818 Eight Reserve 750ML

818 Eight Reserve 750ML is a blended Añejo and Extra Añejo tequila bottled at 40% ABV, aged up to eight years in French and American oak barrels. This expression earned a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, distinguishing it as one of the more seriously aged offerings in the 818 Tequila portfolio.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: Jalisco, Mexico  |  Añejo & Extra Añejo Blend (up to 8 years)  |  Distillery: Grupo Solave, Amatitán

Production & Heritage

818 Tequila is produced at Grupo Solave in Amatitán, a town in the heart of Jalisco long recognized as a center of tequila production. Eight Reserve is made from 100% Weber Blue agave and blends Añejo and Extra Añejo stocks that have matured for up to eight years — a significant aging timeline for tequila, where even three years earns Extra Añejo classification. The liquid rests in a combination of French and American oak barrels, a dual-barrel approach that layers the rounder, spicier character of French oak against the vanilla-forward sweetness of American oak. The result is a full-bodied, copper-hued spirit with noticeably more depth and complexity than standard Añejo expressions.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with rich vanilla and toasted nuts, progressing into warm clove and cinnamon spice. Deeper inhalation reveals honey, orange peel, and dark black cherry, layered over a foundation of cooked agave.

Taste: The entry is honeyed and smooth, immediately coating the palate with rich vanilla and butterscotch. The mid-palate builds with cooked agave, cinnamon, and dried berries, while praline-like sweetness emerges toward the peak. The full body carries each note without any single flavor dominating the others.

Finish: The finish is prolonged and silky-smooth, carrying fruit and spiced accents that linger well beyond the last sip. Late on the fade, the spirit bounces between cooked agave and crushed raspberries, a distinctive closing signature that speaks to the extended barrel time.

How to Drink Eight Reserve

Eight Reserve is best appreciated neat or with a single large ice cube that slowly opens the barrel-driven aromatics without diluting the body. A few drops of filtered water can also coax out the subtler fruit notes. For cocktails, try it in an Old Fashioned, where its butterscotch and cinnamon weight replaces bourbon seamlessly; a Tequila Manhattan, where the Extra Añejo depth pairs naturally with sweet vermouth and bitters; or a Café con Leche cocktail, where the praline and vanilla notes harmonize with espresso and cream liqueur.

Best For

• Gifting a tequila enthusiast who appreciates barrel-aged complexity
• After-dinner sipping as a digestif alongside dessert
• Building a premium tequila collection beyond standard Añejo
• Marking a milestone celebration with a spirit that rewards slow, attentive drinking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Eight Reserve taste like? Eight Reserve delivers honeyed vanilla and butterscotch up front, followed by cooked agave, cinnamon, dried berries, and praline on the mid-palate. The finish is silky and prolonged, closing with crushed raspberry and warm spice.

How does Eight Reserve compare to Don Julio 1942? Don Julio 1942 is an Añejo aged a minimum of two and a half years, while Eight Reserve blends Añejo and Extra Añejo stocks aged up to eight years in both French and American oak. The longer aging and dual-barrel program in Eight Reserve generally yield a darker, more tannic, and dessert-forward profile compared to 1942's lighter caramel and agave character.

Is Eight Reserve good for sipping neat? Yes — the extended aging and 40% ABV make it exceptionally approachable neat. Its full body and layered flavor progression reward slow sipping without requiring dilution.

Where is Eight Reserve made? Eight Reserve is produced at the Grupo Solave distillery in Amatitán, Jalisco, Mexico. Amatitán sits in the Tequila Valley, one of the most historically significant agave-growing and distilling regions in the country.

What foods pair well with Eight Reserve? Dark chocolate truffles complement its vanilla and butterscotch richness. Pecan pie mirrors the praline notes on the palate. Grilled stone fruit like peaches brings out the berry and agave sweetness. Aged Manchego cheese balances the oak-driven spice, and mole-sauced dishes align with the cinnamon and dried fruit character.

What sizes does Eight Reserve come in? Eight Reserve is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Eight Reserve worth the price? Eight Reserve positions as a premium expression within the 818 lineup and the broader Extra Añejo category. The up-to-eight-year aging program and dual-barrel maturation place it alongside serious aged tequilas, and the Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition suggests strong value relative to its category peers.

Why Eight Reserve?

What separates Eight Reserve from the crowded premium tequila field is the duration and intention of its aging program. Blending Añejo and Extra Añejo stocks aged up to eight years in two distinct oak types produces a layered, dessert-driven profile that most standard Añejos cannot replicate. The Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition — where judges must independently and unanimously award Gold before a Double Gold is granted — validates that complexity on the competition circuit. For drinkers looking to explore what extended barrel time does to 100% Blue Weber agave, Eight Reserve is a compelling and well-credentialed entry point into ultra-aged tequila.