With India factoring in as one of the world’s largest whisky-consuming nations, it’s only fitting that the price range for the amber spirit — both homegrown and imported expressions available in the country — is deliciously eclectic. For instance, the nation’s number-one selling usquebaugh (as of 2025) is McDowell’s No. 1 Luxury Premium Whisky priced at Rs 640, while its most expensive local expression is the Rampur Signature Reserve, which costs Rs 5 lakh a bottle. However, even this ostentatious amount is almost negligible when compared to the most expensive whiskies in the world, many of which have been auctioned for crores worth of rupees. Collectors, bookmark this top five list.
World’s most rare and expensive whisky selections — Emerald Isle Collection (Rs 17 Crore), The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60-Year-Old (Rs 16 Crore) & more
1. The Emerald Isle Collection – US $2 million (Rs 17 crore)
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Hailing from the Bushmills distillery, also the world’s oldest distillery comes this collection of two oldest triple distilled Irish whiskey bottles culminating into one extravagant gift pack. The pack is created by The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. and Fabergé. Apart from the whiskey, the box also holds a Fabergé Celtic Egg handcrafted with emerald and 18-karat gold, a 22k gold timepiece and a Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva cigar with gold-plated cutter. Interestingly, the money earned from this sale was sent to charity.
2. The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60-Year-Old – US$1.9 million (Rs 16 crore)
This gift collection comes with not one but two bottles of fine whiskey. However, even if the added quantity is a factor in the pricing, it takes nothing away from the seniority of the spirit. Pop artists Peter Blake and Valerio Adami designed the labels for a limited edition of 24 bottles and one of the bottles was even hand-painted by Irish artist Michael Dillon. Sotheby’s also called the 1926 fine the “holy grail” of whiskey. The collection was auctioned for a whopping US$1.9 million (Rs 16 crore). It is believed that the buyer consumed one of the whiskey bottles and did not even open the second one–it was only added to their collection.
3. Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection – US$120,000 (Rs 1 crore)
Distilled for a long period of 64 years, the Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection is a true work of art. It was bottled in 2001, which means the distillation process began in 1937, before WWII. By 2001, there was only enough stunning whiskey to fill up 61 bottles, hence birthing a super rare brand. The whisky is priced at a whopping US$120,000 (Rs 88,82,460).
4. Yamazaki 55-year-old – Cost: USD 60,000 – (Rs 51 lakh)
From the birthplace of Japanese whisky, the Yamazaki 55-Year-Old is a blend of precious single malts distilled in 1960 under the supervision of Suntory’s founder Shinjiro Torii and then aged in Mizunara casks; and in 1964 under Suntory’s Second Master Blender Keizo Saji and then aged in White Oak casks. Suntory’s Fifth-Generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo worked closely with Third-Generation Master Blender Shingo Torii in deploying their signature art of blending to reveal the exceptional depth, complexity matured for more than 55 years and is the House of Suntory’s oldest release in its history.
5. Dalmore 1964 Constellation collection – US$60,000 (Rs 51 lakh)
This one is once again a collection of whiskey bottles, the rarest and vintage ones ever created by The Dalmore, known as The Dalmore Constellation Collection. Created between 1964 and 1992, these whiskies have been aged for 46 years. Flavoured with notes of orchard fruit and cinnamon spice, these whiskies, created by Dalmore’s master distiller Richard Patterson, are priced at US$60,000.
GQ INDIA
