Tequila Ocho Reposado El Bajío 2018

Rating: 15/23. Nose: Clean and minty, followed by sweet stewed agave caramel and mild brine, with a touch of wood spice. Refined, but not particularly engaging. Palate: Fuller than anticipated with a spicier, peppery kick. Then comes mint and undercooked agave caramel, reminiscent of a tequila twist on a mint julep. The profile is clean and accessible with good execution, but lacks complexity. There's a slight starchiness to the mouthfeel, with minimal vegetal agave flavor. Finish: Clean with sweet stewed agave, a continuous mint breeze, and other faint, fleeting notes. Conclusion: This is good, not mind-blowing, but enjoyable. In a reposado comparison, I'd choose Pasote for its greater complexity and balanced profile. This spirit is good, but not exceptional. Cabeza offers more punch and complexity; while potentially less balanced, I prefer it. Prospero Blanco seems inferior, but not significantly. I'm giving this a 15, leaning towards the higher end of the rating scale. Thanks to a friend for sharing a sample.

This is a Tequila Reposado, aged for 8 weeks and 8 days by the Camarena family at the Ocho Distillery in Jalisco Highlands - Los Altos, Mexico. It was aged in former American Whiskey barrels. It begins delicately with notes of agave and vanilla. A balanced development adds notes of earth, oak, almond, vanilla, and tapenade. It concludes with a long and smooth finish, featuring notes of pepper, caramel, and zest. September 2018.

Nose: Features orange, green olives, and butterscotch. Palate: Shows salted caramel, white pepper, and a trace of orange.