OKAY, SO we're not the most discerning connoisseurs. But is it too much to ask that when we purchase an expensive bottle of booze, there's something other than taste that makes it worth the price? (We're thinking diamonds embedded in the glass, or perhaps a jewel-encrusted cap.) We're happy to report that the folks at Milagro have surpassed all our expectations with their Select Barrel Reserve Silver Tequila, part of the brand's ultra-premium line. (Milagro launched pricier Reposado and Añejo varieties a few years back.) Retailing for a manageable $69.99, the hand-blown-crystal bottle is so striking, it practically begs to be displayed in a place of prominence. The liquor clocks in at 80 proof, and while silver tequila isn't aged like the others, it's mellowed in French single-oak barrels that give it its subtle vanilla and oak aromas. The taste is crisp, refreshing, and smooth. As with all Milagro tequilas, the Select Barrel Reserve Silver is produced in Jalisco, Mexico, using 100-percent blue agave that's hand-picked and stripped of its leaves, then cooked in traditional clay ovens made from the region's distinctive volcanic soil. The roasted plant's juice is then extracted, left to ferment, and, finally, run through a rigorous triple-distillation process. Taste the impressive end result at the Beacon Street Tavern (1032 Beacon Street, Brookline, 617.713.2700) and Sibling Rivalry (525 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.338.5338), or peruse the shelves of Liquor Land (874 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 617.445.0560) for a bottle to pretty up your home bar.
