo Barrel Select Old Fitzgerald displays flavor profiles from Old Fitzgerald wheated bourbon, while still retaining agave as the primary flavor profile, thereby staying true to our core brand philosophy.”
As is often the case within the liquor industry, the collaboration was made possible thanks to upper management. Both Tequila Ocho and Old Fitzgerald are owned by Heaven Hill, the Kentucky-based spirits giant behind myriad brands including Elijah Craig, Mezcal Vago, Larceny Bourbon and Henry McKenna.
Tequila Ocho previously harnessed its connections to release a pair of aged tequilas alongside Brooklyn's Widow Jane distillery. The first was a reposado aged eight weeks and eight days (lest we forget that "Ocho" translates to "eight" in English) in ex-bourbon barrels. The second was an añejo matured for 12 months. Find our full review of that expression here — it was pretty tasty stuff, and we're eager to see if the new Old Fitzgerald-aged añejo can surpass it.
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