Everyone loves a drink, but when it comes to alcohol, there are some that cost more than others. In fact, the most expensive alcohol ever produced is something called Midleton Very Rare. This whiskey was released in limited quantities in 2010 and sold for $5,000 per bottle. Here’s why this alcohol costs so much and what you can do if you love it but not that much… It’s hard to imagine anyone spending such an exorbitant amount on a single bottle of booze – but that’s exactly what some people did back in 2010 when the world first got wind of The Midleton Very Rare. What many refer to as the most expensive alcohol of all time came about because an independent bottling company called ‘The Whiskey Trust’ commissioned Midleton, Ireland’s oldest distillery, to create a special cask strength whiskey using its reserve stock of rare old bourbon casks — which they named Midleton Very Rare.
What is Midleton Very Rare?
Released in 2010, Midleton Very Rare is a 46% ABV whiskey made with Irish single pot still Irish whiskey and aged in bourbon casks. Basically, this means it’s an Irish whiskey that’s been aged in bourbon casks. The bourbon casks used in the making of this whiskey have been aging for more than 60 years – and the company that owns Midleton commissioned them to be emptied so that this specialty whiskey could be filled so that it could be aged for another 10 years!
The Most Expensive Alcohol of All Time: Why Does it Cost So Much?
The most expensive alcohol in the world is not only rare, it’s also made with rare and very old ingredients. The Midleton Very Rare whiskey is the result of a special commission between the independent bottling company, The Whiskey Trust, and Midleton’s distillery. The plan was to use Midleton’s reserve stock of old bourbon barrels – barrels that were originally filled with premium bourbon up to 60 years ago – and aging them for an additional 10 years to produce a specialty cask strength whiskey with a flavor that can’t be found in other whiskeys. As these barrels have been aging for multiple decades, their contents are some of the most mature and rare whiskeys in the world. And since these barrels were once used to age bourbon, this whiskey’s strong and delicious bourbon flavor comes as no surprise.
How Much Does Midleton Very Rare Cost?
The Midleton Very Rare whiskey was first released in 2010 and only 500 bottles were made. When the bottles went on sale, they were priced at $5,000 each. If you had the cash, you could have bought a bottle of this super rare whiskey and taken it home to keep – or parted with it at a later date. The Midleton Very Rare whiskey was limited to just 500 bottles and these were all sold during the original release. But, lucky for you, the company behind this rare whiskey decided to produce an additional 3,000 bottles in 2018. This means you can now buy it for a more reasonable price. Midleton Very Rare has been released in select countries around the world and the product’s website shows which countries can buy it and for how much. At the time of writing, the price in the US was $3,600 per bottle, while the Canadian price was $3,300.
Should You Buy It?
If you love whiskey, and especially if you love old bourbon, then you’ll definitely love this alcohol. But, to answer the question, “should you buy it?”, the answer is probably no. You see, while Midleton Very Rare whiskey may be the most expensive alcohol of all time, it’s also one of the most expensive drinks in general. And while it’s true that the price of this whiskey may vary from country to country, it’s safe to say that the cost of a single bottle will still be more than the average person spends on alcohol in a year! That said, if you have the cash and you want to experience what many people say is the best whiskey of all time, then go right ahead and treat yourself. Just be sure you’re prepared for the high price. Midleton Very Rare is the most expensive alcohol of all time, after all, so you should expect it to cost more than other whiskey.
The Bottom Line
The Midleton Very Rare whiskey is the most expensive alcohol of all time, with bottles costing more than $5,000 at the time of its release. It’s made with rare and old bourbon casks, which is why it’s so expensive. If you have the money and want to experience this exquisite alcohol, then go ahead and buy a bottle – just be prepared for its high cost.