Follow on No 2
Following on from the tasting I did a few weeks ago with family. Where we blinded 3 Reposado’s and ranked them as we saw fit. I decided to come back and taste the individual bottles starting from the lowest ranked. It’s taken a little longer as I haven’t been drinking much with work being quite busy.
Today we’ve got the second place finisher. Tequila Ocho Single Estate. The current bottle is Las Raíces Estate, 2024 vintage.
Tequila Ocho are known to emphasise terroir in their tequila. Like my favourite distillery Bruichladdich, with each batch coming from a single estate. Does it make a difference I don’t know I’m a simple man. I just know they make good tequila and long may it continue. Enough preamble here we go.
Method : Rested 10 mins in a glencairn glass
Colour : Again light in colour but compared to El Tequileño it’s got a lot more barrel colour. Straw I reckon
Nose: Cooked agave, pepper, nectar sweetness really delicate sweetness subtle.
Palate: Smooth subtle sweetness again but pepper is at the forefront then grassy agave sweetness and pears towards the back. That pepper lingers and lingers mixed with agave sweetness at the end. Surprisingly medium to long finish.
Conclusion : This isn’t the typical tequila palate that some would be accustomed to. It’s peppery mildly sweet dare I say it earthy. It’s just a different vibe and if I was to compare it to El Tequileño. It’s a little bit more complex quite a few things going on in a good way and it rewards taking time with each sip. Revised score again lol 4.
Final Thoughts: This tequila reminds me of my 3yr old nephew fiesty, inquisitive, ever curious and a borderline pain in the rear. But also affectionate, happy go lucky and full of life. I’ve gone off the rails a little bit. But this is what 3hrs of sipping slowly and enjoying this tequila has done. Ocho has a place in my heart as it was the first additive free tequila I tasted and set me off on the agave spirit journey.
Salud!!!