WORLD
Single malt breaks world auction record as market matures
Baku, January 21 (AZERTAC). A rare bottle of Macallan whisky has set a world record for the most expensive single malt whisky sold at an auction over the weekend.
The six-liter bottle of the highly sought after Macallan 'M' in a crystal decanter fetched $628,205 at Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong, above the expected range of $258,000 to $516,000.
The previous record was achieved at a Sotheby's auction in New York in 2010, when a bottle of 64-year-old Macallan whisky was sold at $460,000.
As the Asian market matures, high-end whisky is increasingly being viewed as a viable alternative investment to fine wine.
When investing in whisky, the main drivers of price are quality and rarity, he said, similar to wine. In the case of the Macallan M, it was a combination of the quality and rarity of the whisky as well as the decanter designed by French crystal maker Lalique, Sleigh said.