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The 10 Most Expensive Whiskies in the World

2009-04-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

Grain, water, a wooden barrel and a little time. Whisky is a colorful character with an ever-changing spirit. The subject of literature, culture and folklore throughout the world, finicky booze-hounds have long paid a pretty penny for bottles of the most coveted casks. Pour a finger or two and hit the jump to drink in 10 bottles of whisky that truly break the bank.

10: Ladybank Single Malt: $4,700

Rounding out the top of the list is the Ladybank Distillery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Only 300 bottles of the rare Single Malt Scotch are bottled each year, and to obtain one — you have to become a member of the club. The price of admission? — about $4,700 a year.

9: The Macallan 1947 Fine and Rare Collection: $6,800

This sherry cask Speyside scotch was bottled for Italy in 1962 before it was repackaged for Macallan’s Fine and Rare line of whiskies. The distillery used peat in its kilns because of the scarcity and high price of coal during WWII, the 1947 bottle, so this 15 year old has an earthy quality not present in modern Macallans.

8: Chivas Regal Royal Salute 50 year old: $10,000

A swill special enough to be packaged for the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Chivas Regal Royal Salute is a 50 year old Scotch with smoky anise and raisin flavors. Only 255 bottles were made, 10 of which were destined for America, where collectors eagerly poured out $10,000 each.

7: The Macallan 1939 40 year old Fine and Rare Collection: $10,125

“Peaty and powerful,” with overtones of sweet toffee and dried fruits, Macallan’s 1939 is a 40 year old first bottled in 1979. In 2002, it was added to the distillery’s Fine and Rare line and re-bottled. It can be found today for around $10,125.

6: Glenfarclas 1955 50 year old: $10,878

Wealthy tasters are warned to overlook this richly scented 50 year old Speyside at their own “peril.” Spicy and silky with a sweet start, this is the oldest batch ever bottled by the Glenfarclas distillery.

5: Dalmore 50 Year Old Decanter: $11,000

Only 60 crystal-cut bottles of this Highland single malt were produced. Filled in 1978, this dark sherry-aged Dalmore has a reputation for being intense and deeply flavored and is considered by many aficionados among the best 50 year olds in the world.

4: Macallan 55 Year old Lalique Crystal Decanter: $12,500

The eye-catching crystal bottle of Macallan’s 55 year old Lalique was based on a 1910 perfume bottle designed by Rene Lalique . Exotic, with hints of peat smoke, the taste is smooth with lingering citrus overtones.

3: Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection: $20,000

Rare doesn’t describe it. Only one bottle of Glenfiddich’s 1937 Rare Collection was ever produced, and it just might be the oldest bottle of whisky in the world. It was snatched up at a 2006 auction for a bargain $20,000.

2: Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch: $58,000

Only a dozen bottles of Dalmore 62 single malt were corked in 1942. One night in 2005, a man bought a bottle for $58,000, and downed it with five of his buddies.

1: The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare: $75,000

“Dry and concentrated” — what else would you expect from one of the most expensive whiskies in the world? Help yourself to a little licorice aftertaste. In 2005, a South Korean businessman paid $70,000 for a bottle of Macallan’s 1926, the finest and rarest of the Fine and Rare.

TOP MOST EXPENSIVE HOTELS IN THE WORLD

2009-04-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

Entrance to Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab, Dubai: $6,800 a night (£3,392)
The Royal Suite on the 25th floor positively screams luxury with its marble and gold staircase, leopard print tufted carpets and private cinema. The master bedroom has a rotating four-poster canopy bed. And if you really want to splash out, you can hire a helicopter – at extra cost.

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Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas: $40,000 a night (£19,842)
Located on the 34th floor in the Fantasy tower, the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa has everything you need for entertaining guests: Playboy artwork selected by Hugh himself, an outdoor cantilevered Jacuzzi — with Playboy bunny head logo — living room, media room and dining room and bar, and an eight foot round, rotating bed.

The Royal Penthouse Suite at the President Wilson Hotel, Geneva: €39,000 a night (£26,388)
Arrive in style at the most expensive room in the world — via your private elevator — and if you fancy a little company, the living room alone can accommodate an entourage of 40. Bulletproof windows provide panoramic views of Lake Geneva. Breakfast not included in the price.

The view from the Presidential Suite, Martinez hotel in Cannes, France: €10,000 to €32,000 a night (£6,765 to £21,648)
This is Europe's Tinseltown, so you would expect a bit of drama and extravagance in a suite that has to cater to movie moguls and divas. Includes two sitting rooms, two dining rooms, four bedrooms, hammam and sauna. But the icing on the art deco cake is the terrace area overlooking the Bay of Cannes. Breakfast not included.

The Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo: $2,000,000 JPY a night (£8,576)
At 1, 292 sq ft, the Carlton suite has many of the usual big-room boasts. But the clincher is that it tops the tallest building in Tokyo and gives views of Mount Fuji.

Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi: $12,251 a night (£6,112)
Described on their website as your "private palace within the Palace", think acres of gold leaf and marble and Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and you'll get the picture. Now take a mental leap to imagine what the Princes suites, reserved for sheikhs, might feature.

CELEBRITIES PRIVATE ISLANDS

2009-04-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

At the height of his fame in the late 1960’s, it’s hard to imagine anyone needing a private island quite as much as the late John Lennon. Beset upon by screaming fans on both sides of the Atlantic and rapidly becoming an influential political activist, the superstar Beatle must have been relieved to spot the [...]
John Lennon’s Irish “Beatle Island”

Johnny Depp’s Private Island - Little Halls Pond Cay, Bahamas

After falling in love with the laid-back Bahamas lifestyle while filming “Pirates of the Caribbean”, Johnny Depp began a search for his own tropical island to get stranded on. And in 2004 he found it in the beautiful Exumas, buying Little Hall’s Pond Cay for US $3.6M as a retreat to enjoy with his songbird [...]
Johnny Depp’s Private Island - Little Halls Pond Cay, Bahamas

Marlon Brando- Tetiaroa Atoll, French Polynesia

In his twilight years, it was said that all Marlon Brando had to do was close his eyes, and he was instantly transported to the still waters and swaying palms of Tetiaroa, his South Pacific haven. Not simply an island, but an entire atoll, his personal paradise was more than 580 hectares spread over 13 [...]
Marlon Brando- Tetiaroa Atoll, French Polynesia

Mel Gibson - Mago Island, Fiji

The idyllic tropical islands of Fiji have long been a favoured vacation spot for residents of Down Under, and Australia native Mel Gibson no doubt agrees. Joining other Fijian island owners like the billionaire founder of Red Bull Energy Drinks, the actor purchased Mago Island in 2005 for a reported US $9M. A member of [...]
Mel Gibson - Mago Island, Fiji

David Copperfield - Musha Cay, Bahamas

With famous neighbours like Johnny Depp and Nicholas Cage, it seems that the cays of the Bahamas have an unusually strong attraction for celebs…maybe it’s something in the water? At least according to David Copperfield, magician and former spouse of supermodel Claudia Schiffer, the mythical Fountain of Youth is right in his own backyard on [...]
David Copperfield - Musha Cay, Bahamas

Leonardo DiCaprio - Blackadore Cay, Belize

Leonardo DiCaprio’s image has undergone a serious overhaul in the past few years, as he’s turned from a pretty-boy “Titanic” heartthrob to an occasionally-bearded environmental activist ala Al Gore. Now the host of several eco-focussed television programs, maybe he was inspired to save the planet after purchasing his own Belizean isle, the dashingly named Blackadore [...]
Leonardo DiCaprio - Blackadore Cay, Belize

Eddie Murphy - Rooster Cay, Bahamas

The famous funnyman Eddie Murphy is known to be one of the highest paid actors in showbiz, so of course he’s found among the many famous private island owners. A little isle found just a 5-minute jaunt from Nassau, the actor bought the 15+ acre Rooster Cay in 2007 for a reported US $15M. Murphy [...]
Eddie Murphy - Rooster Cay, Bahamas

Celine Dion - Île Gagnon, Quebec

After all of the uber-expensive tropical islands that celebs seem to favor, the little island owned by chanteuse Celine Dion in her home province of Quebec is refreshingly unpretentious. Not that Celine couldn’t afford to splash out on her own multi-million dollar Bahamas pad, since the native Canadian’s Las Vegas shows have made her one [...]
Celine Dion - Île Gagnon, Quebec

THE MOST EXPENSIVE CASTLES IN THE WORLD

2009-03-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

Luxury Real Estate - Castles

By any one’s definition, owning your own castle must be considered the ultimate in luxury real estate. A few attempts have been made to build castles over the last few years, but the prohibitive costs are such that one tends to see over-sized villas or high-rises instead. So, this article deals with what I consider to be genuine castles. Most of them are extremely old and the running costs are such that they could only appeal to a genuinely wealthy individual. By genuinely wealthy, I mean bottomless pockets or you already own a country. (Or an oil company). Most of these are for sale, or available to rent, although some are just fascinating.

Eilean Donan, Scotland

This first one is Eilean Donan castle in Scotland, situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some pretty dramatic scenery, particularly in winter.
Available to rent on a by-the-day basis, although the owners suggest hiring it during the winter if you want to avoid crowds of tourists. Originally built in the 13th century, the castle has been demolished and rebuilt several times over the years and the current incarnation has starred in many films, including Highlander and James Bond - The World is not Enough.

Dracula’s Castle, Romania

The next castle is often referred to as Dracula’s castle, although the real name is Bran castle.
Perched on a cliff near Brasov in central Romania, it is a major tourist attraction, largely because of its ties to Prince Vlad the Impaler, the warlord who inspired Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, “Dracula.” Legend has it that Vlad spent one night at the castle in the 1400s . The castle was returned to it’s “rightful” owners, the Habsburg family after the fall of communism. Arch Duke Dominic Habsburg immediately offered the castle back to the Romanian government for $80 million but the offer was rejected. It then went on the open market, and I understand it is still available. Baytree Capital, the firm representing the family are of the opinion that the castle will eventually sell for $135 million, although I feel this is a little ambitious - especially with Romanian lawyers still fighting over the the decision to return it to the family in the first place. Time will tell.

Castello di Mazzè, Turin, Italy

This beautiful castle in Turin is available for hire to cater wedding parties at around 2,500-5,500 Euros a day and for sale at around 15 million Euros. (Negotiable). Notable visitors in the past include: King Vittorio Emanuele II di Savoia, Count of Cavour, Zar Nicola II, Count Brunetta d’Usseaux, Francesco De Sanctis and Benito Mussolini. Originally constructed in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 15th, the founder of the Italian Olympic movement, Count Eugenio Brunetta d’Usseax also lived here.

Castello di Casole, Italy

This is another castle in Italy. Lovingly restored along with 30 farmhouses on the largest privately-owned piece of land in Italy. For sale as fractional ownerships, although I believe some of the farmhouses are available as complete sales.

Bled Castle, Slovenia

Perched atop a cliff seems to be a popular position, and this next castle dates back to 1004, making it one of the oldest in Slovenia. The oldest part of the castle is the Romanesque tower, although additions have been made over the years. During the Middle Ages more towers were built and other buildings were added during the Baroque period. The chapel in the upper courtyard was built in the 16th century, and renovated around 1700, when it was painted with illusionist frescoes. This one is not currently for sale or rent, but is a popular tourist destination.

Biniés Castle, Huesca, Spain

This next one is interesting because currently being used as a residence and the owners have spent some considerable time and effort renovating. Originally constructed in the 11th century, Biniés Castle is perched above the village with spectacular views of the valley. For Sale by owner, price on application, although, I think they could do with a new camera.

Walton Castle, Somerset, England

This castle was originally built for Lord Poulett, a Somerset member of Parliament, back in the days when only the landed gentry were allowed to run for office, although, as I think about it, things haven’t really changed in that regard - Now you need to have been to the right university and have friends with money behind you.

Nakatso-Jo Castle, Nakatsu, Oita Prefecture, Japan

Current Owner Masayuki Okudaira, placed the castle up for sale recently for the sum of $3 million. This seems like a bargain, but the horrendous cost of maintaining the building means that is not necessarily the case. The city of Nakatsu is deciding whether or not to buy the local tourist attraction, where visitors can also view heirlooms from local governing families of past eras exhibited inside. Originally constructed around 1587, the current five-tiered castle was rebuilt in 1964 after being destroyed by fire in the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion.

Villa Castiglione, Capri, Italy

Now this is the sort of price I would expect to have to pay for genuine luxury real estate. The Villa Castiglione in Capri is for sale at $38 million. Now we’re talking - eight double bedrooms, five bathrooms with fittings of the finest Italian marble and gold taps, several rooms for entertaining and a rich history including a brief spell as a British naval base during the Napoleonic wars. And unlike its Scottish brethren, you won’t need a small forest of wood to keep the building heated during the winter.

Mock Castles

Not all castles are fortified, and during the Gothic Revival in architecture, many “castles” were built. These castles had no defensive capabilities, but used elements of earlier castles, such as castellation and towers for purely decorative purposes. These features were personified in the Scottish Baronial style and many of them were country houses. These “mock castles” were particularly common in the UK and Ireland, Belfast Castle and Castle Oliver being two such examples. Famous revival castles in other countries include Neuschwanstein in Germany, Miramare in Italy, and Castillo de Chapultepec in Mexico. The castle in the photograph below is Neuschwanstein in Germany and this photo was voted one of wikipedia’s finest images. Click on the image to see a large version. Beautiful subject and photography.

12 OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE FOODS AND DRINKS

2009-03-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

12 of the Most Expensive Foods and Drinks
Check out these shockingly pricey food items from around the globe

With all the talk about rising food costs, many of us find ourselves in the grocery aisles complaining about paying $4.50 for a gallon of milk. Well, you haven’t seen anything yet! We've compiled a list of ridiculously expensive foods and drinks—including a $250 chocolate truffle and a $700 bottle of wine—that will only have you saying “Bon appétit” if you can afford it.

1. Classic Grey Sevruga Caviar
This Russian caviar comes from the Caspian Sea and a mere 14-ounce jar will run you $2,520.

2. La Madeline au Truffe
Knipschildt Chocolatier packages this decadent sweet in its very own box, nestled on a bed of sugar pearls. Just one of these chocolate truffles costs $250.

3. Moose Milk Cheese
Called "The World's Most Expensive Cheese" for good reason, this cheese costs $500 per pound and comes from small, private moose cow farms in rural Sweden.

4. Red Iranian Saffron
This type of saffron is of a quality called Sargol grade, which means "top of the flower,” and costs $750 for 100 grams.

5. Kobe Wagyu Beef
Wagyu beef is known around the globe for its juicy tenderness and superb flavor, which may explain why it’s $285.95 for just four steaks.

6. Fresh Black Winter Truffles
These Italian truffles are among the most expensive in the world—a quarter pound will subtract $400 from your bank account!

7. Kopi Luwak Coffee
Made from coffee berries that have been—we are not lying—eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of a civet, a cat-sized mammal found in Southeast Asia and Southern China, a pound costs $229.95.

8. Dom Perignon 1988 Vintage Champagne
This well-known Champagne maker is synonymous with expensive costs, but this particular vintage, at $700 a bottle, is still pretty outrageous.

9. Goose Foie Gras
Goose liver foie gras is known for its softer, creamier taste than its duck liver counterpart. However, at $115 for 10 ounces, it's certainly not soft on your wallet.

10. Golden Opulence Sundae
New York City eatery Serendipity 3 holds the Guinness World Record for "Most Expensive Sundae." This $1,000 dessert includes a 23-karat edible gold leaf, rare chocolates and ice cream, served in a crystal goblet with an 18-karat gold spoon.

11. Tieguanyin Tea
This premium variety of Chinese oolong tea is closely related to green tea, and one kilo of it can cost as much as $3,000.

12. Martini on the Rock
At Manhattan’s Algonquin Hotel, you can sit in the lap of luxury at the Blue Bar and for $10,000 you can purchase the hotel's famous martini, which includes the diamond of your choice as decoration in the bottom of your glass.

MOST EXPENSIVE PRIVATE ISLANDS

2009-03-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

Isla de sa Ferradura, Spain

The Isla de sa Ferradura sits in the Bay of San Miguel just off the north coast of Ibiza, Spain. This 14 acre resort island is fully developed with a hacienda, kitchen, pool, bar and even a wine bodega. With 300 days per year of sunshine, and a view of the bright blue Mediterrannean Sea, this truly is living large. Most people will never be able to experience even a vacation here. The island rents out for about US$230,000 per week. Price : US$39,700,000.

Cabbage Cay, Bahamas

Cabbage Cay is a private, 35 acre, fee-simple island, located in the World Famous Bonefish flats, within the inner bay of North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. A road has been pushed to the island, so whatever you decide to build on it, your access will be guaranteed for years to come. The island carries up to 24′ elevations. Three sandy beaches, lush vegetation, a protected anchorage area, and abundant exotic wildlife are some of the more amazing amenities. Turtles, fishes and birds abound. Did we mention the sailing is nice in the Bahamas? Price : US$2,500,000.

Cerralvo Island, Mexico

Cerralvo Island is 60 square miles of undeveloped terrain. The island is mountainous as it was a former volcano. It is located in the Cerralvo Channel, in the Sea of Cortez, off the coast of Baja Mexico. These waters are prime for big game fishing. This massive private island could contain several enormous mansions and you still would never see your neighbors. This sandy beach island gets plenty of warm Mexican weather and sunshine, and offers plenty of privacy, yet is only about 30 miles away from the mainland. Price : US$35,000,000

Singer Castle on Dark Island, Canada

The island sits in the St.Lawrence river between Ontario, Canada and New York, USA. Dark Island isn’t known for its tropical jungle or white sand beaches. The real gem is the 100 years old castle on the island. It was originally built in 1905 as a hunting lodge family retreat by Fredrick Bourne, the president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. With towers and secret passages abounding you could literally be your own King of the Castle. The island would be a great getaway from the hustle and bustle, and is still only a short helicopter ride away from New York or Toronto. But it is currently only available for rent. Price available upon request.

Necker Island, British Virgin Island

Virgin Record’s super mogul Richard Branson took private islands to a whole new level in the late 1970’s by purchasing Necker Island. Branson built an unparalleled resort, that now rents for approximately US$329,000 per week. The island is int the Caribbean and surrounded by a coral reef with extremely diverse sea life. The island hosts pristine beaches and vibrant plant life. Rock stars party here, Hollywood notables and Google founders get married here, and the closest you’ll ever come is on a Caribbean cruise line. The 360 degree open bedroom provide one of the best views of the sunset you’ll ever likely to see. Price : US$47,000 per day.

Musha Cay, Bahamas

Musha Cay is actually 4 private islands owned by renowned magician David Copperfield. The islands are located 85 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas, and has its own runaway for top secret celeb landings. This private island resort has 5 houses. The resort offers activities such as snorkling, diving, windsurfing, a gym, and walking paths, but you could always choose to sunbathe on one of Musha’s seven gorgeous private beaches. Also, Copperfield reportedly has found the “Fountain of Youth” on the island. Price : US$32,250 per day for 12 or fewer people.

Tetiaroa, French Polynesia

Tetiaroa is located 40 miles north of Tahiti, and is actually an atoll comprised of 12 small islands. The island was made famous by the late Marlon Brando. The island currently has only one full time resident : Teihotu, Brando’s son. The island is mostly undisturbed and boasts a tropical bird sanctuary, but there are currently no accommodations on the island for visitor until the new hotel, aptly named “The Brando” is completed sometime this year. Price : N/A.

Ciftlik Island, Turkey

Just 250 meters from off the coast line of Turkey in the Agean Sea sits a gorgeous castle-style house, along with a guest house, and servants quarters. One of the few developed island in the region with water, electricity and telephone. Although this island isn’t much for beaches, the sunny, warm weather, the proximity to mainland Turkey and Rhodes, and the finished house put this island right up there with the best in the world. Price : Approx. US$25,000,000.

Piedade Island, Brazil

Piedade is only 2.5 hours from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is one of 365 islands in the Angra dos Reis archipelago. The island is fully developed with a resort, full time staff, and four beaches to choose from. What makes Piedade Island unique is the location. This island is one of the rare private tropical islands outside of the Caribbean, and is a perfect addition to trip to Brazil. Available upon request for rent.

Nygard Cay, Bahamas

Think Robinson Caruso. This Mayan architecture tree house island is an affluent traveler’s perfect getaway. The Cay lies on the tip of Lyford Cay in Nassau, Bahamas. With waterslides, pools, hot tubs, tennis courts and an 85 foot yacht, this is an adult playground in the rain forest. This is the only way to vacation in the Bahamas. Price : US$42,000 per day.

5 MOST EXPENSIVE PENS OF THE WORLD

2009-03-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

Kings and royals were famous for using feathers and inks to write their official letters. When there were no papers people use to write on leaves and primitive people had used great deals of rock writing that is still found by archaeologists in caves in different parts of the world. Writing has been important since man became part of evolution and started expressing his thoughts. Invention of Pen gave a sudden thrust and force to writing and now we wonder if they will become extinct after the invention of computers and keyboards and other storage media.

History of pen goes back to 4000 BC while people were using straws and other liquids to write. Lets have a look at 5 most expensive pens in the world.

TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE CARS IN THE WORLD

2009-03-27T15:57:00.001-07:00

JUST LOOK AT THIS...

WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE BRAS

2009-03-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

You may have heard recently that Victoria’s Secret has recently been displaying the world’s most expensive bra. It’s not true. In fact, there are several bras that we know of that were more expensive than that one, all products of Victoria’s Secret.

Red Hot Fantasy Bra and Panties
$15 million

Very Sexy Fantasy Bra
$11 million

Star of Victoria Fantasy Bra
$10 million

Heavenly 70s Fantasy Bra
$10 million

Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra
$5 million

MOST EXPENSIVE BIKINI

2009-03-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

Molly Sims didn’t leave much to the imagination when she wore this diamond-studded swimwear for Sports Illustrated’s infamous Swimsuit Edition in 2006. Of course, what the bikini doesn’t actually cover is obscured by misdirection as the swimsuit, the most expensive bikini in the world, is as eye-catching as the woman modeling it.

Designed by Susan Rosen with Steinmetz Diamonds, the bikini is made up of 150 carats of flawless diamonds—including a pair of fifteen carat, round-cut diamonds; a thirty carat, emerald-cut diamond and a pear-shaped, fifty-one carat diamond. Rather than using cloth to make the expensive swimsuit, Ms. Rosen opted to make it out of platinum.

MOST EXPENSIVE GOLD

2009-03-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

If you think all gold is the same, think again. Scotgold, an Australian mining company, has recently purchased the Cononish mine in Tyndrum, a small village in Scotland, which produces the most expensive gold in the world—Scottish gold.

A ring made of Scottish gold
from the Scottish Gold Collection.
Scottish gold is heavily valued for its yellow color, rarity and the back-breaking sluicing process used to gather it. The expensive gold’s price can be more than five times that of normal gold. The Cononish mine was approved in 1996 for the mining of 25,000 ounces of gold per year. Unfortunately, a steady decrease in the price of gold shelved the project for the ten years before Scotgold bought the mine.

MOST EXPENSIVE TEDDY BEAR

2009-03-27T08:46:00.001-07:00

The German teddy bear company, Steiff is responsible for the production many expensive collectible bears and also the most expensive teddy bear ever made. The Steiff company claims to have made the world’s first teddy bear and is has made this golden bear to commemorate its 125th anniversary.

The expensive bear has a mouth made of solid gold and fur made from gold thread. Topping off the teddy bear are jeweled eyes featuring sapphire pupils with diamond irises.

10 MOST EXPENSIVES CITIES TO OWN A HOME

2009-03-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

Provided you have the spare cash-flow and fancy a spot of sea change, then you might like to invest into a second home somewhere more exciting and away from home. But with investment usually comes cost and lifestyle change and we wonder, if it is really worth it?

Only those who have taken the plunge know this with certainty, for all others you can dream on by looking at the world’s most expensive cities to own a home. Compiled by the guys from Global Property Guide.

1.MONTE CARLO

2. MOSCOW

3.LONDON

4.TOKYO

5.HONG KONG

6.NEW YORK

7.PARIS

8.SINGAPORE

9.ROME

10.MUMBAI

WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE WHISKIES

2009-03-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

Most Expensive Whisky Ever

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.

The Macallan Fine and Rare Collection, 1926, 60 Years Old

Price: $38,000

THE WORLD'S LARGEST FOUNTAIN IN DUBAI

2009-01-21T03:42:00.000-08:00

Dubai’s prominent developer, Emaar Properties said on Monday it plans to build one of the largest fountains in the world as the centrepiece of its Downtown Burj Dubai project. Arabian Business reveals what the real estate giant has in store.

The fountains, which has yet to be named, will be capable of shooting water over 150 metres into the air, the height of a 50 storey building, and stretch over 275 metres, the length of two football fields.

The $218 million project will be 25 percent larger than the iconic fountains at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

Like the Fountains of Bellagio, Emaar’s fountains will include an integral light and sound show and is expected to become one of Dubai’s major tourist attractions, drawing over 10 million visitors per year.

The fountains will shoot 22,000 gallons of water in the air at any given moment and feature over 6,600 lights and 50 colour projectors.

The fountains have yet to be named and a cash prize of $27,225 has been assigned to the winner of a competition to name the water feature.

The structure is scheduled to be operation by 2009.