THE RAREST SCOTCHES

New World whiskies may be exciting, but these bottles of Scotch are still what top collectors dream of snagging.

Exploring beyond the realm of Scotch has never been more exciting for whisky lovers. But, when it comes to building an enduring collection rich in gravitas and rife with legacies, it’s impossible to leave out the drams of Scotland. these storied bottles stand out for their rarity and value.

THE DALMORE 64 TRINITAS 1946

What’s the surefire way to guarantee rarity? Make only three bottles of something, of course. Correspondingly, all three bottles of the 1946 Dalmore 64 Trinitas are now valued at just slightly north of $200,000 per bottle. At least, they are a set you can complete – for the meagre price of a few cars.

ISABELLA’S ISLAY

This is perhaps the world’s most luxurious whisky – and also the most expensive beverage product in the world – at $8.8 million per bottle. The maker of this exclusive nectar (a very old single malt cask-strength Islay whisky, which is also available in refills) is Luxury Beverage Company of the United Kingdom. Why is it so special? Isabella’s Islay comes in an English Crystal decanter with a carapace of 8,500 diamonds, close to 300 rubies and almost two bars of white gold.

THE MACALLAN 1926 PETER BLAKE

Only a scarce number of bottles made it past the 60-year ageing process – which started close to a century ago in 1926 in sherry-seasoned oak barrels before being bottled and released in 1986. The bottle features a bespoke label commissioned by Sir Peter Blake, the same artist who designed album jackets, including Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, for The Beatles. Highly sought after by art lovers and whisky collectors alike, a bottle of The Macallan 1926 Peter Blake went under the hammer for US$843,200 (S$1.2 million) at a Sotheby’s New York auction in 2018. This edition is not to be confused with The Macallan Fine & Rare 60 Year Old 1926.

GLENFIDDICH JANET SHEED ROBERTS RESERVE 1955

Only 11 of these bottles were ever released. Celebrating each decade of the life of Janet Sheed Roberts – the granddaughter of Glenfiddich founder William Grant – the contents came from casks filled with single malt on New Year’s Eve 1955. One bottle remains at the distillery. As for the rest, their commemorative, one-off nature makes them an extremely rare sighting. No wonder they are valued at more than six figures.

THE GLENLIVET THE WINCHESTER COLLECTION, 1964

Only 100 of these remarkable bottles of rare 50-year-old single malt were ever released. While the whisky itself is highly prized, the trappings also add to its value. The stopper’s made of rose gold and a quartz variant and each bottle sits in a mini cabinet of walnut and leather. Expect to fork out over $40,000 for one of these babies.

TEXT JAMES LEE

Click here to subscribe to The Peak!