Tequila Ocho

When Carlos Camarena and Tomas Estes founded Tequila Ocho in 2008, they introduced a revolutionary concept to the agave world: single-estate tequila that expresses terroir as distinctly as fine wine. This partnership between a fifth-generation agave farmer and Mexico's official tequila ambassador to Europe created the first tequila to showcase how soil, climate, and growing conditions shape flavor in measurable ways.

History & Heritage

Carlos Camarena brings generations of agave knowledge from the Highlands of Jalisco, where his family has farmed the volcanic soils around Arandas for over a century. Tomas Estes contributed his deep understanding of spirits markets and the vision to translate Mexican tradition for discerning palates worldwide. Together, they established production at the family distillery in Arandas, where Camarena uses equipment modeled after his grandfather's original copper stills.

The Tequila

Tequila Ocho produces four core expressions: Plata, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo, each bottled with the vintage year and specific field name where the agave grew. The process honors tradition at every step: eight-year-old agave plants slow-roasted in brick ovens for up to 72 hours, wild fermentation using airborne yeast for 100 hours, and double distillation in copper pot stills. The Reposado ages precisely eight weeks and eight days in ex-American whiskey barrels, allowing agave character to remain prominent while gaining subtle wood influence.

Why It Matters

Tequila Ocho earned recognition as "World's Best Tequila" at the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge and swept major categories at the 2024 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards, including Best in Show with a 99-point score. More importantly, it demonstrates how terroir translates to agave spirits, offering those who appreciate good whiskey a chance to explore how place shapes flavor in an entirely different category. Each bottle tells the story of a specific field, harvest, and moment in time.