Tequila Ocho’s latest rare release manages to both honor tradition and push boundaries. From their Barrel Select series, it is a vivid expression of terroir and collaboration, bringing together estate harvested agave with 12 months of aging in freshly emptied barrels that had previously held legendary Old Fitzgerald bourbon. Bottled at 48% ABV.

This distinctive añejo begins with Ocho’s hallmark: overripe, single estate agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco. The agave forward character is then transformed through the full year of aging in Old Fitzgerald bourbon barrels sourced from Kentucky’s Heaven Hill Distillery. The result is a spirit that marries the sweetness and spice of wheated bourbon with the herbal intensity and depth of traditional tequila. The Old Fitzgerald barrels used previously held the 10 Year Old Spring 2023 Decanter Series; a rich, syrupy bourbon known for its notes of crème brûlée, honey, salted caramel, and toasted oak. These characteristics subtly infuse the tequila, elevating its natural profile without overwhelming it. The aroma leads with warm caramel, honey, maple, and hints of toasted coconut and milk chocolate. On the palate, it’s a layered journey soft vanilla, roasted hazelnuts, dark cherry, crème brûlée, aged oak, and subtle spice, all wrapped in a buttery smooth mouthfeel. The finish is long, warming, and evolving leaving traces of woody sweetness and an elegant echo of agave. Perfect for slow sipping and spirited storytelling, this collaboration between Jalisco and Kentucky is a collector’s treasure and a celebration of what happens when tradition meets experimentation, barrel to barrel, world to world.