When we think of making a purchase that involves thousands of dollars, our minds may go towards that car we have been fawning over, or remodeling areas of our home, or perhaps taking that lavish vacation, we have had our heart set on for a while. But for some, it may be indulging in the royal treatment for one night only consisting of a single libation in a swanky establishment. If you didn’t think it was possible to spend thousands of dollars on a cocktail, think again as we list the 7 most expensive cocktails from around the world.
Macallan 55 Single Malt Whisky Cocktail | Skyview Bar
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Price Tag: $4,000 USD
Macallan produces some of the best single-malt scotch in the world, and when you make the jump to consuming the 55-year-old version of their fabulous recipe, you bet you’ll be paying a pretty price for it. The whiskey cocktail at the esteemed Skyview Bar in Dubai, who is known for its extravagance, mixes this famed whiskey from a Lalique crystal bottle with dried fruit bitters and homemade passion fruit sugar. It is stirred with a custom stirrer from a Macallan oak cask and served over ice that is formed with the water that runs through the Macallan distillery–talk about going above and beyond. For the final touch, you will be sipping this prodigal drink from an 18 karat gold goblet, which is yours to keep as a souvenir.
Salvatore’s Legacy | The Playboy Club
London, England
Price tag: $9,230 USD
Created by the famous Italian bartender, Salvatore Calabrese, of the distinguished Playboy Club in London, this cocktail took time through trial and error to perfect. Salvatore’s original attempt to create this cocktail came to a halt when the prestigious bottle of 1778 Clos de Griffier Vieux Cognac, worth nearly $65,000 was dropped, shattering the bottle on impact, spilling the precious liquid all over the floor. Heartbroken, and with thoughts of somehow sponging the cognac up and filtering it, the final verdict left them mopping up the thousands of dollars that covered the ground. Not to go completely to waste, the shattered bottle is now behind glass in the “museum cabinet” located at Salvatore’s bar. This “museum” holds nearly $1.3 million worth of vintage cognacs.
His second attempt went a little more smoothly as he found a replacement bottle of the 1778 Clos de Griffier Vieux Cognac. He creatively blended it with a 1770 bottle of Kummel liqueur, a German liqueur flavored with caraway seed, cumin, and fennel that goes for around $13,000, and 1860 Dubb Orange Curacao and a tiny bottle of 19th-century Angostura bitters. Along with the costly price tag, this cocktail is said to be the oldest cocktail in the world with all of the ingredients having a combined age of 730 years.
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Ono Champagne Cocktail | XS Nightclub
Las Vegas, Nevada
Price: $10,000 USD
XS Nightclub at the Encore and Wynn in Las Vegas offers a night of extravagance and one of the most luxurious nightclub experiences. Among its many swanky amenities, it just happens to serve up one of the most expensive cocktails known to humankind, recognized merely as, “Ono.”
Made for two, the ingredients used to produce this elegant cocktail include the rare Charles Heidsieck 1981 Champagne Charlie worth over $500, as well as Louis XIII de Remy Martin Black Pearl cognac that is worth over $16,000. Accompanying these two lavish ingredients is Sence rose nectar, freshly squeezed orange juice, and apricot puree. In true Las Vegas style, served on a custom tray, in jewel encrusted champagne glasses, the purchase of this cocktail will receive a pair of 18 karat gold, Mont Blanc cuff links, and an 18 karat gold, Tahitian black pearl, and diamond necklace.
Diamond’s Are Forever Martini | Uncorked
New York, New York
Price: $10,000+ USD
If you are looking for a creative and lavish way to pop the question, head over to Uncorked with your sweetheart in New York City and order the Diamond’s Are Forever Martini. Be sure to call ahead and preorder this libation as it takes 72 hours for the creation to be complete. The drink consists of the standard martini components with the addition of a breathtaking custom diamond engagement ring positioned at the bottom of the glass. Included in this price, you will receive a consultation from the Swiss jeweler and co-owner of Uncorked, Andy Goetz, and the bar will do all the work in preparation for your grand moment.
Winston | Club 23
Melbourne, Australia
Price Tag: $12,000 USD
Club 23 in Melbourne, Victoria is a luxury lounge where the elite can enjoy a glamorous evening filled with rich elegance. One of the lavish items this high-end lounge is most famous for is a cocktail curated by the experts, which was once in the Guinness World Book of Records for being the most expensive cocktail in the world. Named after Winston Churchill, the cocktail, Winston, is constructed with some of the most expensive alcoholic ingredients. It is made with a very special cuvee, 1858 Croizet Cuvee Cognac, a bottle that sells for $157,000 with a single pour going for upwards of $6,000. It also includes Grand Marier Quintessence which retails for nearly $800 per bottle, Chartreuse Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolonge which is a French liqueur made by the Carthusian Monks since 1737 according to the instructions set out in a manuscript, a dash of Angostura Bitters and a garnished of chocolate nutmeg dust. If you are thinking of giving into this spirit temptation, be sure to call ahead, as this celebrity cocktail takes two days to make.
Diamonds Are Forever Martini | The Ritz-Carlton
Tokyo, Japan
Price tag: $18,000 USD
Yes, you read that right, there is another opulent establishment creating a dazzling drink. This Tokyo edition martini is assembled with Grey Goose Vodka and a lime twist and garnished with a diamond. Tokyo is already known as the most sumptuous city in the world and continues to live up to their prestigious designation, providing a one karat diamond that is not set in a ring generously floating at the bottom. The Ritz-Carlton doesn’t stop there; when the drink is served the live band will serenade you with the Shirley Bassey classic, Diamonds are Forever.
Ruby Rose | The White Barn Inn
Kennebunk, Maine
Price: $40,000 USD
When The White Barn Inn turned 40 years old, they decided to celebrate with a cocktail, and not just any cocktail. They created a delicious offering made with Hanger One Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, freshly squeezed grapefruit and pomegranate juice, a spoonful of rosewater all garnished with a four-karat ruby. They chose the ruby because it is a symbol of a 40 year anniversary in many other milestones. You will surely be sipping in style with the addition of this sparkling gem.
Elite bartenders and establishments are always looking for creative ways to impress their guests, going to many lengths to create a lasting impression. Whether you are looking to splurge on something luxurious to sip on, impress a special someone, or celebrate a milestone, these lavish drinks will surely make it a night to remember.
Main Photo Credit: OZ Magazine
Inset Photo Credit: The Ritz-Carlton
