Tequila Ocho Las Raices Reposado Single Estate

Tequila Ocho 2024 Las Raíces Single Estate Reposado is a terroir-focused tequila from the Highlands of Jalisco, produced entirely from Blue Weber agave harvested from a single estate field—Rancho Las Raíces. Crafted by master distiller Carlos Camarena at Tequilera Los Alambiques (NOM 1474), this vintage expression is rested for 8 weeks and 8 days in seasoned ex-American whiskey barrels and bottled at 40% ABV / 80 proof. The 2024 Las Raíces vintage delivers an intriguing combination of cooked agave, green olive, rosemary, anise, orange peel, white pepper, salinity, and measured oak while keeping the character of the agave firmly at the forefront.

Process & Profile

The defining feature of Tequila Ocho is its single-estate, vintage-driven approach. Rather than blending agave from numerous regions to create the same flavor every year, Ocho harvests one specific field at a time, allowing differences in soil, elevation, climate, and growing conditions to become part of each release. The project was created by Carlos Camarena and the late Tomas Estes specifically to demonstrate the concept of terroir in tequila.

The 2024 Las Raíces harvest comes from a gently south-sloping ranch located approximately 7.5 kilometers east of Los Alambiques, at an elevation of roughly 7,145 feet. The property is divided by groves of ash, oak, and poplar trees and features the iron- and potassium-rich red clay soils characteristic of Los Altos de Jalisco. Ocho reports approximately 142,000 mature agave plants at Las Raíces, making it the largest ranch the producer had used for an Ocho vintage, with the 2024 crop averaging roughly 32% sugar content.

Production remains deliberately traditional and agave-focused. Mature agaves are slowly cooked in brick ovens for 48 hours and allowed another 24 hours to cool before being crushed with a roller mill. The juice is fermented for approximately 100 hours in wooden vats using naturally occurring airborne yeast, followed by double pot distillation, with the second distillation performed in a small copper pot still.

For the Reposado expression, the tequila rests for 8 weeks and 8 days in 200-liter American oak barrels previously used for American whiskey. The barrels have seen multiple tequila fills, reducing aggressive oak extraction and allowing the mature agave and estate character to remain dominant.

On the nose, the 2024 Las Raíces Reposado shows an unusually savory profile of anise, green olives, and fresh rosemary, accompanied by subtle seasoned-wood notes. Beneath those aromas lies Ocho’s characteristic cooked-agave sweetness, creating a balance between herbal freshness and restrained barrel influence.

The palate is dry, mineral, and slightly saline, with orange peel, white pepper, cooked agave, herbs, and oak. The barrel character is more noticeable than the delicate color might suggest, but it never overwhelms the agave. Citrus and pepper bring energy while green, earthy tones reflect the distinctive Las Raíces terroir.

The finish is long and gently creamy, carrying cooked agave, white pepper, citrus peel, herbs, vanilla, and seasoned oak. Ocho’s short aging period preserves much of the vitality of a blanco while contributing enough barrel influence to add additional texture, spice, and complexity.

What makes Tequila Ocho Las Raíces Reposado particularly compelling is its combination of single-field agave, a vintage-specific harvest, exceptionally high-elevation Highland terroir, traditional slow production, and deliberately restrained barrel aging. Each Ocho vintage is intended to taste different, making Las Raíces not simply another Reposado but a snapshot of one particular agave field and harvest year.

Enjoy it neat at room temperature in a tequila glass or copita to appreciate the estate character. A few drops of water can reveal additional herbal and citrus nuances, while its savory, agave-forward profile also works beautifully in an elevated Margarita or Paloma.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tequila Ocho 2024 Las Raíces Reposado?
It is a single-estate Reposado tequila made from Blue Weber agave harvested exclusively from Rancho Las Raíces in the Jalisco Highlands during the 2024 harvest. It is produced at Tequilera Los Alambiques under NOM 1474.

What are the key specs of Tequila Ocho Las Raíces Reposado?
The standard Las Raíces Reposado is bottled at 40% ABV / 80 proof. Ocho Reposado is rested for 8 weeks and 8 days in seasoned ex-American whiskey barrels, using 100% Blue Weber agave from a single estate.

What flavors characterize Tequila Ocho Las Raíces Reposado?
The official Las Raíces profile emphasizes anise, green olive, rosemary, light wood, orange peel, white pepper, salinity, and cooked agave, creating a savory, herbal, and citrus-driven Reposado with restrained barrel influence.

How is Tequila Ocho Las Raíces Reposado made?
Mature agave is cooked for 48 hours in brick ovens, roller-milled, naturally fermented for approximately 100 hours in wooden vats, and double pot-distilled. The Reposado then spends 8 weeks and 8 days in seasoned American whiskey barrels.

What makes Tequila Ocho Las Raíces Reposado special?
Its distinction comes from the combination of one estate, one harvest year, mature Highland agave, red-clay terroir, traditional production, and minimal barrel intervention. Rancho Las Raíces sits around 7,145 feet above sea level and produced exceptionally sugar-rich agave for the 2024 vintage, resulting in an especially distinctive expression of Ocho’s terroir-driven philosophy.