A bottle of Clase Azul Tequila Dia de Muertos 40.0 abv NV (1 Bottle 1 Litre) from 2017 has set a new world auction record for tequila, selling for $35,000 at Sotheby’s New York and becoming the most valuable single bottle of tequila ever sold at auction.* 

The bottle was offered in Sotheby’s Whisky & Whiskey | Single Cask Summer online auction with a pre-sale estimate of $8,000–12,000, ultimately achieving nearly three times its high estimate. Combining exceptional provenance, extreme rarity and strong collector appeal, it emerged as the top lot of the sale, marking the first time a tequila has been the top lot in a Sotheby’s spirits auction. 

The sale itself was exceptionally strong, achieving a 99% sell-through rate, with more than half of the 500-plus lots exceeding their high estimates. 

Released in 2017, this bottle is the inaugural edition of Clase Azul’s now highly sought-after Dia de Muertos series. Limited to just 300 bottles and available exclusively at one location in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, it is one of the rarest Clase Azul releases ever produced. Originally retailing for approximately $250, surviving examples are exceptionally scarce. 

“This is a very interesting time for Tequila,” Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Global Head of Spirits, said in a news release. “Tequila and Mezcal have seen huge growth in recent years and anecdotally I have noticed many Whiskey drinkers in America turning to Agave spirits. However, Tequila’s secondary market activity is very much in its infancy. This is the first big result for one of the industry’s most iconic brands, Clase Azul, which could mark the dawn of a new boom for collectible Tequila.” 

“The strongest auction results are driven by rarity, provenance and significance, of which this clay bottle marries all three,” Forrest Price, Sotheby’s Whiskey Specialist, said. “As the inaugural release in Clase Azul’s Dia de Muertos series, offered exclusively at one location in Mexico, this release represents a landmark piece in the brand’s history. The staggering demand for this piece of art reflects a growing appetite for bottles that tell important stories.”

The record-breaking tequila sale further underscores Sotheby’s leadership in the global spirits market, following landmark results for rare American whiskey, historic Scotch collections and one-of-a-kind spirits. 

Additional highlights from the sale include a bottle of Van Winkle 19 Year Old Special Reserve Corti Brothers 45.7 abv 1975, which realized $25,000 (est. $15,000 – 20,000). Bottled exclusively for Sacramento’s renowned gourmet retailer Corti Brothers, the release represents one of the earliest private-barrel bourbon selections ever produced. Darrell Corti famously persuaded Julian Van Winkle III to adopt the now-iconic cognac-style bottle, and today Corti Brothers Van Winkle bottlings are regarded among the rarest and most sought-after American whiskeys. 

An exceptionally rare bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac Ultra Rare Red 40.0 abv NV achieved $20,000 ($8,000 – 12,000). Limited to just 200 decanters, each handcrafted by historic French crystal maker Saint-Louis, the striking red crystal is created through the addition of gold during production and requires the expertise of at least 16 artisans. The release was originally reserved for the world’s most exclusive nightclubs and Rémy Martin’s private clients.

 Full results and further details of Whisky & Whiskey | Single Cask Summer can be found here.

*The previous record was $24,265 for a bottle of Jose Cuervo ‘Rolling Stones Edition’ 250th Anniversary Extra Añejo Tequila, a price that includes buyer’s premium and tax.

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