Premium tequila makes for a tremendous food-pairing associate with all kinds of dishes, one thing that has lengthy been recognized in Mexico, the place followers sip premium tequila both neat, in cocktails, or loved alongside something from informal fare to nice eating. And Tequila Ocho, with its emphasis on terroir and dedication to utilizing solely three easy elements, is a perfect possibility.
The model was launched in 2008 by two icons of the tequila business: the late Tomas Estes, a pioneer who helped elevate the tequila class in Europe by means of training and his personal acclaimed bars, and Carlos Camarena, a fifth-generation farmer and third-generation grasp distiller. The 2 bonded over their shared ardour for making a high-quality, agave-forward tequila that honors each custom and terroir. With their mixed experience, Tequila Ocho is devoted to producing expressive tequilas made out of fastidiously grown, single-estate agave and distinctive classic bottlings.
Solely overripe agave is harvested to make Tequila Ocho, which lends expressive fruit notes and a refined sweetness that don’t come from components or shortcut cooking processes. As an alternative, the flavour comes from taking the correct variety of years for the agave to mature, and a 48-hour brick oven roasting, with one other full 24 hours of cooling within the oven. The result’s a tequila crafted for savoring neat, whereas additionally pairing fantastically with every part from appetizers and entrees to dessert and brunch.
Why Tequila Ocho Pairs So Effectively With a Number of Meals
Although tequila is a distilled spirit, it shares quite a lot of similarities with wine. Each are made out of a single agricultural product (grapes for wine, 100% Blue Weber agave for one of the best tequilas). Every product is impacted by terroir, which impacts its taste and aroma profile, by means of the advanced relationship of land, climate, and the care of these concerned in rising agave. Within the case of Tequila Ocho, Highlands agave from choose estates can present distinctive notes of tropical fruits, grassiness, citrus, honey, and even a touch of espresso. Every property and every classic (sure, Tequila Ocho has vintages identical to wine!) evokes the nuances of various soils, microclimates, and annual temperature swings. Together with the number of aged expressions provided, Tequila Ocho makes for distinctive, enjoyable, and scrumptious meals pairings.
Whereas there may be completely nothing incorrect with having fun with a neat pour of blanco tequila whereas munching tortilla chips, there’s a entire world of culinary alternative on the market, whether or not you’re pairing the tequila by itself, over ice, or in a cocktail. We’ve collected some particular alignments of tequila and meals, however the sky’s the restrict. Wish to strive your favourite reposado up in opposition to spaghetti with fra diavolo sauce or alongside Indian pizza? Go for it!
Belgian Waffles With a Highlands Sundown
Ditch the Mimosa and blend up this citrus-forward tequila cocktail as a substitute. The mix of Tequila Ocho Reposado with a number of citrus juices and a touch of the Italian bitter liqueur Aperol provides off critical brunch spritz vibes. The great thing about a thick, crunchy-on-the-outside and soft-and-pillowy-on-the-inside Belgian waffle is that it’s the right car for all kinds of candy and savory toppings. Whether or not you go together with diced thick maple bacon and ricotta, or conventional berries and whipped cream, the cocktail pairing performs effectively with all of them. Or go additional afield and take a look at banh kep, additionally known as pandan waffles, from Vietnam. The crispy, chewy road meals is made with coconut milk for an added trace of taste and sweetness.
Substances:
- 1 ½ ounces Tequila Ocho Reposado
- ½ ounce Aperol
- ½ ounce recent grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce recent orange juice
- ½ ounce recent lime juice
- ½ ounce honey syrup
- Sprint Angostura Bitters
- Garnish: mint sprig
Instructions:
- In a cocktail shaker with ice, mix all elements, besides bitters and garnish.
- Shake effectively and pressure right into a wine or highball glass.
- Sprint bitters over the drink and garnish.
Contemporary Oysters and Tequila Ocho Plata
Whereas oysters and Champagne could seem the obvious pairing, you get a equally luxurious expertise sipping unaged or flippantly aged tequila with oysters. Tequila Ocho Plata’s shiny, grassy agave notes together with a crisp citrus and a clear minerality share similarities with glowing wines that work so effectively with briny, barely candy oysters like Kumamoto or Wellfleet. For those who like your oysters with sizzling sauce, tequila is a good transfer alongside them.
Crab Rangoon With Hibiscus Bitter
Tequila Ocho’s advanced profile of tropical fruit, agave, earth, and spice displays the terroir of Los Altos, the Highlands area of Jalisco in western Mexico the place the agave is grown. Crab rangoon — deep-fried nuggets of creamy, crabby goodness — is begging for a tart cocktail. The Hibiscus Bitter, that includes daring citrus and the tart-sweetness of hibiscus (loved in Mexico’s widespread Agua de Jamaica), gives a scrumptious steadiness of flavors.
Substances:
- 1 ½ ounces Tequila Ocho Plata
- ¾ ounce recent lemon juice
- ¾ ounce hibiscus syrup*
- ½ ounce egg white
- Garnish: edible flower
Instructions:
- In a cocktail shaker with out ice, add all elements (besides garnish) and dry shake exhausting to emulsify the egg white.
- Add ice, shake, and double pressure into a calming wine glass.
- Garnish with edible flower.
*Hibiscus syrup:
- 16 ounces water
- 2 cups caster (superfine) sugar
- 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
- Mix dried hibiscus flowers (offered in well being meals, specialty shops, and on-line) and sugar in a big pot with water.
- Carry to a boil, then take away from warmth, and stir till the sugar dissolves fully.
- Cool for half-hour and pressure out solids.
Grilled Shrimp Tacos and Tequila Ocho Reposado
Pairing tequila with Mexican and Mexican-inspired meals is a no brainer, in fact. However this pairing is particular. The pure sweetness of recent grilled, charred shrimp, and the buttery nuttiness of corn tortillas completely complement Tequila Ocho’s flippantly aged (“rested”) reposado, sipped neat or over a big ice dice. With vanilla notes and a light-weight grassiness, it’s shiny and refreshing, and even stands up in opposition to the coconut coleslaw or spicy crema sauce filling your taco. High shrimp tacos with an unctuous mango salsa and play off the reposado’s cooked butterscotch undertones. You may as well rim your tequila glass with lime juice and Tajín spice for added zest.
Pepperoni Pizza and a Calavera Cobbler
On the floor, one other no-brainer, since pizza pairs so effectively with every part from root beer to Cabernet Sauvignon. Actually, it’s the wine component of the Calavera Cobbler cocktail, together with using Tequila Ocho’s wealthy, barrel-aged Añejo that makes this sipper a super match. With hints of espresso, tobacco, baking spices, and dried fruit within the tequila, the cocktail is a considerably tannic but fruity refresher that provides steadiness to the fats of pepperoni or sausage, and performs off the pizza’s purple sauce.
Substances:
- 1 ½ ounces Tequila Ocho Añejo
- ½ ounce Grand Marnier Orange Liqueur
- 2 ½ ounces purple wine
- 3 lemon wheels
- 2 orange slices
- 6 recent berries (strawberries, blueberries, or your favourite)
- 3-4 recent mint leaves
Instructions:
- Mix tequila, orange liqueur, and wine in a wine glass crammed with crushed ice and stir.
- Garnish with citrus, berries, and recent mint.
Braised Oxtail Over Polenta With a Café Outdated Long-established
Like nice whiskey, an aged tequila pairs fantastically with grilled or braised purple meat. The mellowing of barrel growing old additionally supplies hints of oak, tobacco, and black pepper, taking part in off a wonderfully charred steak or ribs. However slow-cooked braised oxtail takes this pairing to new heights, because of this minimize’s full, wealthy flavors, contact of sweetness, and a touch of umami. Cooked within the fashion of stew or ragout and layered atop creamy polenta, this dish marries properly with this variation on an Outdated Long-established. For a much less candy cocktail, scale back the quantity of sugar within the espresso syrup.
Substances:
- 2 ounces Tequila Ocho Añejo
- ¼ ounce espresso syrup*
- Sprint Angostura Bitters
- Sprint cacao bitters
- Garnish: lemon or grapefruit twist
Instructions:
- In a mixing glass with ice, mix all elements and stir effectively till chilled.
- Pressure right into a rock glass with a recent giant ice dice.
- Garnish with a lemon or grapefruit twist.
*Espresso syrup:
- Mix equal elements of chilly brew espresso focus and Demerara sugar in a saucepan.
- Carry to a boil, take away from warmth, and stir till the sugar is totally dissolved.
Elote Corn Bowl With Tequila Ocho Plata or Reposado
Elote is that crave-worthy Mexican road corn on the cob that’s grilled, then slathered with mayonnaise, chili powder, crumbly cotija white cheese and lime. If a meals was customized made to sip high quality tequila with, it’s this one. Making a bowl model might seem to be a treasured café factor to do with road meals, nevertheless it has its priority in esquites, a Mexican corn salad. You’ll be able to even make it with frozen corn within the low season. Tequila Ocho’s unaged Plata supplies a crisp, lemony, herbaceous sipper to face as much as the mayo. Or steadiness the nuttiness and richness of the corn and spice with Tequila Ocho Reposado’s creamy notes of baking spices and toffee.
Mole Brownie Tart and Tequila Ocho Additional Añejo
Black mole, or mole negro, is a sauce that hails from Oaxaca and is finest recognized for topping hen dishes, including unbelievable depth of taste. The mix of bitter chocolate, chiles, raisins, and a mountain of spices could also be probably the greatest sauces on the planet. Expert cooks additionally use it in desserts within the type of puddings and frostings. Mixing in mole negro in a bittersweet chocolate tart recipe and topping it with a wealthy chocolate ganache is decadent, for certain, and it’s value the additional effort. However pairing it with Tequila Ocho’s Additional Añejo, aged a full three years in particular ex-bourbon oak barrels for every classic, takes it to next-level indulgence. The Additional Añejo isn’t launched yearly, however the participating aromatics and depth of taste work completely with mole. Count on notes of wealthy roasted and barely candy agave, raisins, chocolate, espresso, darkish vanilla, and darkish cherries, all with brisk oak tannins, and prolonged, satisfying end.
This text is sponsored by Tequila Ocho.
