In this case the answer to the question is an extremely rare single malt in a limited edition decanter: The Macallan 57 Lalique "Finest Cut". Containing an exceptionally rare 57 year old single malt whisky from the famed Speyside distillery founded in 1824, the Finest Cut crystal decanter is valued at $15,000 and will be available by special order beginning in October. The precious bottling comes on the heels of the recent record-breaking £11,750 ($19,000) sale of one of The Macallan's 50th anniversary bottles at an auction in Scotland that my colleague Deirdre Woollard reported on.

The Finest Cut is inspired by the fraction of the new make spirit which is filled into casks for maturation. At The Macallan, this fraction is a mere 16%; the best of the best, it's delivered at a very slow rate of distillation to maximize flavor and produce a distinctively rich, fruity, viscous character. Designed exclusively for The Macallan by the legendary French crystal house Lalique, The Finest Cut decanters are individually numbered and produced in a very limited quantity - only 72 of the 400 launched worldwide will be available in the U.S.

"In homage to the beauty of Lalique's Finest Cut decanter, we chose a particularly rare 57 years old Macallan single malt whisky," says David Cox, Director of Fine & Rare Whiskies for The Macallan. "It is the second oldest The Macallan whisky ever released, only surpassed in age by the legendary 1926, a 60 year old bottled in 1986." The 57 follows in the footsteps of its two predecessors in the Six Pillars series, a 50 year old Macallan celebrating the exceptional oak casks and a 55 year old inspired by the distillery's insistence on natural color, both coveted collector's items.



The 57 year old has been vatted together from six casks made from two different species of oak; the first, a 1950 American oak sherry butt, and the second, a vatting of Macallan from first fill Spanish oak sherry butts originally filled in 1949, 1951 and 1952. The result is a sumptuous single malt, showing off the classic dried fruits, spice and hints of peat redolent of The Macallan house style of the early 1950's. The age statement of 57 years old is determined by the youngest cask which was filled in 1952.

The decanter features the 'stilligoutte' of a perfume bottle, the long piece of pure crystal flowing down to a point from the base of the bottle stopper. A portion of the stopper has been left completely clear and not "satinee," running from the top down to the point. This clear portion represents the 16% "finest cut". Crafted at Lalique's crystal making facility in Wingen-sur-Moder, Alsace, each piece was worked on by up to 15 craftsmen.

Among Scotch drinkers The Macallan sets a gold standard, so news that the famed Scotch distillery is launching a new family of single malts is sure to be welcomed with thirst and enthusiasm. The Macallan 1824 Collection includes four distinct expressions; each one, created by the Master Whisky Makers, showcases the spectrum of flavors and aromas associated with the beloved distillery. The four expressions of the The Macallan 1824 Collection - Select Oak, Whisky Maker's Edition, Estate Reserve and 1824 Limited Release - ranging in price from $53 to $2,000, were created by John Ramsay, Master Blender Emeritus for parent company The Edrington Group, and Bob Dalgarno, The Macallan's Whisky Maker, who between them have over 50 years of experience. The most precious is The Macallan 1824 Limited Release ($2,000, available in October), bottled at 48% and drawn exclusively from sherry seasoned Spanish oak casks which have been solely grown, cared for and crafted for this bottling.

The Macallan decided to go all out, where an ordinary glass container would not be adequate to hold their special 50 year single malt.  Lalique will be hand blowing an exclusive 470 decanters made to resemble the Spanish sherry barrels in which the Scotch rested for five decades. Only 20 will be for sale in the UK, which makes me feel pretty special here in the US where we will get 100 at about $6,000 each. The whisky is presented in a leather and silk box, with a crystal stopper and a leather-bound collectors guide with The Macallan’s Easter Elchies House Stamp of approval. The burnish gold-colored malt is rich with flavors of cardamom, black cherries, and chocolate.