The 10 Most Expensive Whiskies in the World

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

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

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

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

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.