When it comes to luxury alcoholic beverages, you might think of Champagne or fine wine. True: collectible wines and vineyards are great ways to indulge in some luxury living.

Japanese whiskey might come to mind when thinking of luxury alcohol lines. This is not surprising with Suntory’s Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 being named the world’s best whiskey,

Tequila, however, is taking on established brands in the luxury spirits market. In addition,its market share is growing along with its reputation.

Patron Tequila is an excellent example of a high-end tequila brand that is changing hearts and minds.

What gives tequila luxury potential?

Understanding tequila’s arduous production process makes it easy to gain a new appreciation for this drink.

Production occurs mostly in the area surrounding the Mexican city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, in the highlands of Jalisco. Also, Tequila is made from blue agave plants, harvested by a kind of Mexican farmer called a jimador.

It generally takes around 8 – 10 years for the fruit of the agave plant to reach readiness for harvesting.

That’s right. Field hands tend to the plants and trim them for many years, before harvesting the carefully ripened fruit, which is chopped and baked slowly to break down the sugars before the fermentation process begins.

Like whiskey, tequila can be aged for a more mellow or complex flavor. Unlike wine, tequila doesn’t change much once it’s out of the barrel and in the bottle. The trick is to buy it at its best.

Jack Daniels barrels are popularly used for aging tequila, as are wine barrels. Some varieties are aged for multiple years. These are ideal for drinkers or collectors who want something rarer and more luxurious than the norm.

In 2006, Tequila Ley sold a one-liter bottle of limited-edition premium tequila for $225,000. The bottle itself weighed two kilos, with platinum and gold. In addition, to date, this is the most expensive bottle of tequila spirit ever sold.

Patron Tequila

When it comes to luxury Tequila brands, we can look to Patron Tequila for the benchmark. They don’t claim to have invented Tequila, but they do say they have perfected it.

Their skilled Jimadors only use the finest agave plants as the basis of Patron Tequila tequila.  Also, the entire tequila-making process happens on one site – the beautiful grounds of the Hacienda Patron in Mexico.

State of the art machines makes sure that the procedures are environmentally sustainable. Modern equipment, along with traditional processes, ensure that the resulting tequila is of the highest quality.

When the heart of the fruit has been baked and chopped by hand, a two-ton volcanic stone tahona wheel and a roller mill release the juices. After three days fermenting, Patron ages the tequila in oak barrels for anything from a year to seven years to achieve their distinctive range of flavors.

Patron Presentation

The bottles, typically square, are measured and molded by hand. Each one is a genuine work of art. As such, they are individually numbered.

The large corks are made from the bark of Cork trees in Portugal. Only the outermost layer is used during a specific time frame to ensure sustainability.

A taste like no other

Silver Patron is the standard, high-quality tequila that Patron produces. For something more refined, you might consider the 7-year old Anejo, which has a rich color, darker than amber, and a taste that demands to be savored.

There are many flavors and subtleties to try, including tequilas with hints of coffee, chocolate, and fruit. Also, the Burdeos variety is finished in Bordeaux wine barrels for a unique, full-bodied flavor.

Patron en Lalique – Limited Edition

The Patron en Lalique is their best example yet of a marriage between art, craftsmanship and high-quality tequila. The flavor is a combination of honey, sweet caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and nuts. The finish is complex but well-balanced.

The bottle that holds this Patron Tequila is suitably beautiful. It is a handmade, French crystal decanter with contrasting clear and frosted finish. No cork this time but a crystal bottle stop in the design of a pina, the heart of the agave plant.

To get to the bottle, you must first open a handmade, leather display case with gemstone details. And in case you weren’t sure you were getting a work of art, the package is delivered with official documentation, a leather-bound book and a DVD all about the collaboration between the spirit maker and the bottle maker.

If you want to enjoy this DVD while sipping your exceptional Patron Tequila, put aside $7,500. And get one fast. They’ve only made 500.

You may not have thought of Tequila as a luxury drink before, but with years of preparation in its making, a traditional but highly-controlled production process, unique, mellow flavors and stunning presentation, tequila continues to prove itself to be the height of luxury.

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