Kendall Jenner’s brand, 818 Tequila, has officially launched in Australia. With the entrepreneur and model at the helm, the sensational reputation of the brand precedes itself, and it’s time to taste the delicious spirits for ourselves. If demand in the US and UK is anything to go by, these beautiful bottles are about to fly off the shelf.
Here’s the gist. 818 Tequila Blanco is an ultra-smooth blend with a bright and crisp citrus finish, with notes of almond, key lime pie, and toasted coconut from after resting in French oak barrels for three weeks. 818 Tequila Reposado has a smooth caramel finish, with bolder notes of cooked agave and pecan pie after ageing in a blend of oak barrels for three months. 818 Tequila Añejo boasts a deep and complex, and rich flavour profile, with notes of orange peel, chocolate, and toffee from ageing for over a year in oak barrels. The 818 line is capped off with the stunning Eight Reserve: a masterful blend of Añejos aged up to eight years in French and American barrels. It is bottled in a hand-crafted ceramic decanter and designed for ultimate enjoyment.
818 Tequila harvests their agave plants at peak maturity (after 6-7 years), before slow cooking each batch in traditional ovens for roughly 30 hours. Following traditional tahona wheel extraction, the spirit is naturally fermented before distillation inside alembic copper pot stills, and finally aged in American and French oak barrels. This dedication to traditional practices with a modern lens has earnt the tequila over 43 international tasting awards since its debut.
818 is not only focused on the quality of their product – they are also cognizant of giving back. Kendall founded 818 Tequila with sustainability in mind from the very beginning. From the agaves they grow, to the production and labelling of each bottle, 818 Tequila is redefining the landscape of sustainable tequila practices. 818’s distillery is run on biomass and solar power to reduce carbon emissions, their bottles are made with recycled glass, and their paper products are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Most recently, 818 was honoured to join the B Corporation™ community in March of 2023.
“We want to keep as classic a profile as possible, this was very important for our team, Kendall included. We’re celebrating the tradition of this centuries old industry and doing something really special for the heritage of Mexico. Tequila is such a huge part of our festivities and sharing our better moments as people, as family, as friends. 818 now offers the world that.” Director of Tequila Operations, David Yan Gonzalez.
“We are thrilled to be launching 818 Tequila in Australia and we hope that 818 will find success here as it has all over the world. 818 is all about a sense of community and bringing people together, and we think our ethos aligns perfectly with the Australian consumer.” – 818 Founder, Kendall Jenner.
“Our customers have been asking us for 818 Tequila, and now the wait is finally over. We’re thrilled to welcome 818 Tequila to our Liquorland and First Choice Liquor Market shelves and are proud to be first-to-market for what is going to be the drink of the summer,” said Coles Liquor General Manager of Customer Loyalty, Mia Lloyd.
We’ve been manifesting this moment for years. We think that deserves a cheers (or two). 818 Tequila is NOW available exclusively for purchase, starting at $100 RRP, at select Liquorland and First Choice Liquor Market stores.
Looking for some inspiration of how best to enjoy 818? Well here’s some cocktail suggestions to get you started.
818 Old Fashioned (Añejo)
INGREDIENTS:
75ml 818 Tequila Añejo
1 Cube of Sugar
3 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
Splash of Water
Orange Peel
PREP:
(1) Add bitters, water, and sugar to the glass.
(2) Muddle to make a paste.
(3) Add an ice cube and tequila.
(4) Garnish with cocktail cherry and orange peel
818 Espresso Martini (Reposado)
INGREDIENTS:
60ml 818 Tequila Reposado
40ml Chilled Espresso
20ml Coffee Liqueur
5 ml Cinnamon Syrup (optional)
Espresso Beans (for garnish)
PREP:
(1) Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
(2) Shake for 15-20 seconds until foamy.
(3) Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
(4) Garnish with three espresso beans and serve
818 Pura Margarita (Blanco)
INGREDIENTS:
60ml 818 Tequila Blanco
30ml Fresh Lime Juice
30ml Agave Syrup (50% Agave Nectar, 50% Water)
PREP:
(1) Shake all ingredients with ice.
(2) Strain and serve over fresh ice.