Kendall Jenner launched her award-winning brand, 818 Tequila, to the UK market this March after the global launch in Dubai earlier this year. Winning 32 blind-tasting prizes across eight major industry competitions, 818 Tequila is premium, sustainably produced, smooth and universal for those who enjoy their tequila neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail.
Kendall named the brand after her area code in Calabasas, California, and designed the tequila to be enjoyed wherever home is: with friends and family. Collaborating with a family-owned distillery, 818 features three distinct expressions: Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo, crafted with 100% blue weber agave harvested by hand in Jalisco, Mexico.
The distillery in Amatitán, Mexico, uses traditional processes to extract the smoothest flavour possible. The agaves are slow-cooked for over 30 hours and then crushed by large stone Tahona wheels. Next, the agaves ferment for 48 hours before they are distilled twice in alembic copper pots and aged in oak barrels. The sacred process ensures a natural flavour.
Along with preserving tradition, the 818 Tequila distillery produces its product using solar energy and biomass. Each bottle comes from recycled glass and packaging from sustainably managed forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The 818 Community Program partners with Saving Agave for Culture, Recreation, Education, and Development (SACRED), taking agave byproducts and waste to recycle to make bricks and other building materials for community initiatives across Mexico.
Each expression from 818 pairs well with different cocktails, with each versatile flavour accompanying the mixed infusions. Try a Pura Margarita with Blanco, an Espresso Martini with Reposado, or a twist on the classic Old Fashioned with Añejo. So what do they taste like?
818 Tequila Blanco – Sweet agave and vanilla with tropical and citrus fruit undertones. With the aroma of lemongrass, mildly floral, chamomile and light minerality, the finish is ultra-smooth with complex notes of almond, key lime pie and toasted coconut. Rested in French oak barrels for three weeks gives it a fresh vanilla roundness.
818 Tequila Reposado – Ripe, roasted agave flavour with notes of caramel and vanilla and an aroma of meringue honey and fruit accents with a smooth caramel finish and notes of pecan pie. Aged in French and American oak barrels for a minimum of four months.
818 Tequila Añejo – Rich, full-bodied finish with a silky mouthfeel. Crisp herbal notes and an aroma of toasted nuts, orange peel and toffee, aged in French and American oak for 14 months a year, giving it a light, amber hue.
818 Tequila can be purchased at Whiskey Exchange, Master of Malt, and other outlets. It is also served in bars and restaurants like Isabel Mayfair, The Twenty-Two, The Savoy, Tattu and many more.
To discover more, visit: drink818.com
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All imagery courtesy of 818 Tequila.