If you enjoy a whiskey, you are probably curious to know what the most expensive whiskies are. We’ve got you covered. We’ve searched far and wide in search of the most expensive whiskey brands.
You will not find any of the bottles available at your liquor store on this list. We’ve only included the most expensive and exclusive whiskeys in the world.
Here is a quick recap of our most expensive whiskeys:
- Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch (Matheson 1942)
- The Macallan 1926 (Fine & Rare)
- Dalmore 64 Trinitas
- Dalmore 62
- The Macallan 64 in Lalique Cire Perdue
- The Macallan M
- The Macallan Red Collection
- The Macallan Lalique Legacy Collection
- The Macallan Peter Blake 1926
- The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60 Year Old
- The Dalmore Decades No.6 collection
- Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series
- The Macallan 1926
- Craft Irish Whiskey Co’s The Emerald Isle Collection
- Isabella’s Islay
Ready yourself. You will see whiskeys that cost more than a car, and some that cost more than a house!
Here’s our list of the most expensive whiskey.
The 15 Most Expensive Whiskey
We collected our list of the most expensive whiskey brands from all over the web. Exclusive Whiskey websites such as the Whiskey Advocate and the American Whiskey Magazine have featured the whiskeys on this list.
These are the most expensive whiskeys:
15. Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch (Matheson 1942) – $58,000
The first whiskey on our list of most expensive whiskey comes from the Dalmore Distillery. Alexander Matheson founded the distinguished Dalmore Distillery all the way back in 1839. Dalmore released the Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch in 1942 to honor Matheson.
Dalmore only made 12 bottles of this fantastic scotch. The limited number of bottles is some of what makes it so pricey. The Dalmore 62 is a bold scotch that is hard to find. You can only find bottles at auctions. Be prepared to pay a minimum of $58,000!
14. The Macallan 1926 (Fine & Rare) – $75,000
Macallan’s 1926 is the first of many Macallan vintages that appear on our list. Macallan would probably take the prize as the most expensive whiskey brand.
The Fine & Rare collection is made up of Macallan’s finest vintages. Each sip is a history lesson into Macallan’s storied distilling past. The oldest bottle in this collection is the Macallan 1926.
The 1926 was the first vintage released by Macallan. Each year Macallan sells a small number. The limited supply of the Macallan 1926 has pushed its price to $75,000.
13. Dalmore 64 Trinitas – $160,000
The 64 Trinitas is another whiskey from the famous Dalmore Distillery. The 64 Trinitas is unique because it is a blend of Dalmore’s best vintages, including 1864, 1878, 1926, and 1939.
Dalmore Distillery has limited quantities of its older vintages, and as a result, Dalmore only made three bottles of the 64 Trinitas.
If you are interested in savoring a Dalmore 64, you are in luck. There is still one bottle available for sale. What happened to the two other bottles is unknown. Some believe that they were enjoyed by their owners; others are confident that they will show up for sale sometime in the future.
12. Dalmore 62 – $250,000
Dalmore Distillery is on a roll on our list of most expensive whiskey. The Dalmore 62 dates back to the mid-19th century. That makes it almost 200 years old!
The craftsmanship that went into the 62 is unmatched. It took over 100 hours to create the mold used for the platinum and crystal decanter.
The age and quality of the Dalmore 62 make it an expensive whiskey in its own right. Combine it with the exquisite decanter, and it is easy to see what it costs a quarter of a million dollars.
11. The Macallan 64 in Lalique Cire Perdue – $464,000
Continuing with the trend of expensive decanters, the Macallan 64 in Lalique Cire Perdue is next on our list of expensive whiskey. The Macallan 64 is a blend of three different vintages: 1942, 1945, and 1946. Macallan aged the vintages in Spanish oak barrels.
What makes this particular whiskey so expensive is the decanter. It was designed and produced by the famous French glassmaker Lalique. The decanter is a one-of-a-kind design and is not available for purchase anywhere else.
10. The Macallan M – $628,205
Macallan dominates our list of most expensive whiskey for a good reason. The whiskey that the Macallan distillery produces is exquisite, and the craftsmanship of the decanters is second to none.
The Macallan M is no exception. The M is a blend of several vintages between 25-75 years old. Like the 64, Macallan aged the M in Spanish oak barrels. This aging process gives the M a distinct and bold flavor.
Seventeen glassmakers collaborated to craft the handmade crystal decanter used for the Macallan M. The unique 6-liter bottle is challenging to find and will likely get more expensive as the years pass.
9. The Macallan Red Collection – $975,756
The Macallan Red Collection is the first collection on our list of most expensive whiskey. Collections often fetch a fantastic price at auction because the vintages included in the collection are not available for individual purchase.
The Red Collection features a 78-year whiskey, the oldest whiskey ever released by Macallan. Additionally, there is a 74-year whiskey in the collection. The vintages in this collection are available are lower prices, but the Red Collection features exclusive labels.
The Spanish artist Javi Anarez designed, created, and signed each label. The Red Collection is as much a work of art as a collection of whiskies.
8. The Macallan Lalique Legacy Collection – $993,000
The Macallan Lalique Legacy Collection marks the second appearance of the glassmaker Lalique on our list of most expensive whiskey.
The Legacy Collection is a set of six whiskies aged between 50-65 years. Lalique crafted each of the decanters, and the decanters are collectively known as the Six Pillars odyssey. In addition to the decanters, the collection is sold in an ebony cabinet and includes six miniatures and six Lalique Macallan glasses.
7. The Macallan Peter Blake 1926 – $1,040,000
The Macallan Peter Blake 1926 continues the artwork trend on our list of most expensive whiskey. Macallan aged the whiskey in casks seasoned with sherry. The 1926 was aged 60 years and bottled in 1986. This fantastic vintage produced only 40 bottles.
What makes this particular whiskey so expensive is the label. Macallan partnered with the artist Peter Blake to design the cover of 1926. Peter Blake is famously known for creating the cover of The Beatle’s album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Only 12 bottles of this collaboration are available—the last one sold at auction in May 2018 for slightly over $1 million.
6. The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60 Year Old – $1,070,000
The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 comes from the same vintage as the Macallan Peter Blake 1926. Similarly, it is also a collaboration with a famous artist, in this case, Valerio Adami. Like the Peter Blake, Macallan limited the Valerio Adami 1926 to a run of 12 bottles.
Adami’s label features a nude woman appreciating the very same bottle of Macallan 1926. In addition to the gorgeous label, it comes in an exquisite cabinet. A bottle was sold at auction in 2020 for almost $1.1 million. Only ten other bottles remain. An earthquake tragically destroyed one of the twelve bottles.
5. The Dalmore Decades No.6 collection – $1,240,000
Unlike the many whiskies on our list, the Dalmore Decades No.6 collection is one-of-a-kind and not valuable because of the decanters or the labels. Instead, the significance of the vintages in this collection gives it its value.
The Decades No.6 collection includes six significant vintages: 1951, 1967, 1979, 1980, 1995, and 2000. The vintages in this collection were hand-selected by Richard Paterson, Dalmore’s master distiller.
Each vintage has its own significance, including the first whiskey of the new millennium and the famous Dalmore 60.
4. Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series – $1,520,000
The Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series takes a different approach to the idea of a whiskey collection. The series includes 54 bottles, one representing a card in a deck of cards.
The Hanyu Distillery was founded in 1941 by Isouji Akuto. Unfortunately, the Hanyu distillery ceased functioning in 2000. However, Akuto’s grandson saved 400 casks. The 54 bottles that make up this series were selected from the 400 casks and released between 2005 and 2014.
This series was sold for slightly over $1.5 million in 2020 and represented the most expensive Japanese whiskey collection sold at auction.
3. The Macallan 1926 – $1,900,000
The Macallan 1926 has made multiple appearances on our most expensive whiskey brands list. Previously, Macallan sold the 1926 as a part of artist collaboration, part whiskey, part art.
Unlike those bottles/collections, the Macallan 1926 is valuable because of its vintage, history, and art. This trifecta dramatically increased the value of The Macallan 1926. As a result, it sold at auction for almost $2 million. The 1926 was sold in its original cask, no.263, and featured a hand-painted design by the famous Irish artist Michael Dillon.
The Macallan 1926 is known as “the holy grail of whiskey.”
2. Craft Irish Whiskey Co’s The Emerald Isle Collection – $2,000,000
The Emerald Isle Collection spins the idea of a whiskey collection on its head. Instead of just whiskey, the Emerald isle Collection features jewelry, a watch, and a cigar.
The Bradley family created this collection. The whiskey comes from the oldest distillery in Bushmill, Ireland, and Pedro Ximenez casks were used to age the whiskey. Pedro Ximenez is a white Spanish wine grape variety known for making sweet and dark sherry.
Beyond the quality of the whiskey, the accompanying pieces in this collection take it over the top. The collection includes a Faberge Celtic Egg crafted from a single emerald and 19-karat gold. Additionally, there is a Faberge 22-karat gold watch. The collection is rounded out with a Cohiba Singlo VI Grand Reserva cigar and accompanying gold plated cutter.
Unlike any other, the Emerald Isle collection rightfully deserves the asking price of $2 million.
1. Isabella’s Islay – $6,200,000
The Isabella’s Islay takes the top spot on our list of most expensive whiskey. Like many of the whiskies on this list, the value of the decanter makes this whiskey so expensive.
Related: What are the most expensive tequilas in the world?
The decanter has an unbelievable 8,500 diamonds and 300 rubies inlaid into white gold. The value of the whiskey in the bottle is only $200,000. That means that the decanter is worth $6,000,000 on its own.
Conclusion:
We hope you appreciated our list of the most expensive whiskey.
A good whiskey at a bar is expensive, but over $1,000,000 for a single bottle?!?
That seems a bit much, but why not if you can afford it?
FAQ
Here are answers to some questions you might have about whiskey.
Is Bourbon Whiskey?
Yes, bourbon is a type of whiskey. Not all whiskey is bourbon, but all bourbons are whiskey.
Is Whiskey Gluten-Free?
Even though whiskey distilleries use grains like wheat, barley, and rye to make whiskey, the Celiac Disease Foundation has concluded that whiskey is gluten-free.
What Is the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey?
Bourbon is an American style of whiskey that contains at least 51% corn. While all whiskeys contain a distilled mixture of grains; only bourbon is primarily corn.
What Is Whiskey Made Of?
All whiskeys are made from cereal grains that the distillery ferments inside wooden containers. The most common grains distilleries use in making whiskey include wheat, corn, barley malt, and rye. The only other ingredients for making whiskey are water and yeast.
To get more complex flavors from their whiskeys, distilleries experiment with the type of smoke they use to dry their grains (such as peat fires) or using different types of wooden containers (including ones that once contained another alcohol type).
How Many Calories Are in a Shot of Whiskey?
A 1.5 oz (45 ml) shot of whiskey contains around 100 calories.
The amount of calories in the shot depends on the alcohol content. Whiskey with higher alcohol content is generally more calorie-dense. For example, a 90-proof whiskey might have 97 calories, while a 94-proof whiskey would have 116, and a 100-proof would have 122 calories.
How to Drink Whiskey
Serious whiskey drinkers take time to appreciate various aspects of the drink following these steps:
- Pour one or two ounces of whiskey into a glass.
- Swirl the whiskey to coat the glass.
- Smell the whiskey to appreciate its smelling notes.
- Sip the whiskey to discover the complex flavor notes it contains, breathing through your nose as you swallow.
- Roll the liquid through your mouth to pick up unique flavors with different areas of your tongue.
- Add a splash of water to pick up even more subtle flavors for another sip.
- Note the flavors remaining in your mouth after you’ve finished your sip.
Is Hennessy Whiskey?
Hennessy is a type of cognac rather than a type of whiskey. While Hennessy tastes similar to a scotch, cognac comes from grapes rather than grains.
What to Mix with Whiskey
There are a variety of mixed drink cocktails that use whiskey as the main ingredient. However, if you want to try mixing on your own, these ingredients pair well with whiskey:
- Amaro
- Club soda
- Coffee
- Cola
- Ginger ale or ginger beer
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Orange
- Vermouth
Is Brandy Whiskey?
While some of the less-sweet brandies taste similar to whiskey, brandy is made from fermented fruit or grapes instead of fermented grain mash.
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