Tequila sometimes gets a bad rap. It doesn’t always play well with others, and it’s known to give a good beatdown to those who abuse it (we’ve had a few scuffles over the years, as a matter of fact). But it looks like the spirit has refined its image with the recent US debut of Tequila Ocho. Ocho is the third high-end — and high-priced — liquor to join Altamar Brands (distributors of Kübler Absinthe and Right Gin), and Boston is one of the first American cities to get its hands on the collectable vintage tequila. Ocho’s agaves are harvested from “single estates” — a single piece of land with its own microclimate — baked in stone ovens and openair fermented in wooden casks, resulting in unique flavors for each hand-numbered bottle. Ocho distillers bring to agaves the concept of “terroir” that is typically associated with wine grapes, arguing that the plants’ geography and climate give them their own distinctive taste. Sorry, tequila, for all the fights we’ve had. Now that we’ve both matured, it looks like we might be able to work things out after all. Tequila Ocho is available in plata (silver), reposado (rested), and añejo (aged) for approximately $60, $70, $80 respectively; expect it to hit area liquor stores later this month.
