10 Most Expensive Scotch Whiskies to Buy (+ Auction Results)

Nothing engulfs the senses like a snifter of Scotch! 

This coveted style of whiskey comes from the Scottish highland region and is crafted with mainly three ingredients – water, malted barley, and yeast. 

While the price range of Scotch varies widely, some prestigious single malt Scotch labels can set you back hundreds of thousands of dollars. They can be lucrative long-term investments too.

In this article, we’ll explore the 10 most expensive Scotch whisky labels you can buy now, and five premium Scotch bottles ever sold at auction events. We’ll also check out an easy way to invest in high-end whiskey casks (through Vinovest).

10 Expensive Scotch Whiskies You Can Buy Right Now

Here are the 10 most expensive Scotch bottles for you to consider:

1. The Macallan Lalique 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($253,291)
2. Johnnie Walker 'John Walker & Sons Diamond Jubilee' Blended Malt Scotch Whisky ($207,534)
3. The Dalmore Candela 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($161,290)
4. The Macallan 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($134,229)
5. The Macallan Red Collection 78-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($118,446)
6. Bowmore 'Black Bowmore' The Last Cask 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($97,955)
7. 2012 The Balvenie 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($80,000)
8. The Singleton of Dufftown 54-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($38,477)
9. Glenfiddich 'Rare Collection' 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($33,625)
10. Highland Park 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($28,318)    

1. The Macallan Lalique 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($253,291)

This limited edition 50-year-old single malt is the first of 470 decanters in the Lalique Six Pillars Collection. The twice-distilled Scotch whisky is a true collectible with a mouthwatering prune and chocolate palate. 

Oak cask aging infuses rich woody aromas in this expensive whiskey, which is balanced by tantalizing cardamom, cumin, and dark maraschino scents. 

It’s lasting finish boasts a sherry and smoke undertone, reminiscent of the renowned Macallan M collection. 

2. Johnnie Walker 'John Walker & Sons Diamond Jubilee' Blended Malt Scotch Whisky ($207,534)

Here’s a royal whisky blend distilled in 1952 on the Queen’s accession to the throne. It was bottled 60 years later in 60 limited edition bottles at the 2012 diamond jubilee celebration.

This soft gold spirit offers an intoxicating wood smoke nose with a velvety mouthfeel of light fruit and vanilla notes.               

3. The Dalmore Candela 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($161,290) 

The 50-year-old Scotch from the Dalmore distillery is among 77 limited releases of the expensive whiskey named after the unit of light intensity. The crystal glass decanter is an elegant showpiece set with sterling silver inside a wooden cabinet.

Besides an alluring coffee, sultana, and spicy orange bouquet, this classic spirit also offers sumptuous marmalade, ginger cake, and butterscotch notes. 

4. The Macallan 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($134,229)

Here’s a provocative, limited edition Speyside single malt, one of 200 bottles, aged for 50 years in a handcrafted Spanish oak sherry cask. Each intriguing bottle comes in a handmade solid oak case and boasts an ABV of 44%.

The Scotch presents a spicy nose of vanilla, peat, and pepper offset by a fudge, fig, and blackcurrant palate.

5. The Macallan Red Collection 78-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($118,446)

This is the oldest whisky ever released by Macallan and is part of the ‘Red Collection,’ named after the Macallan distillery founder Alexander Reid (or ‘The Red.’) The whisky comes in an elegant handcrafted oak case lined with Scottish leather - just like the Macallan M collection.

This expensive bottle opens with heady fresh fruit aromas of apple, grape, and peach, underscored by nutmeg, vanilla, and treacle toffee notes.

6. Bowmore 'Black Bowmore' The Last Cask 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($97,955) 

Crafted under the guidance of Master Distiller Eddie MacAffer, this is one of the most sought-after single malts in the world. It’s been aged 50 years after being distilled in 1964 at Islay’s Bowmore distillery.

Each sip of the pearly black drink offers black cherry, ripe exotic fruit, and orange peel scents in a beautiful passion fruit, acacia honey, and chocolate espresso palate. 

7. 2012 The Balvenie 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($80,000)

Here’s a stunning whisky produced in honor of Malt Master David Stewart's 50th year. The single malt was aged in an oak and sherry cask with natural cask strength. 

It has a floral and fruity nose of vanilla and honey balanced by citrusy hints of lemon and orange peel. The flavor profile is magnificent, with nutmeg, cinnamon, and honey notes. 

8. The Singleton of Dufftown 54-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($38,477) 

This is part of the Paragon of Time series crafted in Dufftown and aged for over five decades in a Pedro-Ximenez Sherry and American oak cask. The malted barley Scotch was hand-filled in 1966 and perfected through slow maturation.

It opens with delectable hemp and maraschino cherry fragrances, and a dry palate of clove, raisins, and orange notes. 

9. Glenfiddich 'Rare Collection' 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($33,625)

Here’s Glenfiddich’s 'Rare Collection' single malt (William Grant owns the brand) crafted by drawing from two casks and matured for 50 years. 

The vibrant and zesty whisky opens with complex rose and violet aromas in a delectable vanilla toffee and orange marmalade palate. 

Its prolonged finish hints at traces of peat, oak, and silky tannins.

10. Highland Park 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($28,318)

This beautiful single malt whisky was one of 274 bottles created by Highland Park’s master whisky maker Gordon Motion from nine casks in 1968 and mixed in 2008. 

The spirit was matured in a sherry oak cask for 12 years, married with a 2018 batch of 50-year-old whisky. 

It boasts a delicate black cherry, vanilla, and dark chocolate bouquet with flavorful spice, apricot, and dark espresso notes. 

5 Most Expensive Scotch Whiskies Ever Sold at Auction Events 

Here are the five most luxurious Scotch labels sold at different auction events:

1. The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60-Year-Old, Whisky Auctioneer, $1.9 million
2. The 1926 Macallan Peter Blake 60-Year-Old, Bonham’s, $1.014 million
3. The 1919 Springbank 50-Year-Old, Christie's, $301,430
4. Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5 NV, Sotheby’s, $129,084
5. Glenlivet 1940 Gordon and MacPhail 80-Year-Old Generations, Whisky Auctioneer, $90,479

1. The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60-Year-Old (Sotheby’s, $1.9 million)

The 1926 Macallan became the most expensive whisky bottle ever sold at an auction when it went under the hammer for $1.9 million at a 2019 Sotheby’s event. 

The bottle enjoys a cult status among collectors as it’s part of a 57 vintage single malt whisky collection. 

All 14 bottles of the 60-year-old Macallan Fine and Rare are part of private collections now. The last of the most sought-after bottles of the collection was auctioned in February 2021. 

2. The 1926 Macallan Peter Blake 60-Year-Old (Bonham’s, $1.014 million)

This golden-hued Scotch was matured at the Speyside distillery for 60 years until 1986 and divided into 40 bottles. 

Of these, 24 got designer labels by famous artists, one was painted by Irish artist Michael Dillon, and two blank bottles were auctioned. The rest of the 14 were to be presented as part of Macallan’s vintage release program.  

The Macallan distillery partnered with pop artist Sir Peter Blake to design the label to boost its exclusivity. This collaboration skyrocketed the value of the expensive whisky at auction events. 

One of the 12 Macallan Peter Blake 1926 60-Year-Old was sold for an astounding $1.014 million at a Bonhams event in Hong Kong.

3. The 1919 Springbank 50-Year-Old (Christie’s, $301,430)

The 1919 Springback is exclusive, being one of just 24 bottles matured for 50 years at the historic artisanal distillery. It was bottled after being hidden away for half a century until 1970. 

As prolonged aging was rare during the 20th century, only a few bottles of expensive whisky from the classic era remain. Since the 50-year-old Springback is such a rare specimen, it fetches high prices during auction bids. 

A single bottle of this rare and prestigious label was sold for $301,430 at a Christie’s auction event in 2021.

4. Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5 NV (Sotheby’s, $118,750)

Here’s a prized label – one of 27 exclusive bottles originally bottled in 1995 and then rebottled in 2020. Just 25 bottles of the collection were released for sale, and two were stored at Bowmore’s distillery archive. 

This highly sought-after bottle was fitted with an original Aston Martin DB5 piston and packed in an original string-grain calfskin presentation case. The 31-year-old Black Bowmore, distilled at Islay’s Bowmore distillery, boasts a strong ABV of 49.6%.  

A single bottle of the spirit sold at $118,750 at a Sotheby’s auction in 2021.

5. Glenlivet 1940 Gordon and MacPhail 80-Year-Old Generations (Whisky Auctioneer, $90,479)

This 80-year-old Glenlivet whisky was distilled in 1940 by the G&M family and bottled through a partnership with renowned architect and designer, Sir David Adjaye OBE. 

The bottle comes in a unique glass decanter and oak case designed by Adjaye on the theme ‘Artistry in Oak.’

This expensive bottle was released as part of the exclusive 250 Gordon and MacPhail to support a local charity, ‘Trees for Life.’

A decanter of the G&M’s oldest whisky was sold for $90,479 at a Whisky Auctioneer event in 2021.

Now, besides being coveted for their taste and exclusivity, Scotch whiskey labels can also be lucrative alternative investment options. 

Investing in Expensive Scotch Whisky (Bottles & Casks)    

Historically, whiskey casks have increased in value by 12-18% per year. 

For instance, prominent bottles from prestigious distilleries like the Macallan are known to fetch exceptionally high returns:

• The price of the 2012 Balvenie (owned by William Grant) 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky increased by over 133% from $34,092 in 2021 to $79,736 in 2022.
• Between 2021 and 2022, the price of 1991 The Macallan Fine & Rare Vintage Single Malt Scotch Whiskey appreciated by over 88% from $12,018 to $22,675.

But cask investment is a very lucrative way to invest in whiskey as well. 

Why?

Casks are rarer to find and as the spirit matures, you’ll often see steep price increases in the secondary market. The best part is that you don’t need to worry about storage or shipping – casks would be held in professionally-maintained bonded warehouses.

Did you know: The BC20 cask index reported average annual returns of 13.09% over the last five years.

You could potentially realize such profits, too, by investing in high-end whisky casks through Vinovest.

Vinovest is an AI-based platform that provides a convenient way to invest in some of the world’s rarest whisky casks. Through Vinovest you can do away with intermediaries and secure significant savings for yourself. 

Besides this, some other benefits of Vinovest are:

• Your whisky cask is fully insured, stored and managed by the expert team.
• You’ll annually receive a sample bottle from your cask.
• You can choose to sell your cask or have it bottled.
• You can schedule an in-person visit to view your whisky.

Enjoy Potentially High Gains from Expensive Scotch Labels

Expensive Scotch labels are highly sought-after collectibles that appreciate substantially in value over the years. 

If you’d like to invest in coveted whisky casks, sign up with Vinovest today. This would make a great addition to your alternative investment portfolio.