Corporación Habanos presented in March 2006 the most expensive cigar and exclusive Habano cigar in history, to be marketed in 40-unit containers, at a selling price of 15,000 Euros ($18,869). Full article

True cigars lovers will many time pay any price to enjoy a great one. Although the most expensive cigar may be out of reach for everyone except the ultra-rich, there still are many choices available at various price points.

The Life of Luxury can help you find cigars that fit your budget and taste.

The amazing city of Dubai in United Arab Emirates, has already established many architectural records.

Now the Middle Eastern city lays claim and wants to be known as the place for the most expensive cocktail in the world.

On the 27th floor of what is billed as the world’s most luxurious hotel, Burj Al Arab, is a glass cabinet holding what is said to be the world’s most expensive cocktail.

So far, its noted that only two people have paid the 27,321 dirham (U.S. $7,438.13) for the drink.

How did the price tag get established? Well the number 27 marks the number of floors in Dubai’s lavish Burj Al Arab, and 321 is the building’s height in meters

That’s a lot of money just to sip one glass of this 55-year-old Macallan single malt scotch whisky.  But in Dubai, money is almost never an object. Enjoy a glass of expensive Macallan Scotch Whisky.

Cîroc vodka is a brand of distilled beverage manufactured in France. It is claimed by the drink’s promoters that it is distinguished by the fact that it is derived from grapes, in contrast to corn, sorghum, rye, wheat, or potatoes that are more commonly used. In France it can be legally considered vodka, but the same cannot be said about the drink in the US.

Last year, oc Vodka and Sean “Diddy” Combs created a powerful strategic alliance. The 50-50 joint venture with Diageo, the spirits giant, for Mr. Combs to be the brand manager of the Ciroc vodka line.

Mr. Combs says he made the profit-sharing deal only after refusing to work solely as a pitchman.“My brand is rocket fuel. It would take this brand 10 years to get to where I can take it in one year,” he says. “I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t want to do just endorsements. I want ownership.”

Endorsement deals are an excellent way for celebrities to make extra money. Increasingly they seem to be getting the endorsers in trouble because deals usually come with a certain level of brand loyalty.

The latest in the hot seat is P. Diddy. Several sources have reported that Diddy has been seen drinking the pricey 1800 tequila. News like this typically wouldn’t be a big issue but P. Diddy has received $100 million to be the brand builder for Ciroc.

Eurweb reports that he has issued a press release saying that he’s given up “champagne and tequila” and that his PR folks say that the reports of his tequila swilling are false. The NY Post reported just a couple of weeks ago that he was seen drinking Malibu rum and pineapple cocktails, which he also denied.

The Mejor™ Tequila Company, LLC (MTC) introduces a luxury line of upscale tequilas, crafted to deliver unsurpassed quality and sophistication.

The news comes with much excitement and has created a buzz in the fine spirits industry and with luxury spirit connoisseurs alike. Experience Mejor™ tequila and take the ultimate step into modern luxury.

Mejor™ is a new luxury tequila, but the founders of MTC have a mature understanding and long association with tequila.  In fact, the art of cultivating premium quality (weber) blue agave has been in the family since the mid 1900’s, and it is with great pride that Mejor introduces its super premium lines of tequilas using its own family estate blue agave.

The family estate fields of Mejor are located in the los Altos de Jalisco region- known for the rich red soils and tame arid microclimate consistently yielding the best crops of tall majestic blue agave.

Mejor’s Blanco tequila is as pure and fresh as it gets.  Mejor’s Blanco tequila, with its naturally smooth taste is perfect for sipping, shots, or mixing with traditional fruit blends.  Traditional margaritas with Mejor Blanco will taste clean, fresh and crisp.

Sangria takes its name from the Spanish word, “sangre,” which means “blood” and refers to the blood-red color of the drink. Fresh fruit and wine combine to create the perfect beverage for warm summer get-togethers. Sangria is a refreshing drink that is simple to make and yet elegant enough for any occasion.

Summer Sangria recipe

3 oranges, sliced into thin rounds
2 lemons, sliced into thin rounds
1 lime, sliced into thin rounds
1 fresh peaches, washed, pitted, and cut into thin slices*
1 small pineapple, trim, cored, peeled, and sliced
1/3 to 1/2 cup simple syrup or to your taste (see recipe below)
2 bottles (750 ml) dry red wine**
1/2 cup light rum
3 ounces orange liqueur (such as Triple Sec or Cointreau)
4 ounces vodka
3 ounces Grand Marnier
2 cups fresh orange juice
2 cups apple juice or pineapple juice
Club soda, 7-up, or sparkling water
Ice cubes
Mint sprigs

*Any other seasonal fruit that tempts you may be added (berries, melon, grapes, guavas, mangos, apples, etc). Fruit juices may also be added. Let your imagination be your guide!

Amazingly, the price of beer went up sharply over the weekend in Oregon, hitting $707 a bottle. All for medical research.

Portland, Oregon brewer Alan Sprints, donated five 12-ounce bottles of his 1994 Hair of the Dog Dave to a charity auction to benefit Parkinson’s disease research and support patients of Parkinson’s disease.

Do the math, and it’s $4,242 a six-pack or around $58 an ounce. The bottles ended up selling for prices ranging from $478 to $707, during the rare beer auction, which corresponded with a beer festival and silent auction.

Combined, the events raised $15,000 in honor of British writer and journalist Michael Jackson, who died last year of a heart attack after suffering from Parkinson’s.  Full article

The Forest Flower Cocktail is a decadent cocktail that will be a party favorite for many years to come.

Drink Recipe:

30ml. Parfait Amour
10ml. Creme de cacao white
10ml. Whipping cream
5ml. Grenadine

Shake all the ingredients together and serve in a martini glass. Garnish with pansy.

Enjoy!

Tequila is famous around the world for its unique taste and bouquet. It’s also the great mixer used in Margaritas, that have become one of the most popular cocktails ever.

If you thought that tequila was anything but a luxury, then you need to read about this one! El Paso’s Dos Lunas brand is all set to unveil the Dos Lunas Grand Reserve. An aged tequila of 10 years, then carefully poured into hand-blown Baccarat decanters.  The price tag is a staggering $2,500 a bottle.

The officials of the company stated that this extra a’ejo would set a new record in the expanding class of luxury tequila. Richard C. Poe II, owner of Dos Lunas remarked that the company aimed to produce world’s best tequila which included a striking presentation of the drink by its attractive packaging. The company plans to bring out only 1,000 bottles of the lavish drink.

I’ve heard of people getting “lit up” from tying on a few too many drinks, but this is getting crazy. I guess a judge will be the judge of that. Three women claimed a bottle of rum used to pour their shot became a ‘flame thrower’. You be the judge. Full article

From Columbus to Arnold this short article chronicles the origins of tobacco and how it helped shape the way gentlemen entertained themselves. The evolution of tobacco had a strong impact not only socially, but financially on the global economy.

Evidently the tobacco industry didn’t become a multi-billion dollar industry overnight. Full article

You are what you eat… or in this case drink. Cocktails come in all kinds of different colors and tastes.

What is your favorite? Here’s ten to think about the next time you order one.
Full article