Tequila Ocho Curado Espadín
Tequila Ocho · Destilería La Alteña
This is a fascinating bridge between the worlds of tequila and mezcal, executed with Ocho's trademark terroir focus. The espadín infusion doesn't turn this into a mezcal impersonation — it adds a smoky dimension while the highland agave character remains firmly in the driver's seat. A conversation starter with substance behind it.
Nose
Roasted agave and green vegetal notes mingle with a distinct minerality. There's fresh lime zest and a subtle herbal quality — almost like bruised thyme. The espadín infusion adds a smoky floral character that sits behind the cooked agave.
Palate
Medium-bodied and surprisingly dry. Cooked agave drives the palate, supported by white pepper and a mineral earthiness. Mid-palate introduces a gentle smokiness from the espadín, with citrus brightness cutting through. The finish of the palate carries an herbaceous quality.
Finish
Clean and dry, with lingering mineral notes, a whisper of smoke, and residual lime zest.
- Agave
- 100% Blue Weber Agave (highland), infused with Espadín agave
- Production
- Brick oven slow-cook, tahona crush, open-air fermentation, copper pot distillation
- Region
- Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico
- Cooking Method
- Brick oven slow-cook, tahona crush, open-air fermentation, copper pot distillation
- Distillation
- Slow-cooked in brick ovens, tahona-crushed, fermented in open wooden vats, double distilled in copper pot stills
- NOM
- 1474
- Additives Free
- Yes
Cocktail Suggestion
Smoke Signal Paloma — 2 oz Ocho Curado Espadín · 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice · 0.5 oz fresh lime juice · 0.5 oz agave syrup · 2 oz sparkling mineral water · Build over ice in a salt-rimmed highball, stir gently, garnish with grapefruit wedge.
Food Pairing
The charred, tender octopus echoes the spirit's smoke, while the bright, herbaceous salsa verde complements the tequila's green vegetal notes and citrus brightness.
Created through a collaboration between the late Tomás Estes and master distiller Carlos Camarena at La Alteña, Ocho Curado infuses highland blanco tequila with slow-roasted espadín agave hearts.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Tequila Ocho Extra Añejo 2020
Tequila Ocho
Where many extra añejos let the barrel overwhelm the spirit, Ocho's 2020 vintage maintains a clear dialogue between agave and oak. The terroir-driven approach — single ranch, single vintage — gives this bottle a specificity that mass-produced competitors can't match. The finish alone justifies the price.
Tequila Ocho Reposado 2023 Single Estate
Tequila Ocho
Ocho's single-estate approach delivers terroir-driven tequila with unusual transparency. The 2023 vintage reposado walks the line between blanco freshness and oak influence beautifully — just enough barrel time to add dimension, never enough to mask the land. This is tequila for people who want to taste the field.
El Tesoro 70th Aniversario Mature Blanco
El Tesoro
A textbook expression of Los Altos highland terroir at 6,900 feet — Carlos Camarena's tahona-and-roller-mill blend rendered at full strength of character. It's a blanco that trades bombast for precision and reminds you why El Tesoro remains a benchmark.
Tequila Ocho Reposado 2022 Single Estate
Tequila Ocho
The 2022 vintage showcases Ocho's commitment to single-estate terroir — each year's release tastes different because the agave comes from a different rancho. The brief reposado rest adds just enough roundness without masking the agave's voice. This is tequila that respects its raw material above all.
Tierra De Ensueño Barrel Rested Blanco Tequila
Tierra De Ensueño
Tierra De Ensueño's barrel-rested blanco occupies a compelling middle ground—brighter than a reposado yet carrying a gentle warmth from its time in wood. It's a tequila that radiates quiet comfort, perfectly suited to contemplative sipping before conversation begins. An understated gem for those who appreciate subtlety over spectacle.
Viva Mexico Tahona Tequila Blanco
Viva Mexico
Viva Mexico's tahona-crushed blanco is a study in disciplined simplicity — the ancient stone wheel extraction strips away noise and leaves only essential agave character. It embodies the issue's theme of clarity through constraint, proving that limitation in method can yield profound transparency of flavor.
El Ateo Blanco Still Strength Tequila
El Ateo
El Ateo's still-strength blanco captures the spirit exactly as it emerges from the still—uncut, unfiltered, and shaped entirely by the air and altitude of its origin. It's a tequila that asks you to taste the breath between distillation and bottle, making it a perfect embodiment of this issue's theme. Exceptional value for a still-strength expression of this quality.
Siete Leguas 70th Anniversary Criollos Blanco Tequila
Siete Leguas
This 70th anniversary expression showcases Siete Leguas at their most celebratory, using rare criollo agave to honor tradition and terroir in a single, unaged statement. It is a tequila that rewards contemplation — proof that blanco can carry the weight of legacy. A fitting capstone to any harvest-themed collection.