9 Most Expensive Tequila
Tequila is a distilled beverage made from the blue Weber agave plant and comes in many different varieties. While most tequilas are made for drinking, some are more expensive tequilas than others.
When you think of tequila, you don't think of it as an expensive drink. This is because most people don't know much about the different types of tequila and how they're made. However, there is a special tequila made with the most expensive ingredients that can cost thousands of dollars per bottle. If you've ever wanted to taste one of these rarities or wanted to have a bottle on display for its novelty value, then here are nine of the most expensive tequilas on the market:
The most expensive tequila, called Tequila Ley .925 Diamanté, is a bottle of tequila that costs $3.5 million. The tequila is made by the company Tequila Ley .925, which relies on a proprietary process that involves aging the tequila in barrels made from the wood of the Blue Weber Agave plant, a type of agave plant found specifically in southern Mexico, and then filtering it nine times, with each filtration taking place via a different kind of naturally grown white diamond. This process purportedly looks to "capture the essence" of the diamonds, resulting in what the company calls "the world's most precious tequila."
The Clase Azul 15th Anniversary Edition is a bottle of expensive tequila that costs $30,000. It's being sold as a luxury product, and it is one.
"Clase Azul" means "Blue Class" in Spanish; the 15th Anniversary Edition was produced to celebrate this special anniversary. The tequila is aged for three years in oak barrels and has a blue tinge because it's made with agave grown only in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, the country's largest region for tequila production.
Tequila Ley .925's unique selling proposition (USP) is that it is made using a patented process of filtering out impurities to more closely match the flavor of distilled agave instead of the distinctive flavor of fermented agave. The taste profile produced by this process allows aficionados to experience more of the subtle flavors contained within Atelier tequila than with any other brand of tequila on the market.
This En Lalique Patron tequila bottle comes with a box and three crystal glasses that are art deco in style. The box is wooden with an art deco design on it as well. The bottle is made of crystal glassware with art deco that shares Mexican and French art. The tequila is extra Anejo with French and American oak aromas after spending eight years in seasoned sherry casks.
AsomBroso Reserva del Porto Extra Anejo is a luxury tequila from the Sinoloa region in Mexico, made with an extra-long aging process that produces a taste of tequila that's never been seen before. Expensive for a bottle of tequila, it retails for $2,800. The company says the extra-long process makes the molecules inside the bottle "molecules smaller than water." It's also reportedly smoother than any other tequila on the market.
With a price tag of $2,300, the 250 Aniversario is one of the most expensive tequilas in the world. The limited edition tequila was made with premium 100% blue agave and aged for three years in oak barrels. This tequila won't just make for cocktail hour, though. It should be noted that this stuff is best served neat or on the rocks since it's going to be very smooth anyway, and if you're doing shots, your throat will only appreciate it more if you do them neatly. Ensure you've got something nice to serve it in—your finest crystal glasses will do nicely.
The Barrique de Ponciano Porfidio is one of the priciest tequila bottles on record, and it comes with a steep price tag due to its container more than anything else. The bottle is made from a single piece of oak and hand-blown glass, and it's been finished by hand with a 21-karat gold leaf. It's not just the bottle that makes this tequila worth its $2,000 price tag. The tequila has been aged in French oak barrels that have been re-used to hold barrique wine, and combining the two elements produces a unique flavor.
This ultra-premium spirit is distilled from Blue Weber Agave, grown on a farm in Jalisco, Mexico. In addition to the normal distilling processes, this tequila goes through a second distillation in French Limousin Oak barrels. The extra aging lends the tequila an amber color with a hint of sweetness.
In addition to having the exquisite taste, this hand-crafted spirit has some amazing packaging that would impress even the most demanding collectors. The bottle is made of crystals in three colors: gold, silver, and red. The price for this premium tequila will send you reeling: $1,800 for 750mL.
Clase Azul Ultra is produced with blue Weber agaves, the most expensive and rarest type of tequila-producing plant. Clase Azul XA (Extra Añejo) is aged in French oak barrels for at least two years, while Clase Azul Extra Ultra has been aged for at least three years. Adding oak-aging to the process makes this tequila more complex, with a stronger vanilla flavor, but also smoother and sweeter. While some may argue that $1,700 is too steep for a bottle of tequila, you have to remember that drinking this tequila is an experience unto itself and that this spirit is meant to be savored rather than downed in shots and accompanied by salt and lime.
Conclusion
There are quite a few different tequila types, each with varying degrees of quality and taste. Many of the tequila on this list can be sipped neat, but most should be enjoyed as part of a cocktail. There is never a bad time to enjoy a drink, so why not add some Latin flair to your life and try out one of these high-quality tequilas?