Tequila Ocho

Tequila Ocho’s participation in bat-friendly initiatives is changing the world! Not only is this project saving indigenous bat populations, it is also contributing to the genetic biodiversity of blue agave. #batfriendly #tequila

We are now starting to see the growth of the first hijuelos in the greenhouse in La Alteña - dedicated to the bat-friendly pilot program! These young agaves are some of the very first grown entirely from seeds that came from bat-pollinated agave. #batfriendly #tequila

Tequila Ocho has been a proud participant in a bat-friendly pilot program in tequila, designed to replenish endangered bat species. By allowing a percentage of their blue agave plants to mature, Tequila Ocho feeds indigenous bat populations and helps them to thrive once again.

Introducing Tequila Ocho 8/8/8 Extra Añejo. This 8 year, 8 month release marks not only the longest matured expression in the line, but has been bottled at a higher proof, 48.8% ABV to further accentuate character.

Plata, Reposado, Añejo & Extra Añejo are all standard categories across all Tequila - however Tequila Ocho embodies a unique approach and philosophy in these releases.

Tequila Ocho is always some of the very best Tequila in the world, and that begins with the raw material. Always from family owned and farmed estates - going back five generations in expertise. Each estate unique, and distinctive from one another, but always the highest quality.

Once an Estate or "Rancho" is showing as ready for harvest, the Jimadores (harvesters) then take action. Each agave in each estate will be inspected to determine ripeness for harvest. For Ocho, this means looking specifically for those agaves that are showing as overripe.

Tequila Ocho demonstrates that “terroir” exists in agave. This occurs annually with new vintages drawn from our single estates at varying altitudes from within the "Golden Triangle" in the Highlands of Jalisco, ensuring each estate is distinct in aroma and flavor.

@TequilaOcho So fortunate to sell this great brand @BreakthruBevSC in South Carolina #itsochotime

Today we celebrate 11 years of Tequila Ocho! First launched in the US on August 08, 2008 - and now officially 11 years old. We raise a glass to all that have supported Ocho throughout the years, and helped to prove the concept of Vintage and Terroir driven Tequila a reality!

To all those celebrating National Tequila Day today - we salute you! We hope that whatever your favorite Vintage, Estate and Expression - that you enjoy responsibly! How do you most enjoy Tequila? Neat? In Cocktail? Reply and let us know how you're celebrating today!

Happy #NationalTequilaDay! Please enjoy Ocho Responsibly!

Ocho's goal is to transmit as much flavor and character of the raw material as possible - as such there is no filtration of any kind used in the production process, and minimal aeration or oxidation of the unaged spirit.

Reposado, Añejo & Extra Añejo - all taking time to mature in barrel - however the philosophy for Ocho differs from many other Tequilas on the market today. Ocho is aged to the minimum of the standard for each - 8 wks & 8 days for Reposado, 1 yr for Añejo, & 3 yrs for Extra Añejo.

Carlos likes to say "For me, it would be nonsense to accelerate the process to save a week after waiting so many years for the agave to reach maturity. So, are we inefficient? Yes, probably we are. Are we patient? We have to be very patient."

"If the field is a short field, it's not big enough, so we cannot have just one particular harvest for a particular year - we may have to use two different fields, and thereby separate productions, timing, and of course different labels to designate them" - Carlos Camarena

Every bottling of Ocho designates the year of Harvest, and the unique plot of land or Estate the Agaves were harvested. The back label then highlights specific details from that particular estate, as well as tasting notes of both Aroma and Palate for that particular expression.

Aside from the name, Ocho has great significance - It takes an average of 8 yrs for the Blue Agave to grow & mature, roughly 8 kilos of Agave are needed to produce 1 bottle of Tequila... and "We are 9 in total, I have 7 sisters and one brother, but I am number 8 - So I am Ocho!"

Ocho is directly related to the original development of the process by Tomas Estes & Carlos Camarena - both having selected the "Sample Number 8" in separate blind tastings of multiple different production processes, as the sample that best showcased the character of the Agave.

When asked "How do you determine which Estate to harvest?" Carlos often replies, "I don't pick the Estate, the Estate tells me when it's ready" - regularly taking measurements of both the sugar content, and the acidity of the Agave.