The World's Most Expensive and Finest Scotch Whiskies

When my niece went to Scotland to take a masters degree in business, I started thinking how lucky she would be to be able to sample all those expensive scotch whiskies at local prices. She let me know that you may have to pay just as much in Scotland for their fine whiskies as you do here. If that were the case then I could sample the finest Scotch single malts and blends here without breaking my bank account. Or at least, that is what I thought.

They say that enjoying scotch whiskies is an acquired taste. That is very true. I am still in the process of acquiring that taste. It seemed to me that based on what people have told me single malt whiskies are the best place to start my acquisition of the appreciation for this fine beverage. I went into my local liquor store and purchased three bottles of Macalland's single malt which were on special. The cheapest was the 12 year old for $34. I also purchased the Maccalland's 18 year old for $90 and the most expensive scotch in the store Macalland's 25 year old for $225.

I took my expensive single malt's home and poured a half once into each of three shot glasses. To my surprise my favorite by far was the cheapest, the 12 year old variety. The 25 year old was very peaty and did not seem to either go down as easily as the younger varieties. The 18 year old was much smoother and less peaty. It seemed to have a slightly fruity aftertaste. However, the 12 year old seemed to me to be the finest in the group. Many fragrant aromas were present as the liquor hit my tongue. The most pleasant warm sensation lingered in my throat as well.

Out of curiosity I Googled Expensive Scotch whiskeys and found that my 25 year old was a relative newcomer on the Macallan line as well as downright inexpensive. They made a 60 year old scotch called the 1926 Macallan Fine and Rare which sells for $38,000 a bottle if you could even find one as it quickly sold out. This is perhaps the most expensive scotch according to Forbes.com. Well if this is the billionaire's scotch, then the Macallan 1937 at over $10,000 per bottle is the millionaire's scotch. However, I cannot report on the quality of these rare and expensive brew's as I cannot afford to buy them.

I know from Forbes.com that Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1939 costs over $20,000 a bottle. However I found the 12 year old to be slightly less pleasurable than the 12 year old Macallans of similar price.

On I went to try other single malt's but still rate the Macallans 12 year old the best to my palate.

The blends were a surprise to me. While the Chivas Regal 12 and 18 year old blends did not impress me, I had much better luck with the Johnnie Walker selections. Their least expensive is the Red followed by the Black. In addition, they have come up with a series of three much more expensive and in my opinion tasty bends. The Johnnie Walker Green is a blend of several 12 year old single blends. This was good but not nearly as good as the Johnnie Walker Gold a $55 blend of some fine 18 year old single malt scotch whiskies. This was the best scotch of all that I tasted including the top of the line Johnnie Walker Blue at $200 plus per bottle. It also seemed better in all respect to any single malt I tried.

It did occur to me that even with all the talk about single malts, a blend could put the exact combination of flavors, aromas and taste into one bottle. I give this scotch my recommendation but suggest that each person is different and should make their own decision.

Well, bottoms up mate. Have a great evening!