The list of the world’s most expensive whiskies is predictably dominated by three locales: the United States, Scotland, and Japan. For these top three global producers, whiskey is a culture and an art, more than just a spirit.

Starting at a cool $47,136, the rarest and finest whiskies across the world are collectors’ items that you’d be hard-pressed to find on the average bar cart. Read to find the top 25 most expensive whiskies from near and far.

25. The Macallan Fine & Rare Vintage Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $47,136
  • ABV: 50.2 percent
  • Tasting notes: Vanilla, lemon citrus, coconut

24. The Dalmore 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $49,650
  • ABV: 52 percent
  • Tasting notes: Citrus, honey

23. Gordon & MacPhail Generations Mortlach 75 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside, Scotland

  • Average price: $50,626
  • ABV: 44.4 percent
  • Tasting notes: Bitter almond, hemp ropes, creosote, smoke, sandalwood

22. Karuizawa Battle of Yashima 35 Year Old Single Cask Malt Whisky

  • Average price: $54,381
  • ABV: 56.7 percent
  • Tasting notes: Eggplant, fennel, berry lime, lemongrass, oak

21. Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA

  • Average price: $55,166
  • ABV: 50 percent
  • Tasting notes: Sugar, oak

20. Karuizawa Vintage 35 Year Old Single Cask Malt Whisky, Japan

  • Average price: $58,550
  • ABV: 56.6 percent

19. The Macallan Millenium 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $68,406
  • ABV: 46 percent
  • Tasting notes: Christmas cake-style fruit, peat, smoke

18. Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 72 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside, Scotland

  • Average price: $74,552
  • ABV: 46 percent
  • Tasting notes: Espresso, dark chocolate

17. Bowmore 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Islay, Scotland

  • Average price: $76,448
  • ABV: 40.7 percent
  • Tasting notes: Ginseng syrup, baked banana, dried tropical fruits, smoke

16. Karuizawa Vintage Aqua of Life 50 Year Old Single Cask Malt Whisky

  • Average price: $77,169
  • ABV: 57.9 percent
  • Tasting notes: Sweetness, winter spice

15. The Macallan ‘The Red Collection’ 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $81,411
  • ABV: 45.1 percent
  • Tasting notes: Dried fruits, wood spices, dates, dark chocolate, orange oil, hints of sultanas

The Macallan 'The Red Collection' 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch is one of the worlds most expensive whiskies

14. The Macallan Lalique Golden Age of Travel Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Highlands – Speyside, Scotland

  • Average price: $98,911
  • ABV: 41.1 percent
  • Tasting notes: Dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, cinnamon

13. The Macallan 52 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $105,105
  • ABV: 48 percent
  • Tasting notes: Citrus, dark chocolate, smoldering peat

12. The Macallan ‘The Red Collection’ 71 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $111,086
  • ABV: 41.6 percent
  • Tasting notes: Baked custard tart

11. The Macallan 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $115,683
  • ABV: 44 percent
  • Tasting notes: Sweet vanilla, fudge, and toffee, black peppercorns

10. The Macallan Lalique VI 65 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $121,907
  • ABV: 46.3 percent
  • Tasting notes: Cracked black pepper, cloves, toasted cocoa beans

The Macallan Lalique VI 65 Year Old: One of the world's 25 most expensive whiskey bottles

9. The Macallan ‘The Red Collection’ 78 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $134,688
  • ABV: 42.2 percent
  • Tasting notes: Nutmeg, ginger, raisin, prune, almond, baked apple

8. The Macallan Lalique 72 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $135,650
  • ABV: 42 percent
  • Tasting notes: Peat smoke, vanilla, sweet oak smoke, wood spice, citrus fruits, green apples

7. The Macallan Lalique 62 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $151,109
  • ABV: 53.1 percent
  • Tasting notes: Rich dried fruits, raisin, sweet ginger, figs, cigar leaf

6. The Macallan ‘Tales of The Macallan Volume I’ 71 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $176,230
  • ABV: 44.6 percent
  • Tasting notes: Wood spices, sweet wood smoke, antique oak, ripe fruits

5. The Macallan Lalique 57 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $177,729
  • ABV: 48.5 percent
  • Tasting notes: Dried fruits, wood spices, and soft peat

Thr world's most expensive whiskies include The Macallan Lalique 57 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

4. The Macallan Lalique 55 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $187,478
  • ABV: 40.1 percent
  • Tasting notes: Sun dried raisins, orange zest

3. The Macallan Anniversary Malt 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $190,000
  • ABV: 38.5 percent

2. The Macallan Lalique 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside – Highlands, Scotland

  • Average price: $256,936
  • ABV: 46 percent
  • Tasting notes: Dark prunes, chocolate

1. The Yamazaki 55 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, Japan

  • Average price: $927,706 (as of October 2022)
  • ABV: 46 percent
  • Tasting notes: Sweet, bitter, woody

The Yamazaki 55 Year Old Single Malt is the world's most expensive whisky. It's from Japan!