Many might consider it a bit strange to sit down, pour olive oil into a glass, and drink it straight up. But I did so I can report to you on three premium extra virgin olive oils, with entries from Italy, France, and Spain.

The first oil, Frantoia, comes from the hills near Sicily. This is one that I use regularly in my own kitchen, though I have never tasted it in a formal setting such as this.

The next contender was A L'Olivier, which claims to be France's "oldest house for specialty oils and olives," having been founded in 1932. You will recognize the distinctive ceramic bottle with a wax seal at the top if you ever run across this one in your local gourmet market. (And may I just say that breaking that seal can make a real mess.)

The final oil I tasted was Marques de Valdueza from Spain, specifically near Merida in the western part of that country. You can read more about the history of this producer at their web site: http://www.marquesdevaldueza.com/ing/index.html

The Frantoia came in at half the cost of the other two oils and remained my favorite after the tasting. Watch the video to find out why and hear my other insights and conclusions. Then feel free to share your own opinions below.