Produced at distillery Tequilera Los Alambiques (NOM 1474) in Arandas, Jalisco, by master distiller Carlos Camarena, this high proof reposado, like all of Tequila Ocho’s releases, is made with mature, 7-10-year-old Blue Weber agave cooked in stone/brick ovens (hornos) for 48 hours. The aguamiel is extracted using a roller mill and wild yeast is used to ferment the mosto in open-air wood tanks for 100 hours. The tequila is 2x-distilled before being aged for 6 months, much longer than the 9 weeks of the brand’s regular reposados. It is bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV).
Las Raíces (The Roots) is located less than 8km from the distillery on a gentle hillside at 7,145 feet above sea level. There are groves of ash, oak, & poplar trees dividing the field into two parts. The soil is red clay typical in Los Altos with high levels of iron & potassium. Agave has only been planted here 2x in the past quarter century. The harvest was approx. 142,000 fully mature agave plants in 2024 (3,500 tons) with an average per piña weight of 55 pounds with a high 32% brix level per plant.
The Lot (lote/batch) under review is RLA-044-BP, bottled 15 May 2025. This review is based on multiple tastings using Riedel Tequila Flute and Denver & Liely Mezcal glasses.
COLOR: Light yellow/straw
AROMA PROFILE: Sweet cooked agave & baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, light cloves, cardamom), chocolate, caramel, vanilla, fresh herbs (rosemary), sweet tobacco, black pepper, light oak, & some fruit notes.
PALATE: Mirrors the nose with cooked agave sweetness, baking spices, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, herbal/grassy notes, a powerful pop of black pepper & oak tannins/barrel char, orange peel, & some sweet citrusy fruit notes.
MOUTHFEEL: Viscous – creamy/oily, fully coating the palate
FINISH: Long (10+ seconds)
VALUE: Excellent high proof sipping reposado.
ALWAYS ON THE SHELF? Yes – I have reserve bottles of this limited release.
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