2022 Cerro Del Gallo | Rated blind: Agave citrusy fresh scent. Flavors are simple but clean with agave and white pepper. Finish is a bit short. Overall a nice sip.

2023 Agua Nueva | Aromas: Fresh, light and minty. Honey, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. Ripe pineapple, citrus and pineapple rind; mineral aromas wend their way throughout. Flavors: A slap of black pepper. Lime oils. Thick, oily agave. Briney. Some underlying warmth served up in the the pepper and spice.

2022 Cerro Del Gallo | From blind tasting: Anise, baking spices, sweet agave, and citrus on the nose. Taste has some earthiness, clove, olive. Short-Medium finish

2022 La Estancia | The last of the 2022 releases, this was tasted at Los Alambiques.

2023 Mesa Colorada | The precursor and base juice for the upcoming 2023 Puntas. Nose: Phenomenally full nosing experience. Lots of green elements but rich and warm at the same time. Cítricos of lemon and lime peel and aromatic orange oils. Green pineapples. Minerals and celery. Fresh rosemary, oregano and thyme. Flowery undertones. Oodles of steamed agave sprinkled with crumbled almond pralines. A bit of vanilla rounds out the aromas. A hint of smokiness? Flavors: Satin-like first sip. Cinnamon, licorice and moderate pepper warmth. A touch of brininess. Signature forefront agave character. That tease of vanilla found in the nose persists to the tasting.

2022 La Estancia | Aroma: beautiful full of cooked sweet agave with ripe pineapple, green apple, sweet oranges, lemon, cardamom, peppermint, anis, very fresh and aromatic. Palate: lemon peel, cook agave, tropical fruits, nutmeg, apples, cardamom, and lightly dressed with black pepper. Finish: medium to long with hints of anise and black pepper in the pállate, apples and tropical fruits on the tongue. Camarera hoy the spot with this one, I’m buying a case .

Agave forward ain't the word. Amazing!!

2022 Cerro Del Gallo | Nose: Both fresh green agave aromas and the bouquet of Las Alambiques horno cooked agave in its cooling stages. Sweet cinnamon. Minty Mediterranean oregano. Freshly sliced sweet green apple. Taste: Medium pepper and sweetness in tandem. Light oils and salinity. Pepper heat does accumulate while sipping. Medium long finish. This is a refreshing, light blanco. Note: This one seems to blossom with subsequent pours. And give it a breather.

2022 La Estancia | This Rancho is atypical, having a grey soil rich in calcium and containing limestone. Nose: Crisp entrance. Fragrant lime oils and orange peel. A tease of cinnamon, nutmeg, mint and thyme. Tart apples. A grind or two of black pepper. Flavor: Buttery and slightly oily. Ratcheting pepper heat. Vanilla, allspice and salinity making peekaboo appearances. The citrus notes hold their ground, marrying nicely with the agave and baking spice. Finish: A sweet and round, mouth filling finish. La Estancia is a departure from other recent Ocho Plata releases. Another classic study in terroir.

2017 Las Aguilas | Agave and mineral nose, adding earth, sweetness, and red hots on the flavor. Very nice.

2022 El Nacimiento | What a beautiful tequila. I am partial to blancos and Ocho quickly became one of my favorite on the first sip. It’s soft aroma delicately takes you to Tequila, MX, with the smell of agave in the air. It’s followed by white pepper and slight citrus. Nothing is over represented. It’s incredibly well balanced. I might make my wife wear this behind her ear as a perfume. Tasting is agave forward, as I would expect from a finely produced tequila. It’s subtle pepper rests gently on a bed of earthy herbs, citrus, and flowers. I don’t need to buy a ticket or GDL. Mexico is delivered in this gorgeous juice.

2022 El Nacimiento | 2022 El Nacimiento / Nose: heavy pepper, green apple, mineral, roasted agave, cloves, rosemary. Palate: white and black pepper, sweet roasted agave, bitter orange, lime peel, spring water, celery and cloves, green agave. Finish: peppery , bitter orange, cloves, medium mild, some heat.

2022 El Nacimiento | Even the synthetic cork smells of agave...tasting this I feel I'm tasting the new distillery and it 's location nearer to Arandas. Talk about terrior!! Air, water and equipment (still, fermentation tanks in particular) all new and not impregnated with the years of production and history at La Alteña is both a great and not so great experience. Fortunately the not so great part isn't degrading the quality of the product at all. Palate is all sweet roast agave, a touch of tip of tongue numbing ethanol and a nice citrus finish...lime zest with slight acidity and some orange tang on the fade.

2022 La Cañada | While La Mula was probably my favorite Ocho, this La Cañada is veeryy good. So much agave and fresh pepper, the finish is short for me though but it is nice to sip. A great lote.

2022 El Nacimiento | Wow what a beautiful nose. So bright. Agave, alcohol and citrus? The palate is nice with agave coming through and some earth? The finish was long and left my tongue a little buzzed and left me wanting more. Very curious to see how this one opens up.

2022 El Nacimiento | The 2nd Harvest of 2022 Nose: Bright citrus and apple notes. Earthy minerals. Gobs of agave. Cinnamon, cloves and hints of creamy vanilla. Slightly floral. A pinch of rosemary, thyme and celery. A crisp, clean profile. Flavor: Intensely sweet agave with an undertone of marzipan. The citrus, cinnamon and clove follow from the nosing - plus a measure of vibrant pepper. An oily opulent mouth feel. Finish: Pretty impressive package. Fruit and spice hang on a long while, with incredible natural sweetness.

2021 El Tigre | Another great ranch from Ocho (El Tigre), so far in my top 5. Get this for a sipping night. Also look for the following ranches: La Loma El Nacimiento Los Mangos La Ladera

2022 El Nacimiento | Tasted El Nacimiento 2022 at 52% at their new distillery and it reminded me of a mix of La Loma and El Tigre. People will really like this ranch

2022 La Cañada | 2022 La Cañada | Nose: agave, cedar wood, Smokey ash, green guava, green banana, citrus, and hints of pepper. Palate: orange peel, peppermint, mineral, green guava. Finish: slightly hot, medium, light pepper, green tropical fruits, citric

2022 La Cañada | Nose: lots of sweet cooked agave, tropical flowers, ripe tropical fruit , pineapple, orange peel, mango, and spearmint Flavor: nice oily mouth feel, cooked agave, fruity, some spice and black pepper Finish: medium finish with spice and fruit and lingering pepper

2022 La Cañada | Lot BLA-043 28/04/2022 bottle 9795 Sooo much agave, on the nose, in the mouth, on the finish. Some citrus, cooked agave on the nose, and a heavy dose of minerals along with a bit of viscosity in the mouth makes this linger on the palate for a while fading to a nice warming peppery finish. 2022 looks to be another outstanding year for Ocho releases. It seems that Carlos has figured out some of the nuances of the new facility as I think this is more rounded than the El Tigre and earlier releases from NOM 1474.

2022 La Cañada | Cooked agave and citrus in the nose and fresh tropical green fruit, light on the nose like minerals or creek, spring water. Orange peel on the mouth with slight burn like black pepper or a mint

2022 La Cañada | This is the first Ocho Rancho to be harvested in 2022. Nose: A big slap of sweet caramelized agave. A floral bouquet - citrus blossoms, nasturtiums and a muted whisper of mint. Green peppercorns in brine. Fruity - pineapple, ripe berries, and mature guavas fallen from the tree, just beginning to over-ripen and ferment. A fusion of caramel and toffee anchors the lighter fruit and floral elements. Followed up with minerals and a faint damp cellar note. Flavor: Nutty, spicy honeyed agave. A kick of pepper riding its tail. Hints of earthy toasted almonds. Round and oily on the palate. Finish: A very pleasant ‘Goldilocks’ sipper that would appeal to a broad spectrum of tequila drinkers.

2020 La Loma | La Loma. Quite possibly the best blanco Ocho has ever made IMHO.

2021 El Tigre | 2021 El Tigre Aroma: floral, citrus and agave. I get a really faint hint of brown sugar or molasses. Flavor: I definitely get agave up front but it’s not quite a prominent as other Ocho’s I’ve had. I get a pretty strong pop of alcohol which I’m not used to with this brand. It fades but is a strong initial flavor for me. I get a good amount of citrus, orange peel or maybe grapefruit… it’s got a bitter presence, like lemon grass. Finish: agave and citrus finish. Bitterness. It fades quickly without much tingle. Overal: I love this brand and while 2021 El Tigre isn’t one of my favorite vintages, I love how each has such unique and prominent characteristics. This particular bottle gets big points for value. $60 for a liter at the Cabo airport.