Tequila Ocho announced the latest releases in its range of barrel select vintages, a collaboration with legendary Kentucky Bourbon brand, Old Fitzgerald, crafted by Heaven Hill Distillery.

In a partnership that brings together a pair of the spirits industry’s most revered brands, two 2023 vintages of Tequila Ocho Añejo Barrel Select Old Fitzgerald will be released simultaneously: one made with agaves harvested from the deep, clay-like soil of low-altitude Rancho Corralillos, and another with agaves harvested from Rancho Potrero Grande, near Jesus Maria, the town of origin for the family of third-generation tequilero and fifth-generation agave farmer Carlos Camarena. Both fields are overseen by the Camarena family and feature microclimates that produce agaves with nuanced flavor variations.

The Liquid And The Barrels

Tequila Ocho Añejo Barrel Select Old Fitzgerald marries the finest agave-forward tequila with the heady aromas and rich caramel notes from prized casks that once held Old Fitzgerald Bourbon’s 10-Year-Old Spring 2023 Decanter Series, among the brand’s famed wheated bourbons.

For a wheated bourbon, the secondary ingredient in the mashbill, behind corn, is wheat rather than the more traditional rye, bringing a touch of softness to the sweetness of the corn. The flavors held in the wood of the recently emptied bourbon casks integrate into the tequila as it ages, building on and complementing the subtle sweetness that occurs naturally in Ocho’s overripe agave.

The drinker will discover nuances of variation between the two vintages, due to the microclimates in which those agaves grew. Surely, a coveted sipping experience for those who can get their hands on both.

“Tequila Ocho has always been deeply rooted in tradition, heritage and legacy, while also constantly pushing the tequila category forward with innovative production techniques such as aging our tequila in a variety of casks sourced from around the world,” Jesse Estes, Tequila Ocho’s Global Brand Ambassador, said in a news release. “Tequila Ocho Añejo Barrel Select Old Fitzgerald displays flavor profiles from Old Fitzgerald wheated bourbon, while still retaining agave as the primary flavor profile, thereby staying true to our core brand philosophy.”

“Aging the agave in Old Fitzgerald barrels brought a unique, subtle sweetness and rich, but mellow note of toasted oak into the agave,” Heaven Hill Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll said.  “Bringing together two storied, premium spirits brands has given us an exceptional product that we’re excited for everyone from enthusiasts to collectors to bartenders and beyond to enjoy.”  

Tequila Ocho Añejo Barrel Select Old Fitzgerald is bottled at 48% ABV and is aged fpr 12 months in recently-emptied Old Fitzgerald bourbon barrels. U.S. availability will total 3,200 cases, and the product has an SRP of $110.

Read more: Tequila Ocho Opens New Distillery, Visitor’s Experience

‍ABOUT TEQUILA OCHO

‍Tequila Ocho is ts single estate tequila; curating, selecting and harvesting the very ripest agaves from the world-renowned highlands, and distilling in the town of Arandas, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Tequila Ocho retains complete control of raw materials, from seedling to agave selection, fermentation & beyond, quite unlike most other tequila makers, leading to a liquid which is unparalleled. For more information, visit https://ochotequila.com/.