Did you know that there exists in this world a $30,000 bottle of Scotch?
Yep.
Another pricey Scotch whisky has been sold for an impressive number. This time it’s the Chivas Royal Salute. Gustad recently proclaimed his love of the 21-year-old Royal Salute, this scotch is the 50-year version which was created to mark the 50th birthday of the brand and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Bottle number one of a batch of 255 was recently sold in Auckland for $30,000. The bottle was originally given to Sir Edmund Hillary in 2003 and it was bought back by Chivas Brothers, with the proceeds going to the Himalayan Trust for development work in Nepal. Not all the bottles were sold for such a high price, but they all sold for a minimum of $8888.
The story was from 2006 but it’s still pricey, three years later!
One Bottle of Scotch, $30,000 [Luxist]
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Expensive
I just read about how Bruichladdich, an Islay whiskey distillery, is producing five thousand bottles of the “world’s strongest whisky” by distilling it four times to 92% alcohol, 184 proof. Whiskey is typically distilled two times but Bruichladdich is planning on doubling that to replicate a drink described in a 1965 travel book, The Western Isles of Scotland.
According to Spittoon.biz has the following to say about the book:
A book dated 1695 details a journey in the Hebrides and refers to a quadruple distilled whisky known as usquebaugh-baul pronounced something like ‘woo-sh-ka-voll’ and which does not appear to have any current meaning known to Gaelic speakers.
The only tasting note available, and perhaps the oldest whisky tasting note of all, states: “… the first taste affects all the members of the body: two spoonfuls of this last liquor is a sufficient dose; and if any man should exceed this, it would presently stop his breath, and endanger his life”. The writer went on to say “Two spoonfuls of this last liquor is a sufficient dose; if any man should exceed this, it would presently stop his breath, and endanger his life”.
92%, huh? That’s some potent stuff… I would prefer not to stop my breath or endanger my life. 
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Bruichladdich, Islay
If you do any reading about Scotch, or whiskey in general, you’ll often read people talk about having a dram of Scotch. Intuitively we know it’s some measurement, that we pour a bit of the golden (or amber or whatever, depending what you prefer!) elixir, call it a dram, and go about our merry way enjoying it.
But, what exactly is a dram?
Historically, a dram was a coin, a unit of mass, and a unit of volume.
For volume, it’s an eighth (1⁄8) of a fluid ounce.
So there you have it, a dram is an eighth of an ounce… but in reality it just means “a wee bit” when you talk about Scotch. No one is holding a measuring spoon when they measure out their drams!
(Photo: stephangeyer)
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Dram
When I came home from a trip to England, I stopped by the duty free store and picked up half a dozen bottles of Scotch at the “World of Whisky” store in Heathrow. As a friend of Scotch, I drink it regularly but even half a dozen bottles, especially of types I don’t normally get, is something that will last for quite some time so I needed to figure out how I was going to store it.
Fortunately, storing scotch whisky is like storing wine. Keep it out of the sunlight and in a cool, dry place. For us, that’s the basement. If you keep it in a cool, dry place you can store a bottle of whisky indefinitely. The only risk you have is that the cork disintegrate in older bottles, but that’s not a concern for us since all my bottles are fairly new.
If the bottle is opened, the character of the whisky starts to change because of the air inside. The more air, the more it changes. This means the whisky will change faster as you consume it because there will be more air (less whisky) as you drink it. You can go as far as getting a vacuum pump and special stoppers to remove the air, but I find that to be unnecessary most of the time.
(Photo: roblisameehan)
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Storage
When ordering scotch, it’s often important to indicate how you’d like it. There are really only two choices in the scotch world:
- Neat means you want the scotch without anything else.
- On the Rocks means you want the scotch served with ice.
If you use any other terms, you’ll just confuse the bartender. If you forget which is which, just explain it and the bartender will gladly serve it the way you like it.
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Ordering
Wow that was fast, less than two weeks ago I signed up to be a Friend of Laphroaig and this week a large letter arrived in the mail from Laphroaig Distillery, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll PA42 7DU. Yep, I was officially a Friend of Laphroaig! The cardboard-backed hard envelope contained two documents, the first was a letter welcoming me to the Friend of Laphroaig group and the second was an official lease. I was the proud new lessee of Plot No. 373951.
The certificate said:
LIFETIME LEASE ON A SQUARE FOOT OF ISLAY
This is the certify that Jim Wang is a Friend of LAPHROAIG and, accordingly, has become the lifetime leaseholder of an unregistered plot recorded at LAPHROAIG DISTILLER.
As condition of this award, we agree to pay a yearly ground rent in the sum of one dram of Laphroaig, to be claimed in person at the distiller. You understand we’re not offering heritable ownership or any right to cut peat, farm sheep or extract minerals from the plot – far better to take up your right to a warming measure of Laphroaig.
Upon the Leaseholder’s arrival at Laphroaig we undertake to provide a map, with adequate directions for locating the PLOT, and suitable protective clothing against Islay’s rugged weather and eccentric wildlife.
The LEASEHOLDERS’ Cupboard will contain at all times essential equipment, including: For ascertaining the boundaries of the plot, one tape measure; a pair of wellingtons, size 12, approximately one foot in length.
For the journey to the plot, protective headgear against low-flying GEESE; a thick overcoat to repel the inclement Scottish mist; a lifebelt and anchor to safeguard against being blown out to sea; one ball of string for securing trouser legs from inquisitive stoats; and a towel for the Leaseholder to dry-off in the event of unwelcome attention from affectionate otters.
No moment is more special than savouring our rugged single malt at its source to the sound of the sea. To do so is to understand why Laphroaig is the most rewarding and individual of all malt wiskies.
Cool!
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Laphroaig
Did you know that when you buy a bottle of Laphroaig, you’re actually buying a lease on a square foot of Islay? Yep! It says so on a tag attached to the bottle. When you buy a bottle you become a “Friend of Laphroaig.”
As a “Friend” you will be given a numbered plot (one square foot) of our land that runs alongside our all important water suppply – the Kilbride stream. If you visit us you can view your plot and of course claim your ground rent of a dram of our finest – though you will probably need to take a few precautions, as you will see later! Today the heart of our community is on the web. There are now over 250,000 Friends from over 150 countries!
To claim the plot, just go to www.laphroaig.com/plot and set yourself up.
My plot is #373951, let me know if you’re nearby!
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Laphroaig
In mid-2006, Forbes listed the world’s most expensive whiskies with the top bottle netting $38,000. That’s right, a single bottle of the stuff at the top of the list costs more than most of the cars on the road today. Which was it? It was The Macallan Fine and Rare Collection, 1926, 60 Years Old… a single malt of the highest order took the top spot and it’s not actually possible to buy it anymore.
Here’s what Forbes had to say:
The oldest and most sought-after of Macallan’s revolutionary Fine & Rare Collection is now sold out. It is still possible to taste this totally unique Scotch whisky at the Old Homestead Steakhouse in the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J. However, it sells for a nosebleed-inducing $3,300 per dram, so you had better have had a good run at the craps table.
To clarify, the list was created to capture the most expensive of each type, so you’ll see clearly “inexpensive” Jack Daniels Single Barrel Whiskey listed because it’s the most expensive Tennessee whiskey. Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old is the most expensive rye whiskey and Suntory Yamazaki 18 is the most expensive Japanese whiskey. Anyway, here’s the rest of the list:
- The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection, 1939, 40 Years Old: $10,125
- Chivas Regal Royal Salute, 50 Year Old: $10,000
- Glen Garioch, 1958, 46 Year Old: $2,600
- Bruichladdich 40 Year Old: $2,500
- Glenfiddich 40 Year Old: $2,500
- Springbank 32 Year Old: $750
- Auchentoshan 1973 32 Year Old: $700
- Evan Williams 23 Year Old Bourbon: $350
- Midleton Very Rare: $139
- Suntory Yamazaki 18 Year Old Single Malt Whiskey: $110
- Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old: $55
- Johnny Walker Green Label: $50
- Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey: $50
- Jack Daniels Single Barrel Whiskey: $42
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Auchentoshan, Bruichladdich, Chivas Regal, Glen Garioch, Glenfiddich, Jack Daniels, Johnnie Walker, Macallan, SUntory Yamazaki
Clutch, of Dubber & Clutch, a scotch blog penned by a New Zealander (of Scottish descent) and a Scotsman (also of Scottish descent) who enjoy whisky and are keen that you do too; recently had an opportunity to visit Oban and shared their experience.
Over the course of the following hour and a half I was treated to my own private lesson in the art of distilling, from a man who could have easily been reading from a chemistry degree textbook, but who was as gracious with his explanations to the scientific layman that sat in front of him (myself) as he was with his generosity when it came to sending me on my way with a very special parting gift …
It’s a great story about the hospitality of Oban and their distillery manager, Kenny Gray, do check it out if you have a few spare moments.
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Distillery Tour, Oban
One of the things you’ll learn about Scotch is that two people can describe one dram in two completely different ways. However, would you ever have considered that the Glen Garoich 15 year, which retails for ~$45 a 750ml, is a “pungent, intense mix of fresh ginger, fabric conditioner and leather car upholstery?”
Is that good or bad?
As seen on Dubber & Clutch.
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Glen Garioch, Humor
