Tequila has come a long way from its commonplace early days as a spirit for informal drinking. What distinguishes expensive tequila and pushes it far ahead of its less expensive cousins to become an epitome of sophistication in the modern marketplace? This article is a guide to learning everything you need to know about this versatile and classic beverage.
What Makes Tequila So Expensive?
To understand why some tequilas have a premium value, we have to get into the elements that transform this humble spirit into liquid gold.
Blue Weber Agave: The Heart of the Matter
Beneath every fine tequila lies Blue Weber Agave, almost as legendary as the spirit that it gives birth to. Its the one permitted ti be used in the production of high-grade tequila, and its value goes far beyond the face of things.
Growth Time: Imagine waiting nearly a decade to harvest a single plant. The Blue Weber agave takes 7 to 10 years to mature, tying up valuable land and resources, and in turn, adding to the cost of every bottle.
Sugar Content: Because of the high sugar content, a Blue Weber agave brings out more robust flavors and gives it a richness; that's the mark of high-quality tequilas.
The Art of Tequila Creation
Small-batch production of tequila is a labor of love from field to glass, where tradition and expertise merge at every step.
Cooking: The finest tequilas frequently utilize hornos, that is, old brick ovens, to roast the agave long and slow. Though it takes much longer, the result yields a depth of flavor that faster, industrial methods can never hope to match.
Extraction: Ever heard of the tahona? This ancient style uses a big stone wheel grinding the cooked agave. This smooth press is going to elicit much heavier flavors, no doubt.
Fermentation: Natural and wild yeasts can produce some pretty unpredictable fermentations, but they do give the tequila character that simply cannot be replicated by any other fermentation style.
Distillation: Only high-grade tequilas are allowed to be distilled in copper pot stills, allowing control over flavor.
The aging of tequila is where time is now a priceless ingredient. The liquid that is left to rest in the barrels infuses the product with dimensions of flavors and will incur an associated cost.
Barrel Quality: The best tequilas are aging in very carefully selected oak barrels. Bourbon and cognac, to mention a few.
Time: The longer one remains in the barrel, is directly proportional to how smooth he is going to be and how much he is going to cost.
Evaporation: Not a Loss to Nobody Either As a part of the aging process, some of the liquid evaporates; that is "the angel's share."
Small-Batch Production: Quality Over Quantity
And so whereas small-batch tequila fosters an environment where "less is more," Premium production is centered around less.
Attention to detail: Batches are smaller, therefore at control at every step, and only the best make it into the bottle.
Little production: Exclusivity of small-batch tequilas drives the price. Supply is limited, so demand and value increase.
Good Packaging: High-priced tequilas come within bottles of art, made with pains to detail so one can even categorize them as the exemplification of the luxury in the liquid contained.
Taxes and Tariffs: Such a high-proof spirit as tequila attracts a lot of tax even when it is exported. Hence, in most cases, it doesn't come cheaply at the final price.
The Magic Behind the Luxurious Tequila Flavor
Aging is the final variable that differentiates premium tequilas in their flavor profiles. The longer it is aged in oak, the longer it will take the extract characteristics of wood such as vanilla, caramel, and spices.
Reposados are aged 2 months to a year: silky, soft taste with hints of oak. Anejos and extra añejos aged for at least 1 to 3 years or more give deeper flavors of dark chocolate, dried fruits, and toasted nuts.
Don Julio 1942
A luxury tequila icon, Don Julio 1942 is the epitome of balance and sophistication. The añejo tequila is aged for a minimum of two and a half years to get that rich, smooth character.
Then there's the smell of the opening where the nose treats you to its warm oak, roasted agave, and vanilla notes. This tequila is loved for its subtle sweetness and sharp complexity level and this is why the tequila is dear to most connoisseurs.
Clase Azul Reposado
Not only does it come in an eye-catching hand-painted decanter, but it's also accompanied by a very classy flavor. Clase Azul Reposado is one of those tequilas that combine chivalry with a taste difference.
This reposado was aged in American whiskey barrels for eight months, allowing the drink to possess a creamy mouthfeel with interesting spice and vanilla with caramel-drenched smoothness.
The Production Process: From Agave Fields to Bottling
That journey from the fields of Jalisco, Mexico, to a bottle beautifully crafted is very meticulous and time-consuming, taking years to complete.
Unlike their mass-produced counterparts, artisan tequilas are made in the old, time-tested ways that bring out the skill into each bottle. From the harvesting of the agave plants up to laying the tequila in oak barrels, every step plays an indispensable role in filling the deep, complex flavors that define handcrafted tequila.
Top 3 Most Expensive Tequilas to Try
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Don Julio Real Extra Añejo
This is a true masterpiece aged up to five years. Aged to perfection so that every single drop would be infused with the deepest flavor that the agave plant had to offer, this one is the holy grail for any collector.
Get your Don Julio Real Extra Añejo from The Epicurean Trader.
- Clase Azul Ultra Extra Añejo
This ultra-premium tequila is housed in a beautiful hand-painted black ceramic decanter making it nearly as much a collector's item as the tequila experience. This's a tequila that's intended to be loved just as much as it is to be sipped.
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Tears of Llorona Extra Añejo
A trifecta of barrel types, including Scotch, Shery, and Cognac, combine to age Tears of Llorona to an unparalleled depth and complexity among tequilas.
The Future of Luxury Tequila
It comes as no surprise that the world is drinking up premium tequila. Forever innovative, distillers constantly push the boundaries of their flavors through novel aging techniques and an increasing emphasis on terroir-meaning things can only get brighter for this luxury spirit.
For connoisseurs of spirits, expensive tequila is no longer a drink, but an experience: sophisticated craftsmanship, tradition, and artistry blended to be savoured neat, on the rocks, or in a luxury cocktail.
You are ready to take tequila to the next step, right? Discover The Epicurean Trader's premium tequila selection, carefully put together for the full expressions, complexity, and sophistication of these spirits.
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