From whisky to rum, bourbon to brandy, occasionally truly special spirits appear in the market. Some of these bottles are limited editions, while others are simply the last drops of age-old liquid gold from silent distilleries. Holding one represents somewhat of a status symbol, however, you need to know where to look. We’re here to point you in the right direction, but remember that these will be snapped up by collectors and investors very quickly. There’s no time to waste any if you want to be the proud owner of these luxury liquors.
Balvenie Tun 1401 whisky
This whisky has been limited to just 2,700 bottles, so having one in your possession would be a huge boon. In terms of drinking it, noses for this precious liquor has reported hints of cocoa powder, dark chocolate, honey butter and black tea. This is followed by a scent of cherry syrup, banana, plums and leather, all balanced to absolute perfection. Hard to Find Whisky sells this as part of its rare whisky collection, and describes it as, ‘soft peat, a touch of camphor, beeswax and rain soaked soil.’ They note that the Balvenie Tun 1401 has flavours of ‘Soft fruits, manuka honey and waxy undertone, drying oak and slight rancio notes’.
Reserva de la Familia Serrallés 20 year rum
It’s safe to say that the oldest rums are much younger than the ancient Armagnacs or whiskies, but don’t let that fool you into underestimating their quality. This particular spirit is a magical blend of 20 year old rums. Back in the mid-90s, 36 American oak barrels were filled with the spirit but only the finest six were selected and blended to create the final product. Once bottled for consumption, just 1,865 beautiful bottles were released. All in all, this is a solid, complex and vanilla-rich rum with a lasting finish.
Black Bowmore 1964 whisky
The ultimate Black Bowmore release, this 50-year-old whisky is made from the famous distillery on the Isle of Islay — one of the world’s oldest. Only 159 bottles of this precious spirit have been released, and once they’re gone, they’re gone forever, which is why they will cost you up to £50,000. In terms of taste, the liquor is fruity and sweet; almost rum-like. But it’s also remarkably balanced in terms of its oakiness, even after half a century spent in wood casks. The first release from the No.1 Vault in Bowmore was in 1961, but all these bottles are already gone. This whisky from 1964 is the second release. Don’t let it pass you by.
Dartigalongue 1937 Bas Armagnac brandy
This brandy’s bottle is so stunning it could be considered a piece of art, with its handsome shape expanding from a round bottom. The liquor itself, created at the oldest distillery in Bas Armagnac, was aged in 100-gallon Armagnac vats made from oak trees from the nearby French forests, giving the spirit a distinctive taste and character. Much of this special brandy is now lost, so to own one now would be a rare and delightful treasure indeed.
The Macallan – 78 Year Old whisky
This is the oldest bottling of The Macallan, one of the most anticipated whisky releases of all time. The vast attention this bottle attracted from collectors led to fierce bidding wars in auctions when initially released in October 2020. The winning bid was a massive £92,500. The 78 year old liquor is said to have fragrances of a ‘fresh fruit medley of apple, peach and grape’, in addition to ‘antique oak and soft leather’. Upon tasking, drinkers will discover flavours of oak spice, ginger and nutmeg which clear through to dried fruits such as prune, raisin, date and a touch of almond nut.
Jam Jar Gin Morus LXIV, Gin
Now, whiskies have been hogging this list (they tend to be more abundant and expensive), but they shan’t have all the fun: we’re finishing with gin. Gordons? No. What about Bombay Sapphire? Definitely not. It’s Jam Jar Morus LXIV. When it comes to luxury gin, Britain leads the way, and this particular liquor is the pinnacle. Morus is a tangible piece of modern British luxury, distilled from the leaves of a single 100-year old mulberry tree. The gin-obsessed will be awestruck by the exquisite flavour profile, moving from smoky sweetness through to a strong juniper and citrus zest. This elusive gin brand is made in very small batches, and is therefore elusive and rare, an absolute gem for aspiring gin collectors.
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