The Ultimate Crystal Tequila Snifter

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
May 21st 2008 at 12:02PM

If you're shelling out hundreds of dollars for a bottle of ultra-premium aged tequila, you obviously want to drink it out of a suitable glass. At that price range the spirit is meant to be sipped like a fine cognac rather than knocked back Spring Break style. With that in mind Tequila Don Julio, arguably the world's first ultra-premium tequila - founder Don Julio Gonzalez Estrada revolutionized Reposado style tequila production in Mexico back in 1942 - set out to create the ultimate tequila snifter. The company commissioned award-winning architect Jeffrey Beers to design the ideal glass for sipping their most exclusive offerings, particularly their $350 extra-añejo Real which is aged for three to five years in American Oak barrels and comes in a special decanter.

Beers worked closely with Don Julio's Master Distiller to design the crystal vessel. "Each and every nuance of the rich, smooth Real was taken into consideration during the design process, making each cut and curve essential for the architecture of the perfect sip," the company notes. The mouth blown, hand cut European crystal snifter has a "faceted, jewel-like quality with intricate cuts to help swirl the tequila and release its rich aromas." The limited edition glassware will be sold in sets of two for $350 at select retailers such as The Future Perfect in New York and Show in Los Angeles beginning this fall.

Gallery: Don Julio Tequila