LIFESTYLE
A Bottle Of Irish Whiskey Just Became The Most Expensive Ever Sold, Ousting The Macallan 1926
The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.
A 30-year-old Irish single malt whiskey has become the most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold at $2.8 million, surpassing the record set last year by a bottle of The Macallan 1926.
The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. said it sold a bottle of The Emerald Isle, already the rarest triple-distilled single malt in existence, to American collector Mike Daley, for $2.8 million.
Irish is the future of whiskey. I’m excited to be part of it, as a collector, but most importantly as a drinker, Daley said in a statement.
Typically, Scotch whiskies have been most coveted by collectors. The Macallan 1926 sold for $2.7 million in November 2023, briefly becoming the most expensive bottle ever sold.
The Emerald Isle bottle purchased by Daley, a prolific collector with thousands of Irish, American, and Scotch whiskeys/whiskies, is one of just seven sets in existence. The Emerald Isle spends 30 years maturing in a variety of casks, before it’s packaged in a walnut case alongside a single decanter, a custom timepiece, a pair of Cohiba cigars and a bespoke Fabergé egg containing a real emerald gem.
The rebirth of Irish whiskey is relatively new, so I feel like I’m getting in on the ground floor, Daley said. Luxury scotch, to me, is already a crowded type of market. But we’re only just starting to see luxury Irish make a name for itself. I guarantee you that in the years to come, it will get to where scotch is today.
The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. says Daley’s prediction is supported by data from the Distilled Spirits Council, showing an increase in the value of super premium Irish whiskeys. Daley also has a history of making accurate predictions, having made his fortune investing in hyaluronic acid long before it became a trendy skincare ingredient.
A bottle of The Emerald Isle becoming the most expensive whiskey or whisky ever sold is a monumental achievement for my business, and an incredibly proud moment for me, said founder and CEO Jay Bradley.
I started The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. with the goal of making Irish whiskey the most coveted luxury spirit and restoring Ireland’s reputation for crafting the finest whiskeys in the world, this brings us several steps closer to achieving that, and we’re only six years into the journey, Bradley said. There’s a lot more to come from us, and I’m excited for our customers and competitors to see what we have in store.
TMX contributed to this article.
