As you all know, it's hard for me to love tequilas that have ultra-premium price tag, but this one has the presentation to make it feel like it's for a special occasion. The fact they state that there's fewer than 1,500 bottles available worldwide makes rare as well. But ultimately the contents inside the bottle have to live up to the hype outside of it. And there's only one way to find out if it does...

Price: $250-300/bottle (although it can be found discounted around $200 at times)

Aroma: A sweet cooked agave aroma with baking spice and a hint of smoke. Not overpowering and quite inviting.

Initial Taste: The flavors up front are agave (not lost with the 3+ years of aging), light vanilla, ripe fruits (pears) and some spice.

Body: A rich and thick mouth feel...velvety. There's a bit more wood influence mid-palate. Some floral notes appear withe sweeter notes from the initial taste.

Finish: A medium length finish with really nice balance. There's still some sweetness from the fruit and vanilla. There's some plant/floral notes from the agave with a bit of pepper. And there's some oak on the finish to smooth it out and make it last. A nice combination.

But then there's the $300 question...is Partida Elegante worth the price tag? For me, not quite, but it worth paying a little extra because the flavors are outstanding and the presentation is second to none. If you have the means and want to buy something for a special occasion (that's when I cracked this for the first time), Partida Elegante will deliver what the presentation and price tag seem to promise: a very special and tasty tequila experience.

After 3 years of looking at the only bottle of Partida Elegante I had ever seen - the temptation was finally too great. Twice a year I visit Salisbury, Maryland on the Eastern Shore to participate in large-scale bicycle events. Here I was again and that bottle of Elegante was still there after 3 years. After a particularly good 100 K ride - I was finally ready to put down almost $400 for a single bottle of tequila. No money was ever better spent. Once you get past the presentation - which is incredible - you get to the important things such as taste. It's the best low-land tequila I have ever tasted; very complex with fruit, spice and floral overtones all nestled in a rich agave flavor. This is a tequila to share with friends who will hopefully invite you to taste test some of their favorite brands.

Partida Elegante Extra Anejo NOM 1454 Tasted on 4/3/08 at 3:20pm. Partida Elegante was donated to me be Partida but it typically sells for over $300. I tasted this tequila in my home and used a Riedel glass for tasting. Partida Elegante ages their extra anejo for at least 36 months which causes it to be a dark amber brown color. Intense aromas of this tequila include caramel and floral notes that are followed by moderate notes of fruit. In addition, mild aromas include vanilla and spice. In the mouth, the extra anejo is medium to heavy. While the tequila is semisweet, there is only the slightest hint of bitterness. When examining the flavors of Partida Elegante, first impressions include intense floral accents. On a second sip, I noticed moderate flavors of agave, vanilla, and caramel. When searching for deeper flavors upon tasting the tequila, one can taste mild notes of wood and earth. This tequila has a long duration of flavor and has a nice subtle numbing alcohol intensity. I awarded Partida Elegante Extra Anejo the rating of 91/92 points out of 100.