Food & Spirits: As liquor goes luxury, Maestro Dobel Diamond Tequila tops them all, as the world's first diamond tequila.

Maestro Dobel cannot be compared to traditional tequilas. Instead, as a diamond, it can be measured according to the company's unique 4 C's: clarity, complexity, crispness, and craftsmanship.

Lovingly filtered in Jalisco Mexico, Maestro Dobel is an exciting blend of three aged tequilas: Resposado, Anejo, and Extra Anejo. Maestro Dobel is the brainchild of Juan-Domingo "Dobel" Beckmann, the sixth-generation leader of the world's most prominent tequila-producing family.

The entire process is done by hand, from distilling to filling the bottles, which are then labeled and individually numbered. The agave is grown on small family farms until it is 8 to 10 years old and then picked by hand, in small batches. The tequila is aged in new oak casks imported from Southern Europe. The result is diamond-clear, silver tequila with a complex taste. Note that each bottle of diamond tequila is marked to specify where the tequila was grown, who produced it, and from which barrel it was poured.

The impressive attentiveness in the growing and aging pays off with a taste of the liquid diamonds. A sip provides a smooth, full-bodied taste of bold, smoked wood and dried fruit, which finishes with a nutmeg spice and sweet honey.

With such elegance, it is easy to see why Maestro Dobel is leading a liquor revolution, appearing in the country's best nightclubs and restaurants. The last martini revolution came when mixologists switched from gin to vodka, allowing fruit flavors to easily blend in the glass. Now Maestro Dobel has changed the martini again, from vodka to tequila.

"As the fastest growing spirits category, it is clear that Americans are developing a taste for the delightful flavors of agave and oak barrel aging that premium tequila brings to the table," said Elwyn Gladstone, head of marketing, Proximo Spirits, Inc. "With the introduction of the Maestro Martini, a new experience is offered to gin- and vodka-based Martini drinkers with a triple threat that only Maestro Dobel can deliver: a clear, crisp and complex taste."

While purists will enjoy Maestro Dobel straight up, the Maestro Martini is an elegant way to enjoy a new twist on an old classic. Simply pour an ounce of Cointreau Noir into a classic martini glass, swirl and discard. Pour three ounces of Maestro Dobel into a shaker and stir thoroughly with ice. Pour into martini glass. Garnish with orange twist and enjoy.

In connection with its namesake, the diamond tequila comes with an exceptional price tag of $74.99 a bottle to be enjoyed with the best of the best.

For JustLuxe Carly Zinderman

Posted On: Wednesday Jul. 22nd, 2009