Clase Azul Toasts the FIFA World Cup With $1,700 Tequila Release

(Photo: Clase Azul)

Clase Azul is expanding its collection of ultra-expensive tequilas with a limited release timed to coincide with the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

On Tuesday, the brand unveiled Clase Azul Spirit of Champions, described as a celebration of “the suspended instant where intention becomes action” (say what you will about the distiller, but they’re never one to shy away from the dramatic). The release isn’t a collaboration with FIFA itself, instead paying broad homage to themes of unity and worldliness represented by the competition. Three Mexican cities are set to host this year’s tournament, among them Guadalajara, located a stone’s throw away from tequila country.

In typical Clase Azul fashion, the decanter is a statement piece in and of itself. Its white base is traced with metallic accents, topped with a gold cork and inlaid with an emblem featuring miniature malachite minerals.

The tequila within is a joven curated by Master Distiller Viridiana Tinoco. The majority of the blend is aged for 28 months in French vats made from fine-grain oak from the Forest of Tronçais, accompanied by a small amount of unaged tequila exclusive to the release. The brand says that fans can expect aromas of cooked agave, fresh vanilla, white pepper and beeswax, followed by flavors of walnut, almond and toasted coconut on the palate.

“Moments like these transcend sport; they bring cultures together to create lasting memories,” Clase Azul founder and CEO Arturo Lomelí remarked in a news release. “This limited edition is a tribute to the unique magic that emerges when different nations pursue the same trophy and, for ninety minutes, remind us that to feel intensely, collectively, is what makes us truly human.”

Clase Azul says the release will roll out in Mexico City and the U.K. at a suggested retail price of £2,100 (US$2,848). However, several American retailers are already listing the bottle at around $1,700, suggesting that pricing may vary from market to market.

Spirit of Champions has been limited to a total of 10,000 one-liter decanters — once that supply is exhausted, rest assured that resale prices will spike sharply.