Eight Reserve, the ultra-premium Añejo from Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand, is a veritable Mariachi band in a bottle – lively, upbeat and engaging.
The fourth and final expression in the 818 range, Eight Reserve is a blend of one, three, and eight year añejos, aged in French white wine and American ex-bourbon barrels, for additional complexity and depth.
When 818 Tequila launched in the UK early 2023, it caused something of a social media sensation, selling out at Selfridges within minutes.
So how does Eight Reserve, this Ultra-Premium Añejo, compare? I attended its UK launch, at Ixchel Kings Road London, eager to make an early assessment
The fourth and final expression in the 818 range, Eight Reserve is a blend of three aged añejos…
818 Eight Reserve tequila tasting notes
Ideal for sipping, Eight Reserve is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks (for cocktails, opt for the 818 Blanco, we can vouch for it in a tequila sour). Crafted in Jalisco, Mexico, the liquid is spicy yet smooth, as befits its premium status.
Unlike the Blanco, the liquid boasts a slightly golden hue, and offers aromas of caramel, orange peel and vanilla. On the palate, it’s predominantly sweet (honey), with hints of cherries. It’s also lightly floral, the influence of the French casks used for the resting process coming to the fore.
The blend is key to its approachable flavour profile. In addition to the standard añejo tequila, there’s a five year old añejo which has been aged exclusively in ex-bourbon casks, and this adds some toastier notes, with a third Extra añejo layer, aged for eight years in French White Wine T5 barrels, for extra sweetness.
Immediately recognisable behind the bar, Eight Reserve comes in a handmade ceramic decanter, in a distinctive 8 shape. Produced by local artisans in Pachuca, using a variety of raw and recycled materials, this isn’t so much a bottle as a collectible keepsake.
If your interest is piqued, the 818 line also includes a Blanco (defined as less than two months old in a barrel, rested rather than aged), a Reposado (which can be aged anywhere between two and 12 months), and an añejo (which 818 parks for 14 months).
The Audio-Technica Hotaru is a music system like no other. This limited-edition turntable combines analogue vinyl playback with magnetic levitation and reactive lighting. Only 1,000 units have been made, each priced at €9,999. The design is intended as both a high-end music system and a sculptural object d’art. The Hotaru uses a floating structure and…
Marking its 200th anniversary, Midleton Distillery has unveiled a special 28 year old whiskey that introduces Mizunara oak to the celebratory series for the first time. The timber is prized for its spicy, fragrant influence and its notoriously difficult cooperage. The limited-edition bottling concludes a year of celebrations recognising two centuries of whiskey-making at the…
Introducing this season’s most audacious luxury gift: a gold-plated watch box priced at €43,000. Lac Humidors, known for its high-end humidors and watch winders, describes the box as both a technical showpiece and a tongue-in-cheek answer to the age-old question of what to buy for the person who has everything. Due to the complexity of…
The Luxe Review 
Eight Reserve, the ultra-premium Añejo from Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand, is a veritable Mariachi band in a bottle – lively, upbeat and engaging.
The fourth and final expression in the 818 range, Eight Reserve is a blend of one, three, and eight year añejos, aged in French white wine and American ex-bourbon barrels, for additional complexity and depth.
When 818 Tequila launched in the UK early 2023, it caused something of a social media sensation, selling out at Selfridges within minutes.
So how does Eight Reserve, this Ultra-Premium Añejo, compare? I attended its UK launch, at Ixchel Kings Road London, eager to make an early assessment
818 Eight Reserve tequila tasting notes
Ideal for sipping, Eight Reserve is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks (for cocktails, opt for the 818 Blanco, we can vouch for it in a tequila sour). Crafted in Jalisco, Mexico, the liquid is spicy yet smooth, as befits its premium status.
Unlike the Blanco, the liquid boasts a slightly golden hue, and offers aromas of caramel, orange peel and vanilla. On the palate, it’s predominantly sweet (honey), with hints of cherries. It’s also lightly floral, the influence of the French casks used for the resting process coming to the fore.
The blend is key to its approachable flavour profile. In addition to the standard añejo tequila, there’s a five year old añejo which has been aged exclusively in ex-bourbon casks, and this adds some toastier notes, with a third Extra añejo layer, aged for eight years in French White Wine T5 barrels, for extra sweetness.
Immediately recognisable behind the bar, Eight Reserve comes in a handmade ceramic decanter, in a distinctive 8 shape. Produced by local artisans in Pachuca, using a variety of raw and recycled materials, this isn’t so much a bottle as a collectible keepsake.
If your interest is piqued, the 818 line also includes a Blanco (defined as less than two months old in a barrel, rested rather than aged), a Reposado (which can be aged anywhere between two and 12 months), and an añejo (which 818 parks for 14 months).
Priced at £250, Eight Reserve is available from The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt.
Audio-Technica Hotaru first review: floating, glowing turntable elevates vinyl playback
The Audio-Technica Hotaru is a music system like no other. This limited-edition turntable combines analogue vinyl playback with magnetic levitation and reactive lighting. Only 1,000 units have been made, each priced at €9,999. The design is intended as both a high-end music system and a sculptural object d’art. The Hotaru uses a floating structure and…
Only 636 Bottles: Midleton celebrates bicentennial with 28 year old Mizunara-influenced whiskey
Marking its 200th anniversary, Midleton Distillery has unveiled a special 28 year old whiskey that introduces Mizunara oak to the celebratory series for the first time. The timber is prized for its spicy, fragrant influence and its notoriously difficult cooperage. The limited-edition bottling concludes a year of celebrations recognising two centuries of whiskey-making at the…
French atelier Lac Humidors unveils bespoke gold-plated watch box worth €43,000
Introducing this season’s most audacious luxury gift: a gold-plated watch box priced at €43,000. Lac Humidors, known for its high-end humidors and watch winders, describes the box as both a technical showpiece and a tongue-in-cheek answer to the age-old question of what to buy for the person who has everything. Due to the complexity of…
Share this: