Some whiskies are so pricey, they have me stumbling towards my fainting couch and reaching for the smelling salts. I don't mind spending good money on a bottle but the four whiskies below are some of the most expensive whiskies out there. Some will make you smile, some will make you drool, some will make you envious and some will simply make you blush.
Please note, I selected the ones that I thought most interesting and I listed them in no particular order. There may be others out there that are even more expensive but I think that purchasing these will make enough of a dent in anyone's wallet.
Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve 1955 - $94,000
If you're wondering who Janet Sheed Roberts was, she was the granddaughter of the Glenfiddich founder William Grant and she was 110 years old when she passed away in 2012. Fun little fact about the Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve 1955: at the time Glenfiddich produced fifteen bottles however only eleven of those were released to the public. The final four bottles remain in possesion of the family. The number of bottles released is quite significant as well as it represents every decade of Janet's life.
What kind of whisky went into these bottles? Glenfiddich Malt Master Brian Kinsman selected a cask from 1955 which had been laid down on New Year's Eve of that year. While I've not had this whisky, I'd love to find out if I can also discover the nose of orange blossoms and violets combined with toasted almonds and a little hint of smoke. As well as its creamy vanilla flavour, complemented by a smoky and sweet oak notes. During an auction one of the bottles was sold for $94,000 to a whisky connoisseur in Atlanta.
Isabella's Islay - $6,200,000
Yes, you read that number correctly. The most expensive whisky to be found is called Isabella's Islay however I do wonder: is it so expensive because of the liquid that the decanter contains or is it that the bottle is covered with 8500 diamonds, nearly 300 rubies and about two bars of white gold?
An original bottle of Isabella's Islay is sold for a whopping $6,200,000 and offers a 40-year old Scotch single malt Islay whisky. For the more price-conscious dram drinkers out there, there is a less expensive bottle available as well. The Isabella's Islay Special Edition is a handcrafted English crystal decanter covered in gold and diamonds and sells at a a measely $740,000. I'll take two.
This dram at first made my eyes twinkle like the stars in my christmas tree and when I saw its price tag, the ornaments were shattered into bits and pieces (like my whisky dreams).
The Macallan 64 in Lalique Cire Perdue - $460,000
The Macallan whiskies are already a pricey lot. However, if you decide to buy The Macallan 64 in Lalique Cire Perdue, it is time to to perhaps remortgage your house.
This is a one-of-a-kind single malt which was aged on Spanish Oak barrels from 1940 to 1945 and 1946. The whisky was bottled in 2010 and was sold at an auction for nearly $460,000.
What makes this auction so unique though is that the entirety of its proceeds went to charity.
Just imagine getting that cheque in the mail!
Back in 2010, when this whisky was sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York, the whisky was granted the Guinness World Record as the "Most expensive whiskey ever sold at an auction". The current title holder is also a Macallan whisky but The Macallan 1926, 60-year old which was sold in 2018 for approximately £848,750 ( roughly $1,1 milion).
Dalmore 64 Trinitas - $160,000
Of course a good Dalmore whisky had to be added to this list. And the Dalmore 64 Trinitas is a blend of some of the most rare vintages out there. This bottle includes whiskies that have been preserved since 1868 but if you think that it's going to be easy to find this whisky, think again. Only three bottles were ever made and the last one has gone on sale for a beautiful price of $160,000.
If you don't know who Richard Paterson is yet, I would advise you to Google him. I promise you, it's absolutely worth it! Richard personally prepared the hand crafted, nine litre American white oak cask which would be where the whisky spent it's final two years of aging. The cask was first soaked in a rare Dalmore whisky, after which the cask was filled a rich Matusalem Oloroso and a Pedro Ximenez sherry.
Tell me honestly: would you pay as much?
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