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Tequila Ocho Reposado 2021 Los Nopales
Tequila

Tequila Ocho Reposado 2021 Los Nopales

Tequila Ocho · Destilería La Alteña

80 proof2 MonthsJalisco, Mexico
Tequila Ocho's single-estate philosophy is on full display here. The Los Nopales rancho brings a distinctive mineral quality that distinguishes this reposado from other vintages. The brief barrel aging adds just enough structure and vanilla to complement the agave without competing with it. This is tequila as terroir study.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright cooked agave and fresh-cut grass lead, with white pepper and a mineral undercurrent. Subtle notes of citrus and a gentle floral quality appear with time. The restrained oak aging lets the field expression speak.

Palate

Clean and focused with cooked agave at the center, framed by gentle vanilla from the barrel rest. Lemon zest and green herb notes provide brightness, while a faint earthy minerality anchors the mid-palate. The texture is round without being heavy.

Finish

Medium length with lingering agave sweetness, a touch of white pepper, and clean mineral tones. The oak recedes, leaving the terroir-driven character to close.

Specifications
Agave
100% Blue Weber Agave from Los Nopales estate, Arandas, Jalisco highlands
Production
Brick oven roasted, tahona crushed, open-air fermentation, double distilled in copper pot stills
Region
Jalisco, Mexico
Cooking Method
Brick oven roasted, tahona crushed, open-air fermentation, double distilled in copper pot stills
Distillation
Slow-roasted agave in brick ovens, tahona crushed, double distilled in copper pot stills
Aging Vessel
American white oak ex-bourbon barrels for approximately 8 weeks
NOM
NOM 1474
Additives Free
Yes
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Rancho Paloma — 2 oz Tequila Ocho Reposado · 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice · 0.5 oz fresh lime juice · 0.5 oz agave nectar · 2 oz sparkling mineral water · Build in a salt-rimmed Collins glass over ice, stir gently, garnish with a grapefruit wheel.

Food Pairing

Charred shrimp tacos topped with tomatillo salsa verde and a squeeze of lime mirror the tequila's herbal and citrus notes while the smoky char complements the gentle oak influence.

The Story

Created through a partnership between the late Tomas Estes and master distiller Carlos Camarena at the Camarena family's La Alteña distillery in the Jalisco highlands, each Ocho release is vintage-dated and traced to a single agave field.

Train These Aromas
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