While Rolex watches and superyachts often hit the headlines with their hefty price tags, tequila may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of expensive luxury goods.
However, the classic spirit has grown in popularity over the years, whether enjoyed as a party drink or an after-dinner palate-cleanser liquor, with prices soaring. As you would expect from top-shelf spirits with such craftsmanship behind them, you’ll find a range of delicate aromas from vanilla to pepper and even caramel.
One can drink tequila straight, with a wedge of fresh lime and pinch of salt, in a cocktail or on the rocks. Either way, its flavors are earthy, with a sweet aftertaste and at times a hint of spice. Here, Elite Traveler has rounded up a list of the most expensive bottles of tequila in the world.
[See also: The Most Exclusive Tequila Tastings in Mexico]
Tequila Ley .925 Diamante – $3.5m
Tequila Ley .925 Diamante is the most expensive bottle of tequila ever registered / ©Tequila Ley
Tequila Ley .925 Diamante is the most expensive bottle of tequila ever registered. It was first sold in 2010, after a long process of manufacturing. Designed by Jose Davalos Mejia, the stunning bottle is crafted from five pounds of pure platinum and 4,100 white diamonds. It took ten months on average to make just the bottle, which naturally makes up for a good part of its price point.
The tequila itself is made with qualitative 100% select agave and is barrel-aged for 7 years. This can definitely be considered a collectors’ item as much as a spirit.
Ley .925 Ultra-Premium- $225,000
Only 33 bottles exist in the whole world of this exclusive tequila / ©Ley
The next bottle on our list was first introduced in 2006 when it was awarded the title of most expensive tequila by Guinness World Records.
If you are passionate about rare finds, Ley .925 Ultra-Premium is the tequila for you. In fact, only 33 bottles exist in the whole world, crafted from pure white gold and pure platinum with yellow gold. It would certainly make an impressive addition to your drinks cabinet.
Ingredients-wise, this tequila is made from the pure sap of the blue agave, which makes it even rarer. After distillation, it was barrel-aged for six years at the Hacienda La Capilla distillery in Jalisco.
Clase Azul 15th anniversary Edition – $30,000
Clase Azul commissioned 15 Mexican artists, who created a different design for each bottle / ©Clase Azul
Talking about rare finds, only 15 bottles exist of this fine tequila made by Clase Azul. The profit, which reached around $450,000, was donated to the charity Fundación con Causa Azul A.C.
The main reason why this collection is so expensive is the amount of time and effort that was needed to create it. In fact, Clase Azul commissioned 15 Mexican artists to create a different design for each bottle.
The customer can taste, when sipping this tequila, a blend of two ultra-aged tequilas combined ad hoc for this bottle. The first tequila was aged for 15 years in a Spanish sherry barrel while the second was aged for six years in a Port barrel from Portugal, as well as five years in an American white oak barrel. Not only is the bottle’s design unique and colorful, but so is the taste.
Patrón En Lalique: Serie 2 – $7,500
Patron En Lalique has a fruity aroma, mixed with vanilla and oak notes / ©Patron
If you like strong spirits, this is the tequila for you. Patron En Lalique Serie 2 has a fruity aroma, mixed with vanilla and oak notes, with a long-lasting oak and agave finish. This tequila is a bright gold, crystalline extra añejo that was aged for 8 years in a mixture of American oak, French oak, and well-seasoned sherry barrels.
The bottle was made by iconic French glassmaker Lalique, which skyrocketed this tequila’s price, securing its status as one of the most expensive tequilas in the world.
AsomBroso Reserva del Porto – $2,800
The beautiful crystal decanter is hand crafted by the talented Italian artist Luciano Gambaro / ©AsomBroso
Ricardo Gamarra is the master distiller behind the next bottle on our list of the planet’s most expensive tequilas. He decided to use port wine barrels sourced from Portugal to sweeten this tequila’s taste, making it unique in its kind.
Perfect for any occasion, it is made from 100% agave and mixed with a smaller portion of tequila that was aged for a minimum of ten years. The beautiful crystal decanter is hand crafted by the talented Italian artist Luciano Gambaro. If you are a fan of sweet flavors and the warmth of spirits, AsomBroso Reserva del Porto is well worth trying.
Barrique De Ponciano Porfidio – $2000
The artisan glass bottle features 21-karat gold lettering / ©Barrique
Last but not least on our list of the world’s most expensive tequila is Barrique De Ponciano Porfidio. Aged in French oak barrels for ten years, only 2000 bottles of this precious liquor are released each year making it a rare find in the tequila world. Made from 100% agave, it carries no traces of minerals or contamination of a water supply and has a mellow, oaky flavor. The artisan glass bottle features 21-karat gold lettering which helps to explain the eye-watering price tag.
[See also: The Best Tequila Sipping Brands in the World]
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