818 Reposado 100% Agave Tequila (700ml)

In May 2021, the famous model, Kendall Jenner announced the launch of her 818 Tequila range via an Instagram post. She became the latest celebrity to launch a spirits brand, joining the likes of George Clooney and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Like most tequila brands, the range includes three variants; a Blanco, Reposado and a top-of-the-line Anejo, all bottled at 40%. They're produced in a traditional manner under contract at La Cofradia distillery in Jalisco, home to over sixty tequila labels. Jenner's foray has been polarising, both in terms of the liquid in the bottles and accusations that her wealth means she's diverting attention and resources from smaller producers who lack her pull. The tequila itself is produced from Blue Weber agaves harvested at peak maturity (seven years) then cooked in brick ovens for 40 hours, before being subjected to the tahona extraction method - a large stone wheel that crushes the agave. Taste-wise, the consensus is these are light, approachable styles that don't make heavy demands on drinker's palates.

Other reviews... Aged a minimum of two months in American and French oak barrels. Again quite sweet on the nose, but with a clear chocolate note that adds a bit more nuance to the vanilla bomb of the blanco. That cocoa character continues to the palate, which layers in some cinnamon notes to provide a Mexican chocolate feel, though again it feels heavily dosed with heaping spoonsful of brown sugar. The finish is as sweet or sweeter than the blanco, though at least the cocoa-dusted barrel influence evokes something a little more exciting and off the beaten path. - drinkhacker.com