Clase Azul Ultra Extra Añejo Tequila is the most mature and prestigious expression in Clase Azul’s permanent tequila collection.
Produced from blue agave grown in Los Altos de Jalisco, the tequila is matured for five years. It begins its ageing journey in American whiskey casks before separate portions are transferred into Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and finally recombined. The result is a full-bodied extra añejo with dried plum, raisin, ripe apricot, cacao, cinnamon, clove, tobacco and caramelised walnut.
The tequila is presented in a sheer black handcrafted ceramic decanter decorated with platinum, silver and 24-karat gold. Clase Azul’s artisans paint its feathered design entirely from memory because the platinum brushstrokes only become visible after the ceramic has been fired.
Presented in a 70cl bottle at 40% ABV, Clase Azul Ultra sits at the point where mature tequila, sherry-cask influence and Mexican decorative craftsmanship meet.
What Is Clase Azul Ultra?
Clase Azul Ultra is a five-year-old extra añejo tequila produced in limited quantities by Clase Azul México.
It is the oldest regularly available tequila within the brand’s Icons collection and is positioned above Clase Azul Plata, Reposado, Gold and Añejo.
The release combines:
- Blue agave from Los Altos de Jalisco
- Five years of oak maturation
- American whiskey casks
- Amontillado sherry casks
- Oloroso sherry casks
- Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
- A full-bodied dried-fruit and spice profile
- A handcrafted black ceramic decanter
- Platinum, silver and 24-karat gold decoration
- A balanced 40% ABV
The current Clase Azul Ultra Extra Añejo available from HTFW contains 70cl and is supplied in its original presentation box.
Key Release Details
- Producer: Clase Azul México
- Style: Extra Añejo Tequila
- Origin: Jalisco, Mexico
- Agave: Blue agave from Los Altos de Jalisco
- Age: Five years
- Initial maturation: American whiskey casks
- Secondary maturation: Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
- Bottle size: 70cl
- Strength: 40% ABV
- Bottle: Handcrafted ceramic decanter
- Decoration: Platinum, silver and 24-karat gold
- Packaging: Original presentation box
Clase Azul describes Ultra as its most time-intensive creation, produced for drinkers and collectors seeking the most mature expression of its tequila-making style.
What Does Extra Añejo Mean?
Extra añejo is the longest established maturation classification for tequila.
Under the official Mexican tequila standard, extra añejo must spend at least three years ageing in direct contact with oak or holm-oak vessels with a maximum capacity of 600 litres. By comparison, reposado requires at least two months, while añejo must mature for at least one year.
Clase Azul Ultra exceeds the minimum extra añejo requirement by remaining in cask for five years.
That extended maturation gives the oak considerably more time to introduce:
- Dried fruit
- Vanilla
- Caramel
- Cocoa
- Baking spice
- Nuts
- Tobacco
- Toasted wood
- A fuller texture
Long ageing must still be carefully managed. Too much oak can cover the agave and introduce excessive dryness, while a successful extra añejo retains a recognisable connection with the original tequila beneath its cask-derived flavours.
Five Years of Maturation
Clase Azul Ultra follows a more complex maturation process than the younger expressions in the range.
The tequila first rests in American whiskey casks. It is then separated into three parcels, which are transferred into casks previously used for Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry. Those parcels are later recombined to create the finished tequila.
This sequence allows the final blend to bring together several layers of flavour:
- Mature agave
- American oak sweetness
- Toasted wood
- Sherry richness
- Dried fruit
- Cocoa
- Spice
- Nutty depth
Rather than relying on one cask type throughout the entire five years, Clase Azul uses the three sherry styles to broaden the final profile.
The Influence of American Whiskey Casks
American whiskey casks provide the foundation of Ultra’s maturation.
These casks commonly introduce flavours associated with:
- Vanilla
- Caramel
- Toasted coconut
- Brown sugar
- Sweet oak
- Baking spice
In Ultra, those sweeter oak characteristics form the background for the darker fruit, cacao, clove and walnut notes developed later in the maturation process.
The whiskey-cask stage also connects Ultra with other expressions in the range. Clase Azul Reposado, for example, spends eight months in American whiskey casks, while Clase Azul Añejo spends more than two years in the same broad cask style.
Ultra takes that familiar foundation considerably further by introducing longer maturation and three different sherry-cask finishes.
Why Three Types of Sherry Cask?
After its initial maturation, Clase Azul Ultra is divided between Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.
Each style provides a different influence, allowing the final tequila to achieve greater depth than one sherry cask alone could provide.
The finished profile includes:
- Raisin
- Dried plum
- Ripe apricot
- Brown sugar
- Cacao
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Tobacco
- Caramelised walnut
The combination produces a tequila with qualities that may also appeal to drinkers of mature sherry-cask whisky, aged rum and old Cognac.
The official tasting notes show that the sherry influence is central to Ultra, but it remains supported by intense oak, spice and the underlying structure of the tequila.
What Does Clase Azul Ultra Taste Like?
Clase Azul Ultra has a dark, mature and strongly cask-influenced profile.
Sherry, dried fruit and oak lead the aroma, followed by brown sugar, cacao and warming spices. The palate brings dried plum, cinnamon, clove and tobacco before moving into a long finish of fruit and caramelised walnut.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep shades of brown with copper highlights.
Nose: Sherry, dried plum, raisin and ripe apricot, supported by brown sugar, clove, cinnamon, cacao and intense oak.
Palate: Full-bodied with dried plum, cinnamon, cacao and clove, followed by tobacco and mature wood.
Finish: Long and warming with lingering dried plum, spice and caramelised walnut.
HTFW’s tasting notes also identify cherries, maple syrup, hazelnut, crème caramel, vanilla and crystallised ginger, adding further richness to the profile.
Is Clase Azul Ultra Sweet?
Clase Azul Ultra has a pronounced sweet character, but it is not defined by sweetness alone.
Brown sugar, dried plum, raisin, apricot and caramelised walnut create a rich opening. Those flavours are balanced by:
- Intense oak
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Cacao
- Tobacco
- Sherry dryness
- Nutty depth
The result is richer and more dessert-like than an unaged tequila, but the long oak maturation and spice provide enough structure to prevent the spirit from becoming one-dimensional.
Drinkers who normally enjoy mature sherry-cask whisky or dark rum are likely to find the flavour profile familiar and approachable.
The Black Ceramic Decanter
The decanter is as important to Clase Azul Ultra’s identity as the tequila itself.
Its sheer black ceramic surface is decorated with platinum, silver and 24-karat gold. The distinctive feathered motif is recreated freehand by Clase Azul’s most experienced artisans.
The platinum brushstrokes cannot be clearly seen while they are being applied. They only become visible once the ceramic has been fired, meaning the artisans must reproduce the pattern from memory.
HTFW notes that learning to master this technique can take years.
The final decanter offers:
- A hand-finished ceramic body
- A glossy black surface
- Freehand feather decoration
- Platinum detailing
- Silver detailing
- 24-karat gold
- A distinctive bell-shaped closure
- Strong display and collector appeal
Because each decanter is handcrafted and decorated individually, minor differences between pieces form part of its artisanal character.
Is the Clase Azul Ultra Bottle Handmade?
Yes. Clase Azul states that each of its decanters is made by hand, turning every piece into an individual work of Mexican ceramic art.
Ultra requires an especially demanding finishing process because of the dark surface and precious-metal decoration.
The decanter is therefore more than external packaging. It is designed to remain a decorative object after the tequila has been consumed.
Collectors should handle it carefully, as damage to the ceramic, gold decoration or bell-shaped closure would affect both its appearance and long-term desirability.
How Rare Is Clase Azul Ultra?
Clase Azul describes Ultra as a limited-production tequila.
The HTFW product listing states that only 100 bottles are released each year, making it one of the most restricted products in the Clase Azul portfolio.
Its scarcity reflects several factors:
- Five years of maturation
- The use of four cask stages
- Separation into three sherry-cask parcels
- Limited quantities of mature tequila
- Hand production of the ceramic vessel
- Precious-metal decoration
- The specialist skill required to paint each decanter
Availability can therefore be considerably more restricted than for Clase Azul Reposado or Plata.
The Story of Clase Azul México
Clase Azul México was founded in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in 1997 by Arturo Lomelí.
The company was created with the aim of presenting tequila as an expression of Mexican culture, craftsmanship and hospitality rather than simply as a spirit. Clase Azul is now present in more than 100 countries, while its identity remains closely connected with Mexican agave, ceramics and artisanal production.
The name Clase Azul refers both to the blue agave used in the tequilas and the cobalt-blue glaze that decorated the brand’s early decanters.
Explore the complete Clase Azul collection at HTFW.
Blue Agave from Los Altos de Jalisco
Clase Azul’s tequilas are produced from blue agave grown in Los Altos de Jalisco, the highland region of the state.
Clase Azul describes its tequilas as expressions of the region’s red soil and blue agaves. The agave is traditionally slow-cooked before fermentation and double distillation, creating the base spirit that later develops through oak maturation.
The highland origin is associated with a naturally fruitier and sweeter style of agave, which provides a suitable foundation for the extended ageing used in Ultra.
After five years in oak, the fresh agave character is less dominant than in Plata or Reposado, but it remains the essential starting point beneath the sherry, fruit and spice.
How to Drink Clase Azul Ultra
Clase Azul Ultra has been created primarily for slow sipping.
The best ways to experience it include:
- Neat at room temperature
- After several minutes of resting
- With one or two drops of water
- Alongside dark chocolate
- Paired with dried fruit
- Served after dinner
- Enjoyed from a narrow tequila or spirits glass
A tequila of this age and price does not require elaborate mixers. The five-year maturation and multiple cask influences are easiest to understand when the spirit is served simply.
Serve Clase Azul Ultra Neat
Begin with a small measure of approximately 20ml to 25ml.
Method
- Pour the tequila into a narrow tasting glass.
- Allow it to rest for five to ten minutes.
- Smell gently without placing the nose too deeply into the glass.
- Take a small first sip.
- Allow the tequila to move slowly across the palate.
- Return to the glass as the fruit and spice develop.
Resting the tequila allows some of the initial alcohol to disperse and gives the dried fruit, cacao, cinnamon and tobacco greater clarity.
A traditional shot glass is not ideal because it does not concentrate the aroma as effectively as a tulip-shaped glass.
Should Water Be Added?
Clase Azul Ultra is bottled at 40% ABV, so it does not require water to reduce excessive strength.
However, one or two drops can help reveal additional fruit, caramel and spice.
Water may bring forward:
- Apricot
- Dried plum
- Raisin
- Brown sugar
- Cacao
- Cinnamon
- Walnut
Add water gradually. A large amount can weaken the texture and reduce the careful balance developed through five years of maturation.
Taste it neat first before making any adjustment.
Should Clase Azul Ultra Be Served with Ice?
Ice can be used, but it is not the best starting point for exploring the complete flavour profile.
Very cold temperatures may suppress the more delicate sherry, fruit, cacao and spice aromas.
Drinkers who prefer a cooler tequila should use one large ice cube rather than several small cubes. This controls dilution and prevents the tequila from becoming watery too quickly.
For the clearest tasting experience, serve it neat at a comfortable room temperature.
Official Food Pairings
Clase Azul recommends pairing Ultra with:
- Aged goat’s cheese
- Black cherries
- Figs
- Dark chocolate
These pairings reflect the tequila’s dried-fruit, cacao, spice and oak character.
Aged Goat’s Cheese
The salt and acidity of mature goat’s cheese contrast with the tequila’s sweeter fruit and caramelised notes.
Black Cherries
Dark cherries mirror the ripe and dried fruit found in the aroma while adding fresh acidity.
Figs
Figs reinforce the mature fruit and sherry-cask flavours without introducing excessive sweetness.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate complements the cacao, tobacco, clove and oak while its bitterness balances the tequila’s brown sugar and dried fruit.
Clase Azul Ultra vs Clase Azul Añejo
Clase Azul Añejo is the closest comparison within the core range.
| Clase Azul Añejo | Clase Azul Ultra |
|---|---|
| More than two years of maturation | Five years of maturation |
| American whiskey casks | American whiskey and three sherry-cask styles |
| Orange marmalade and apple preserves | Dried plum, raisin and ripe apricot |
| Hazelnut, cardamom and clove | Cacao, cinnamon, clove and tobacco |
| Toasted and spiced finish | Dried plum and caramelised walnut finish |
| White ceramic decanter with gold | Black ceramic decanter with precious metals |
| 40% ABV | 40% ABV |
Clase Azul Añejo offers mature oak and spice while retaining more citrus and cooked-agave brightness.
Ultra is considerably darker, richer and more sherry-led, with an additional three years of maturation and a more elaborate decanter.
Clase Azul Ultra vs Clase Azul Reposado
Clase Azul Reposado is the brand’s best-known expression.
| Clase Azul Reposado | Clase Azul Ultra |
| Aged for eight months | Aged for five years |
| American whiskey casks | American whiskey and sherry casks |
| Agave nectar and orange peel | Dried plum, raisin and apricot |
| Hazelnut, vanilla and clove | Cacao, tobacco and caramelised walnut |
| Medium-to-full body | Full body |
| Signature white and blue decanter | Black precious-metal decanter |
| More suitable for regular sipping | Designed for rare and special occasions |
Reposado provides a clear introduction to Clase Azul’s smooth, oak-aged style.
Ultra represents the opposite end of the range, replacing the brighter orange and agave character with mature dried fruit, deep spice and intense oak.
Clase Azul Ultra vs Clase Azul Plata
Clase Azul Plata is unaged and offers the purest view of the producer’s agave spirit.
| Clase Azul Plata | Clase Azul Ultra |
| Unaged | Aged for five years |
| Crystal clear | Deep brown with copper highlights |
| Fresh herbs and citrus | Dried fruit, sherry and oak |
| Lemon and green apple | Plum, raisin and apricot |
| Light-to-medium body | Full body |
| Suitable for fresh cocktails | Intended primarily for sipping |
| Transparent decanter | Black ceramic decanter |
Plata is bright, herbal and citrus-led, showing the tequila before oak maturation.
Ultra demonstrates how dramatically the same broad agave foundation can change after five years and several cask types.
Clase Azul Ultra vs Clase Azul Gold
Clase Azul Gold is a joven tequila combining Plata, a special French-oak Reposado and an Extra Añejo finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.
It offers orange peel, almond, fig, walnut, cacao and dried plum in a graduated glass-and-ceramic decanter decorated with gold.
| Clase Azul Gold | Clase Azul Ultra |
| Multi-age joven blend | Five-year extra añejo |
| Plata, Reposado and Extra Añejo | Fully mature extra añejo |
| French oak and PX influence | American whiskey, Amontillado, Oloroso and PX |
| Orange, almond and fig | Plum, raisin, cacao and tobacco |
| Medium body | Full body |
| Sunset-inspired decanter | Black precious-metal decanter |
Gold provides some sherry influence in a brighter and more accessible style.
Ultra is deeper, older and more concentrated, with three separate sherry-cask components rather than one.
Is Clase Azul Ultra a Good Gift?
Clase Azul Ultra is suited to major gifting occasions rather than casual presents.
It may be appropriate for:
- A milestone birthday
- A major anniversary
- A wedding
- Retirement
- A significant business achievement
- A luxury housewarming gift
- A dedicated tequila collector
- A collector of Mexican ceramics
- A drinker of old whisky or Cognac
- Someone completing the Clase Azul range
Its appeal extends beyond tequila because the handcrafted decanter remains a decorative object after the spirit has been enjoyed.
The original presentation box and condition of the decanter are especially important when purchasing it as a gift or collectable piece.
Is Clase Azul Ultra Collectable?
Ultra has several characteristics associated with collector interest:
- Five-year extra añejo maturation
- Limited annual production
- Precious-metal decoration
- Handcrafted ceramic construction
- The most prestigious regular Clase Azul expression
- Original presentation packaging
- Strong international recognition
- A distinctive and immediately identifiable design
HTFW’s listing states that only 100 bottles are released each year, adding to its scarcity.
Future financial value cannot be guaranteed. The best reason to purchase Ultra remains the combination of mature tequila, craftsmanship and presentation rather than an assumption of investment growth.
Should Clase Azul Ultra Be Opened?
The decision depends on the reason for purchasing it.
A collector may prefer to preserve the bottle unopened, especially when the presentation box and decanter are in perfect condition.
Opening it, however, provides access to a tequila built around:
- Five years of maturation
- Four cask influences
- Three different sherry styles
- Dried fruit
- Cacao
- Tobacco
- Spice
- Mature oak
The empty decanter can still be retained and displayed after the tequila has been consumed.
A carefully stored open bottle can remain enjoyable for a long period, although flavour changes become more noticeable when the liquid level falls and the amount of air inside increases.
How Should the Bottle Be Stored?
Store Clase Azul Ultra:
- Upright
- Inside its original box where possible
- Away from direct sunlight
- At a stable room temperature
- Away from radiators and heat
- In a dry environment
- On a secure, level surface
- Away from areas where the ceramic could be knocked
Tequila should not be stored on its side for long periods because high-strength alcohol can affect the closure.
The black ceramic also deserves careful handling. Avoid abrasive cleaning products, prolonged moisture and repeated contact with the precious-metal decoration.
A soft, dry cloth is the safest way to remove dust.
Why Clase Azul Ultra Stands Out
Clase Azul Ultra offers:
- Five years of maturation
- Extra añejo classification
- Blue agave from Los Altos de Jalisco
- Initial maturation in American whiskey casks
- Amontillado sherry-cask influence
- Oloroso sherry-cask influence
- Pedro Ximénez sherry-cask influence
- A full-bodied 40% ABV presentation
- Dried plum, raisin and apricot
- Cacao, cinnamon and clove
- Tobacco and intense oak
- A long caramelised-walnut finish
- A handcrafted black ceramic decanter
- Platinum, silver and 24-karat gold
- Limited availability
- Strong collector and gifting appeal
Few tequilas combine extended maturation, three different sherry-cask styles and such elaborate artisanal presentation in one permanent release.
Why Buy Clase Azul Ultra at HTFW?
Hard To Find Whisky stocks Clase Azul Ultra alongside the wider Clase Azul collection, premium Mexican spirits and rare collectable bottles.
Customers ordering from HTFW benefit from:
- Authentic bottles sourced through established suppliers
- Secure, purpose-designed packaging
- Fully insured priority shipping
- Same-day dispatch on qualifying orders placed before 4:30pm
- UK and international delivery options
- Free personalised gift messages
- Experience handling high-value and collectable bottles
- A family-run spirits specialist trading since 1991
- A Birmingham retail store for in-person shopping
The current HTFW listing contains 70cl of Clase Azul Ultra at 40% ABV in its original box.
Explore the complete Clase Azul range or browse HTFW’s wider selection of premium tequila and Mexican spirits.
Final Thoughts
Clase Azul Ultra is the most complete expression of the brand’s combination of mature tequila and Mexican decorative craftsmanship.
Five years of ageing take the spirit far beyond the brighter agave and citrus character of Clase Azul Plata and Reposado. American whiskey casks establish a foundation of sweet oak before Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks introduce sherry, dried plum, raisin, apricot, cacao and spice.
The full-bodied palate develops through cinnamon, clove and tobacco before reaching a long finish of dried fruit and caramelised walnut.
Its sheer black ceramic decanter is equally distinctive. Decorated by hand with platinum, silver and 24-karat gold, it requires artisans to recreate the feathered design from memory before the metallic details become visible during firing.
For luxury tequila drinkers, collectors and anyone seeking the most prestigious expression in the regular Clase Azul collection, Ultra offers a combination that few other bottles can match.
Shop Clase Azul Ultra Extra Añejo Tequila now at HTFW.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clase Azul Ultra?
Clase Azul Ultra is a five-year-old extra añejo tequila and the most mature expression in Clase Azul’s permanent Icons collection.
How long is Clase Azul Ultra aged?
It is matured for five years.
What casks are used?
The tequila begins in American whiskey casks before being divided between Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and then recombined.
What does extra añejo mean?
Extra añejo tequila must be matured in oak for at least three years. Clase Azul Ultra exceeds that requirement with five years of ageing.
Where is Clase Azul Ultra made?
It is produced in Jalisco, Mexico, using blue agave from Los Altos de Jalisco.
What does Clase Azul Ultra taste like?
It offers sherry, dried plum, raisin, apricot, brown sugar, cacao, cinnamon, clove, tobacco, intense oak and caramelised walnut.
What is the alcohol percentage?
It is bottled at 40% ABV.
How large is the bottle?
The HTFW bottle contains 70cl.
Is the Clase Azul Ultra bottle handmade?
Yes. The ceramic decanter is handcrafted and decorated by skilled Mexican artisans.
What precious metals are used on the bottle?
The decanter is decorated with platinum, silver and 24-karat gold.
Why is the decanter difficult to paint?
The platinum brushstrokes only become visible after the ceramic is fired, so the artisans reproduce the feathered pattern entirely from memory.
How rare is Clase Azul Ultra?
Clase Azul produces it in limited quantities. The HTFW listing states that only 100 bottles are released annually.
Should Clase Azul Ultra be served with ice?
It can be served with one large cube, but tasting it neat at room temperature will reveal more of its fruit, sherry, cacao and spice.
What food pairs with Clase Azul Ultra?
Clase Azul recommends aged goat’s cheese, black cherries, figs and dark chocolate.
Is Clase Azul Ultra sweeter than Reposado?
It is darker and richer, with dried fruit, brown sugar and caramelised flavours. Greater oak, cacao, spice and tobacco provide balance.
What is the difference between Clase Azul Añejo and Ultra?
Añejo spends more than two years in American whiskey casks. Ultra spends five years ageing across American whiskey, Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks.
Is Clase Azul Ultra collectable?
Its limited production, handcrafted decanter, precious-metal decoration and p