818 Blanco (New)

818 Tequila is one of those brands that entered the tequila world with instant name recognition. Founded by Kendall Jenner in 2020, its name is a nod to the 818 area code of Calabasas, California, where she grew up.

Celebrity tequila brands tend to get a lot of attention. Sometimes before what’s actually in the bottle gets much consideration. And I’ll say upfront: I was not a fan of the original 818 profile. But tequila evolves, production changes, and I believe every bottle deserves to be tasted for what it is today.

Originally produced at La Cofradía (NOM 1137) in Tequila, Jalisco, 818 is now produced at Grupo Solave (NOM 1607) in Amatitán, Jalisco.

David Yan González, Director of Tequila Operations, oversees the 818 profile and its continued evolution. This blanco “Lote C” reflects a noticeable shift in direction.

818 partners with local, family-owned agave farms to source its agave. The agave is cooked in stone/brick ovens, macerated using a tahona, fermented in stainless steel tanks with natural yeast, and distilled in copper pot stills.

One important change: previous lots of 818 Blanco were rested in French oak. This newer Lote C is not. The intention is a more classic approach to the blanco profile, allowing the agave and production to speak for themselves.

Nose: Sweet and herbaceous, with vegetal notes alongside pineapple and an interesting wet-cement minerality.

Palate: It opens quite sweet, with cooked agave and cinnamon leading the way. As it develops, that sweetness transitions into a savory brine character with black pepper.

Finish: A light bittersweetness emerges on the back end, with a short-to-medium finish.

818 undoubtedly benefited from having Kendall Jenner attached to the bottle, and the brand developed a following almost immediately. But celebrity aside, what matters to me is always the tequila in the glass.

While the original 818 wasn’t a profile I personally enjoyed, Lote C is a definite improvement in my book. I appreciate the move toward a more traditional blanco expression and away from the French-oak influence.

Is it going to become my blanco of choice for sipping? Probably not. But at its price point, this is a decent tequila that I think works particularly well as a mixer—and I’m interested to see where David Yan González and the 818 team take the profile from here.