When we talk about expensive alcohol, it’s easy to focus on the seemingly refined products, particularly cognac and whiskey. Yet, the most expensive tequila bottles put these to shame.
It’s a good time for tequila to shine, given the spirit is becoming increasingly popular in the United States – responsible for 30% of the US spirits market growth in 2022. Agave-based spirits are even starting to outsell Scotch.
The tequila bottles featured on this list are seriously impressive – particularly the first one, which comes in at more than $3.5 million USD. So, what makes these tequilas so special?
Sometimes the most exciting thing is simply the bottle. Marketing plays a role too, particularly if only a limited number of bottles were ever produced. After all, scarcity always seems to drive the price up. And, sometimes, the tequila itself really is exceptional.
Most Expensive Tequila
Ley Tequila 925 Diamante
Price: $3.5 million
Ley Tequila 925 Diamante tops any list of decadent tequilas and is one of the most expensive spirits you’ll find on the market.
The tequila is made from 100% blue weber agave, which has been aged in French oak barrels for up to seven years. The oak barrels add a richness to the flavor profile, including notes of caramel and toasted oak.
However, most of the price comes from the bottle, rather than the tequila itself. This bottle is made from platinum and white gold and has been decorated with more than 4,000 diamonds (more than 18.5 carats worth). Even the bottle’s shape is distinctive, as it is designed to look like an Aztec calendar.
Have you ever seen a more stunning bottle of tequila?
Still… there is an oddity to mention here. While Ley Tequila 925 Diamante is often quoted as the most expensive bottle of tequila, it was never actually sold. Instead, the $3.5 million figure is the price the company tried to sell it for in 2016.
Tequila Ley Ultra Premium
Price: $225,000
Unlike Ley Tequila 932 Diamante, Tequila Ley Ultra Premium has actually been sold – making it the true winner of this tequila list. Of course, at a quarter of a million, this expression is considerably less pricey.
The bottle has a similar style to Ley Tequila 925 Diamante, except that it is made using a combination of white gold, yellow gold, and platinum. Even without any diamonds, this is a beautiful bottle of tequila.
Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario Rolling Stones Tequila
Price: $60,000+
What would a tequila list be without one entry for Jose Cuervo? After all, this is one of the most famous tequila brands out there. Their Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario Rolling Stones Tequila is also extraordinary, partly because of the design.
Then there’s the price. This expression was listed at $4,000 when it was first released but is worth considerably more these days. You might even pay $60,000 or $70,000 for it. It’s one of those cases where time and scarcity have driven the price sky high.
It is also an impressive tequila in its own right, with a base of extra anejo tequila blended with 100 year tequila from the cellars at Jose Cuervo. The result is a refined bottle of tequila with similar complexities to Scotch whiskey.
Clase Azul 15th-Anniversary Edition
Price: $30,000
Clase Azul did something a little different for their 15th anniversary. Rather than releasing a single special bottle of tequila, they released a set of 15. Each bottle was hand sculptured and hand painted, embedded with elements like 24 karat gold and amber.
Some reports suggest that the price tag was $30,000 for the entire set of bottles. Others suggest a single bottle costs $30,000. Still, either way, we’re looking at very expensive tequila.
Clase Azul Tequila Master Artisans
Price: $18,000
Clase Azul seems to have collectors in mind, as they keep releasing beautiful limited edition bottles that reach high prices in the marketplace. This is particularly true for their Master Artisans collection. Here, the decanters were all carefully hand painted and look like true works of art.
The tequila is stunning too. This is extra añejo tequila, aged for eight year, which is a considerable length of time for tequila.
The current products in the Master Artisans series include three bottles of tequila, which were all aged first in whiskey casks, then sherry casks, then fortified wine casks. Estimates of price vary, but you’re often looking at an jaw dropping $18,000 for these bottles of tequila.
Dos Armadillos Extra Anejo Sterling Silver
Price: $10,000
Here’s another exceptional tequila. This time it’s sold anywhere from $10,000 to $17,000. So, what makes it so expensive?
The bottle is certainly part of the equation. This started with handcrafted crystal, which was then covered with burnished clay and skinned with 950 sterling steel. These approaches create a bottle that looks incredible and is also worth a lot.
The tequila in the bottle was aged for 54 months and is incredibly smooth.
Clase Azul Puebla Limited Edition Tequila
Price: $10,000+
Here we are again with Clase Azul. This expression was matured in French oak barrels and is an extra aged expression. It’s another one that comes in beautiful bottles, which are collection pieces in their own right.
Only 300 bottles of this tequila were ever produced. That keeps the price high.
Patrón Limited Edition En Lalique Serie 2
Price: $7,500
This beautiful bottle of tequila resulted from a collaboration between Patrón and Lalique. The tequila itself has a stunning bright gold color and looks exceptional in the decanter. This decanter is also exceptional, as it is made from crystal and references the style of the art deco movement.
The tequila includes sweet honey and agave flavors, plus fruit, oak, and vanilla on the nose. Patrón Limited Edition En Lalique Serie 2 was aged for 8 years in sherry barrels, French oak, and American oak. That approach contributes to the rich flavor profile.
Only 299 bottles of this tequila were made. That limited availability should make the expression even more valuable over time.
Patrón Limited Edition En Lalique Serie 1
Price: $7,500
This tequila comes from the same collaboration as the previous entry. This version comes in a beautiful and carefully designed crystal decanter. The tequila itself is a blend of old and rare Patrón tequila expressions, creating a truly remarkable flavor profile.
This time, 500 bottles of the expression were released. This makes it a little easier to find than the first series, but not dramatically so.
Like most tequilas on this list, this expression’s price varies depending over time and is influenced by where you buy it. $5,000 is the minimum price, but it can be seen for close to $10,000 instead.
Patrón x Guillermo Del Toro Anejo Tequila
Price: Up to $5,000
Here’s a truly unusual expression, from Patrón once again. This time it was the result of a collaboration with illustrator Guy Davis and filmmaker del Toro to create a unique display that includes votive candles and an alter-like design.
There are also two products here, not just one. The first is Guillermo Del Toro Tequila, which is sweet and fruity with French oak notes, plus dry fruit and vanilla notes on the nose.
Then there’s the Guillermo Del Toro liqueur. This has some similar flavors to the tequila and some contrasting ones. The tequila and liqueur are designed to be enjoyed together, so the flavors should perfectly complement one another.
Clase Azul 20 Aniversario Tequila Reposado
Price: $4,800
This blue and white expression from Clase Azul is certainly stunning. This time 7,300 bottles of the tequila were produced, one for every day from the company’s inception to its 20th anniversary.
The bottles all contain 100% blue agave tequila. This was aged for four months in bourbon barrels and four months in sherry casks, making it a reposado tequila.
Clase Azul 25th Anniversary
Price: $4,000
Clase Azul has a habit of releasing expensive bottles of tequila for their anniversaries and here is another example. The decanter has the same style as the versions we featured previously. However, this one is painted in a distinctive cobalt blue.
The bottle also has 25 platinum brushstrokes painted on it, which illustrate the 25 years the company has been producing tequila for.
The tequila is also exceptional, as some of the agave was milled using a tahona (a traditional stone mill). This highlights the Clase Azul’s authentic roots. The tequila was also aged in two types of American whiskey casks, enhancing the flavor profile.
We haven’t even covered all of the products from Clase Azul. The company focuses on exquisite tequila in stunning bottles, so they always have some very expensive products in their lineup. Some of these might even be worth collecting.
Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario
Price: $2,500
We’ve already talked about Jose Cuervo once because of their extravagant 250 anniversary Rolling Stones release. This expression has some similarities, as it has been through a decent amount of aging and was released for the same anniversary.
It was first aged in French and American oak barrels. Afterward, it was blended with other aged tequilas from the company’s cellar, then finally aged for another year in Spanish sherry barrels.
The tequilas in this expression haven’t been aged for as long as in the Rolling Expression. Still, that’s not surprising given the considerable price difference between the two.
AsomBroso Reserva Del Porto
Price: $2,000
Finally, we have AsomBroso Reserva Del Porto. This exciting expression is highly aromatic, with notes of vanilla, rum, wine, and leather, as the result of being aged in French oak barrels and port casks.
The bottles were crafted by the Italian artist Luciano Gambaro, which makes them even more exciting. Plus, at $2,000 per bottle (sometimes a little less), this is one expensive tequila you might just be able to afford.
Of course, you’d need to decide whether it’s ever with spending $2,000 on a single bottle of tequila. You might get more joy out of 10 bottles of $200 bottles instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Most High End Tequila?
Ley Tequila 925 Diamante is often promoted as the most expensive tequila, due to its hefty $3.5 million price tag. Except, no one ever bought the tequila at that price, so it doesn’t really count. Tequila Ley Ultra Premium and Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario Rolling Stones Tequila are the next most expensive expressions.
Clase Azul is also worth mentioning, as that company consistently produces expensive expressions with beautiful bottles.
Why Is Clase Azul So Expensive?
Clase Azul tequila is made using a high quality production process and carefully harvested agave plants. The tequila is aged in oak for eight months or more, then packaged in carefully designed ceramic decanters. These decanters are hand painted, which makes every bottle truly unique.
Clase Azul also focuses on limited production runs. This reduces the number of bottles available and contributes to the high price.
Is Expensive Tequila Better?
If you’re using tequila in shots or cocktails, then the type you choose doesn’t matter much (just steer clear of the dirt cheap stuff). Otherwise, focusing on a decent reposado or anejo tequila might be worth it.
The expensive tequilas on this list are often smoother than their regular counterparts and may have a more complex flavor profile. Still, their taste doesn’t necessarily reflect the price.
Can You Use Olive Oil Instead Of Vegetable Oil?
Leave a Reply