Brand
Ocho
Ocho (commercially known as Tequila Ocho) is a single‑estate tequila brand that labels each vintage with the name of the field of origin and the harvest year, focusing on terroir-driven production and artisanal methods using 100% Blue Weber agave.
- Arandas · Jalisco · Mexico
- Since 2008
- 2 products
The story
Ocho began as a collaboration between jimador/tequilero Carlos Camarena and tequila ambassador Tomas Estes; the brand has been active since 2008 and became known for its single‑estate approach and vintage releases tied to specific ranches. In recent years the brand entered the Heaven Hill Brands portfolio through acquisition of the owning group.
Production philosophy
Highlighting the link between plant and place: Ocho aims to demonstrate agave terroir by using agaves harvested from individual ranches, picked at optimal maturity and bottled with field and vintage information to tell the origin story.
Territory
Mainly Los Altos de Jalisco (Arandas area) with selected extensions in Michoacán and Guanajuato; the brand lists individual parcels (rancho) and altitudes on the labels.
Awards and recognition
Next Wave Awards – Spirits Brand of the Year (Next Wave Awards 2024)
Production method
Artisanal production: Blue Weber agave harvested beyond maturity, slow baking in brick ovens, extraction with roller mill, natural fermentation (local aerobic yeasts) and double distillation in copper pot stills; aged expressions rest in 200‑liter American oak barrels (ex‑whiskey).
Distillation
Double distillation in pot stills (small copper pot stills with high contact).
Ageing
Aged expressions mature in 200‑liter American oak barrels, typically ex‑whiskey and often seasoned to minimize wood influence; the brand also produces finishes in specific casks (e.g. Cognac, Plantation rum) for some limited editions.
Characteristics
- Type
- Brand
- City
- Arandas
- Categories
- tequila
- single‑estate tequila
- vintage / field‑labelled tequila
- premium tequila
- barrel‑select finishes
- Raw materials
- Blue Weber agave (100% agave)
- water
- natural aerobic yeasts (spontaneous fermentation)
- Casks and ageing vessels
- 200 L American oak barrels (ex‑American whiskey, used/seasoned)
- Cognac finishing casks (Maison Ferrand / Pierre Ferrand Ambre) - finish editions
- Rum finish casks (e.g. Plantation Barbados 2002 / Plantation Jamaica 2002) - finish editions
- Representative products
- Tequila Agave Ocho Blanco
- Tequila Agave Ocho Reposado
- Tequila Agave Ocho Añejo
- Tequila Agave Ocho Extra Añejo
- Tequila Agave Ocho Single Barrel Añejo
- Tequila Agave Ocho Añejo Cognac Ferrand Ambre Cask Finish
- Tequila Agave Plantation Barbados 2002 Cask Finish
What makes it distinctive
- First commercially known tequila for the 'single‑estate' concept and for labeling field and vintage on every bottle.
- Artisanal production with brick‑oven baking, natural fermentation and double copper distillation.
- Historic collaboration between Carlos Camarena and Tomas Estes; production continuity maintained after acquisition by Heaven Hill.
- Releases with special cask finishes (Cognac Ferrand, Plantation rum) and single‑barrel / vintage editions.
