Samples at Mexico in a Bottle

Protero Grande - Revisit and Review I first tried a neck pour of this bottle a few weeks ago. I didn’t take notes, but I told anyone who was interested that I was very disappointed. Figured I might’ve been unfair to a fresh crack, so I’m going back now to revisit with a clean slate and give it a fair, impartial review. Nose: Heavy oak and whiskey barrel right up front. There’s some lift with black pepper and a citrus zing that cuts through a bit - but I’m honestly struggling to pick out clear agave. It’s in there, but buried. The alcohol is prominent and doesn’t do a great job of staying out of the way. Palate & Mouthfeel: Medium oily mouthfeel, which I like. The whiskey character is strong, but it surprisingly doesn’t steamroll the agave. They actually play off each other decently. There’s a leathery undertone that adds some grip and depth, which I enjoy against the pop of orange citrus. It’s lighter and brighter than I expected it to be, though I still wouldn’t call it light or bright. Just a nice surprise in tone compared to the nose. Finish: This is where it drops off for me. Any nuance or complexity fades fast, and all that’s left is pepper. Not harsh, just flat. Final Thoughts: This one’s a bit of a dichotomy - flashes of something interesting, but ultimately not cohesive enough to justify the price unless you’re snagging it at a California Costco. A noticeable step up from the neck pour and better than I originally gave it credit for. There are elements I enjoy, and it does some things well - but it doesn’t land in that top tier for me.

After sitting in glass, the agave comes through beautifully on the nose comparable to WJ. I’m really enjoying the nose but the palate is boring. The finish lingers with a slight pepper finish which is nice. I was expecting more out of this for how delicious WJ is. It leaves more to be desired for me. I will update my score if it gets better after opening

A very well balanced anejo from Ocho. Very much agave forward with great barrel notes that fallow that sweet cooked agave. Nose: sweet cooked agave, vanilla, oak, citrus, black pepper, chocolate, maple, whiskey, and barrel spice. Palate: the nose carries over to the palate with sweet cooked agave, citrus, black pepper, vanilla, oak, whiskey, maple, chocolate, and barrel spice. This is a really enjoyable anejo that is well balanced with light barrel notes that fallow the sweet cooked agave. You definitely get the whiskey components on this one.

Tried this at the distillery on the BAT, blue agave tour, March 2025. I found it to be balanced with barrel notes, whiskey and agave. I think this could be a good expression to bridge whiskey lovers to tequila

While this has a nice nose, I like the Widow Jane slightly better. This nose is oaky and the whiskey comes through. I do get cooked agave but it is in the background. I get a touch of apple. On the palate, I get a lot of whiskey. It is oaky and citrusy. I get chocolate notes that are quite nice. The finish has more alcohol burn than the Widow Jane. Overall, I prefer the WJ but this is also nice. Don’t know where this will end up on the market price wise but right now it is pretty pricey.

Really well done from Ocho with this one! Lots of burnt caramel, cocoa and chocolate notes with a hint of orange zest and cooked agave sweetness. Definitely has a lot of barrel influence but the quality is there and is well balanced.

Love this special release. Although it definitely has astrong whiskey overtones, the cooked agave, and spices linger on you palate.

Big time Ocho fan and big time Old Fitzgerald fan! Love this one and think it’s a great bottle for fans of both. Ocho to me is always very delicate with barrel aging, this one follows that format but also stands out.

I was a bit underwhelmed with this release. With all the hype around this, my expectations were high—but the final product didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The bourbon influence is present, but it feels like it overshadows the agave more than it complements it. It’s still a quality pour, but for the price and the buzz, I was hoping for more depth and balance.

Delicious and very agave forward, I definitely get the bourbon influences but would probs not pay the premium added in for this tequila. Burboun drinkers probably would and should because it’s delicious.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on this bottle! Alcohol lingers on the nose despite 10 mins of opening up in the glass. Oak does cut though the ethanol however with sweet cooked agave. This also had some alcohol bite the first few sips, followed by pepper and musky oak. Cooked agave shines through on the finish. Overall this is a great bottle and pour. Compared to their Widow Jane offering of years past, I’d say this one is the little brother to that. Cheers!

This is an excellent anejo that I prefer over the standard release. This differs from most aged Ocho products because of the newer barrels used which impart a bit more bourbon flavor. Wonderful aroma, agave is the primary flavor and the finish is medium long. Cheers! (Corralillos)

Serious hang time. Strong flavors

Agree tequila influenced by an amazing whiskey barrel. Definitely a special Ocho!

This barrel works particularly well in showcasing the agave and bringing in caramel and citrus notes.

Aroma: Cooked Agave, Oak, Vanilla, Black Pepper, Vegetal, Stone Fruit, Citrus, Herbal, Whiskey Notes, Barrel Notes Taste: Agave, Bourbon, Cherry, Peach, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Citrus, Herbal, Alcohol

The secret to crafting excellent bourbon barrel-finished tequilas lies in using a well-worn, heavily used barrel—one that’s distressed enough to impart rich flavor, aroma, and character to the tequila without overwhelming it with the strong oakiness and mask the agave flavor that younger barrels can bring. Brands like Ocho Widow Jane, El Tesoro Paradiso, and G4 Reposado Muerto have mastered this balance beautifully. Ocho and Carlos Camarena have also achieved remarkable results with this aged tequila expression. A true success—definitely worth trying. Enjoy!

LOTE: ALA-034-OF, bottled on 24/02/2025, tasted on 4-28-25. Color: yellow to light yellow. Aroma: light cooked agave, light acidity, hint of citrus, wood note that is sometimes slightly too present and as time goes by becomes slightly dominating, the wood note also mutes agave sweetness. Hint of sourness and pepper spiciness. Palate: light sweet cooked agave with a hint of sweetness, light acidity, light hint of fruitiness that is barely noticeable because the wood note is slightly dominating, ends slightly astringent and dry. Finish is medium to medium long, hint of cooked agave with a tad of sweetness, hint of citrus and slightly dominating wood note persists.

**Ocho Old Fitzgerald Barrel Select Anejo Tequila Tasting Notes** **Nose:** An enticing and captivating aroma. **Palate:** A delectable and robust flavor profile, characterized by a velvety smooth texture. **Finish:** An extended and distinctive finish, exhibiting a complex and intriguing character.