Maestro Dobel, just launched this month, is the first ever diamond tequila. What does that mean? Apparently it means that it's incredibly clear, incredibly strong, and incredibly expensive. It's a blend of 3 different types of tequila, and in keeping with the diamond theme the creators of Maestro Dobel measure its superiority according to 4 C's: clarity, complexity, crispness, and craftsmanship.
These mobile bar systems are always interesting to me because everything is so condensed and cute, and I think if I had one I'd be having outdoor parties every weekend just so I'd have an excuse to wheel it out. This Drink Station by Opulent Items is imported from Germany and has features including a refrigerator, ice machine, flute holders, bottle bins, and wooden serving shelf. It comes pre-assembled (except for some of the minor side attachments) but heads up, the ice machine reservoir doesn't fill itself (you can't hook it up to a water source to fill automatically) and although you can wheel it around wherever you want, you'll have to stay close to a power outlet if you want the fridge to stay cold. It sells for $10,000.
I'm especially liking the bottle of this Hennesy Ellipse Cognac from Harrod's, but obviously that's probably the least important part. Combining all the talents of master blenders from 7 generations dating back to 1800 and including Hennesy's very first master blender, Jean Fillioux, it combines the best of all seven masters for "an intensely complex bouquet with hints of candied fruit, wild roses and rancio."
No mention of who designed that beautiful presentation? Hm. £3350
Don't take olives in your martini? Well then this is definitely not the glass for you, because this martini glass by to22 can't do without at least one olive. When designing this glass the thought was that "the olive has become the signature element of a martini, and yet it is treated almost as an afterthought." Now when to22 went to give the olive greater importance they weren't messing around! The olive is so important to a drink in this glass that you can't have one without it, literally. The olive is used to plug a hole in the bottom of the glass.
Great idea and I love it! But I will say this: this is not a glass I'll hold over my lap or walk around with...you know, just in case.
Vodka connoisseur? Or maybe I should say vodka collector? There are any number of top-of-the-line varieties out there but when it comes to style and unique design a few of them stick way out of the crowd. Here are 7 of the most outrageous luxury vodkas:
DIVA Triple distilled and filtered through crushed diamonds and gemstones, it also has a pillar containing precious gems running up through the center of the bottle.
Tommy Gun Vodka It comes in a glass bottle shaped like a machine gun. And sorry, the gun doesn't actually fire vodka (yet).
Go Wodka Extreme Comes in toothpaste tube-type bottles and is available in 3 flavors. Currently only sold in Austria and Germany.
Garlic Vodka Yikes (not a good drink for a date!). Touted as both enhancing the flavors of certain meals and warding off illness, you can also opt for horseradish flavored vodka, if you prefer.
Cactus Vodka It's the only "prickly pear" flavored vodka in the world, which means it's slightly sweet and slightly pink.
Twistee Shots Uses the idea of yin and yang and is meant to mix two distinct and different flavors in one drink.
When you think of environments where you might find an outrageously expensive drink a western theme with beef brisket and bull-riding probably doesn't come to mind. But then all kinds of strange things happen in New York, and the restaurant located in Rockefeller Center called Johnny Utah's is no exception. That expensive drink is a $51 margarita called the Vault, and it's made with Herradura Suprema tequila, grilled lime juice, and agave syrup. Seems pretty simple, but then usually simple is best.
There are different ways to measure it, but it seems pretty clear that the exclusive title of "world's most expensive beer" goes to Vielle Bon Secours, which is available in London in a bar called Bierdrome and sells for around $39 a pint. Anybody ever had it? Is it worth that kind of cash?
First off, it's not a cocktail that costs a billion dollars (although I'm sure there's one out there, somewhere...) but instead a cocktail designed for a billionaire. That would be an intimidating job I think, to create a drink especially for a specific, very rich, person. Calvin Ayre, billionaire founder of Bodog.com is that person, and The Liquid Muse is the creator of his signature drink, Billion-Ayre's Bet.
Based on his choice spirit Bombay Sapphire, the drink also includes grapefruit juice, Campari, lime, and champagne. See the complete recipe here, and think: what would your signature cocktail be?
Mendis is introducing the world's first ultra-premium coconut brandy, and they're not shy about making a big deal about it. Mendis coconut brandy is an all-natural, clear brandy with delicate tones of coconut, vanilla, and chocolate and a "velvety sweet texture." It's recommended neat or on the rocks, but can also be enjoyed mixed.
The very first bottle of this very first coconut brandy is going up for sale in August for $1 million dollars. So if you're the type to collect "firsts," or really love coconut flavored drinks, or just happened to have an extra million or so burning a hole in your pocket, then you might want to hurry and buy that first fancy bottle as it rolls off the product line (well, I'm sure it doesn't actually roll, do you think?) before somebody else does. Or if you're like me, and even if you had it really wouldn't spend that kinda money on a single bottle of anything, you can enter to win the second bottle for free -- along with a luxury trip to go pick it up and personal security to help you hold on to your pricey little prize.
Tea is very popular right now and from white and green teas to black tea, consumers are switching to loose-leaf teas, which deliver more flavor per cup. Described as one of the ideal tea infusers by Imbibe magazine, the Teastick is a great little gadget to complement your favorite loose-leaf tea. It is made of a solid piece of stainless steel with tiny holes that allow water into its main chamber to soak the tea leaves. The holes are small enough to keep even the finest teas out of the cup, while still brewing it to your exact specifications. The teastick has a small hook on top to prevent it from sliding into mugs and cups and can also be used as a stirrer, if you take milk or sugar. Price: $18.
While you might not call something made of celery a luxury item, it is fairly easy to envision this celery straw making an appearance at posh brunches, on cruises or anywhere else that a refreshing Bloody Mary may be found. The straws are made of celery that has been grown with a hollow center, turning it into an edible straw. The novel swizzle sticks were engineered by Duda Farm Fresh Foods in Florida, but there is no consumer release date yet.
Which is too bad, because now I feel like a Bloody Mary.
How much do you spend on an average bottle of champagne during the holidays? $30? $130? $400? High quality champagnes are labor-intensive and their prices usually reflect the quality and craftsmanship that went into them. Their prices also reflect the luxury lifestyle that is associated with champagne and what consumers are willing to pay for it. Forbes has a list of the most expensive champagnes of 2006 just in time for the New Year. Going by the list prices, the list includes:
Krug, Clos du Mesnil 1995 ($750)
Bollinger Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Françaises 1998 ($575)
We haven't seen any additions to the Z-series line from Jura for quite some time, though there are severalmachines out, but the Jura-Capresso Z-Series Cup Warmer is an interesting accessory for the collection. The free-standing kitchen gadget allows you to quickly and conveniently heat your espresso cups, which results in better tasting shots that hold heat longer than the would in an unwarmed cup. Some espresso machines have a cup-warmed built into the top, but that only allows for a handful of glasses to be heated, while this warmer can hand 24 espresso cups or 16 coffee cups at once. Price: $1000.
Carafes, like decanters, are usually items that are sold separately from the glass ware that they will be used with, but the Hargreave Carafe not only comes with a matching glass, but the two actually fit together. This makes a lovely presentation at the breakfast table, where you can put out an individual carafe for each guest to pour from, and makes it easy to store whatever is left over, since it is easily covered by the (cleaned) cup to prevent anything unwanted from drifting into the container. The carafes are made in Denmark and come in lime, blue and pink. Price: $220.
It's a stone, it's an egg, it's... actually a sort of metal ice cube designed to chill your drinks without the diluting effect that ice has. The Piet Hein Drink Cooler is made of seamless stainless steel and has a liquid core, which hardens when the egg is frozen and allows the cooler to actually cool your drink. They are no larger than ordinary ice cubes, so the only potential downside is that you might have to pay a bit more attention to what you're doing when you toss ice into glasses. Price: $31 each.
How much do you spend on an average bottle of champagne during the holidays? $30? $130? $400? High quality champagnes are labor-intensive and their prices usually reflect the quality and craftsmanship that went into them. Their prices also reflect the luxury lifestyle that is associated with champagne and what consumers are willing to pay for it. Forbes has a list of the 
