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).
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A new limited-edition English single malt brings together ex-maple syrup and Oloroso casks with a subtle hint of peat. Introducing Cotswolds Distillery’s Round Hill Harvest, the fifth expression in its popular Harvest Series. Comprising 1,200 bottles, the release marries whisky matured in ex-maple syrup casks with Spanish oak Oloroso hogsheads. The resulting dram is rich…
Christmas is coming, and Master of Malt and Drinks by the Dram are ready with a new collection of spirits advent calendars, with 30ml wax-sealed drams behind every door. The calendars cover everything from classic Scotch and Japanese whisky to gin, rum and vodka, and the vast majority of the included spirits are new for…
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.
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A new Johnnie Walker Blue Label blend has been created for India’s festive season, drawing on rare reserves and flavours inspired by the country’s culinary traditions. Johnnie Walker has unveiled the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Indian Festive Blend, a limited-edition expression developed by Johnnie Walker Master Blender Dr Emma Walker using some of the rare…
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A new limited-edition English single malt brings together ex-maple syrup and Oloroso casks with a subtle hint of peat. Introducing Cotswolds Distillery’s Round Hill Harvest, the fifth expression in its popular Harvest Series. Comprising 1,200 bottles, the release marries whisky matured in ex-maple syrup casks with Spanish oak Oloroso hogsheads. The resulting dram is rich…
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Christmas is coming, and Master of Malt and Drinks by the Dram are ready with a new collection of spirits advent calendars, with 30ml wax-sealed drams behind every door. The calendars cover everything from classic Scotch and Japanese whisky to gin, rum and vodka, and the vast majority of the included spirits are new for…
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