The 8 Greatest Extremely-Luxurious Spirits to Purchase Now, From Hennessy to Louis XIII
Courtesy of Hennessy/Louis XII Cognac/Rabbit Hole
When the liquid inside is this special, it deserves an equally outstanding vessel to carry it. That’s what some of the biggest names in luxury spirits believe and it’s why they’ve packaged their ultra-aged and extremely limited releases in beautiful glassware and packaging. Brands like Hennessy, Louis XIII, and the Macallan have worked with glassmakers and artists to design beautiful decanters and cases to show off these exceptional Cognacs and whiskies. Here are eight of the best you can buy right now.
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Richard Hennessy Cognac
Image Credit: Courtesy of Hennessy The Baccarat crystal decanter and accompanying glasses, fusil, and tray were all created by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind—a striking design that comes housed in a similarly shaped dark case. The liquid within is some of the rarest eaux-de-vie to come from the Hennessy cellars, a blend of just 12 French-oak barrels that were kept in the Cognac house’s Founder’s Cellar for decades before being blended together. This is hands down one of the finest Hennessy expressions and presentations you can find.
Buy Now: $7,954
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Louis XIII Cognac
Image Credit: Courtesy of Louis XIII Cognac Louis XIII is a classic Cognac for a reason, and its instantly recognizable bottle has reached iconic status in the spirits world. The decanter is only the start, however, because the Cognac within, made from grapes grown in the Grande Champagne region, represents the pinnacle of the craft. Aged in French Limousin oak, this Cognac offers notes of spice, raisin, and cherry. And the decanter comes in a red case with a mirrored backdrop that shows off the ornamental glass from all angles to great effect at home.
Buy Now: $4,000
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Glenfiddich Grand Yozakura
Grand Yozakura was one of the most extraordinary whisky releases of the past year: Glenfiddich took a 29-year-old single malt and gave it a secondary maturation in Japanese awamori. The case swivels open to reveal a backdrop of pink cherry blossoms, linking Scotland and Japan for a whisky unlike anything you’ve likely tried before.
Buy Now: $1,894
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Rabbit Hole Tenniel
Image Credit: Courtesy of Rabbit Hole When it comes to giftable bourbon, this 10-year-anniversary release from Louisville distillery Rabbit Hole is one to consider. A blend of four-grain triple-malt bourbon and high-rye bourbon, it’s finished in a toasted-oak barrel and bottled at cask strength.The whiskey is full of caramel, chocolate, and toasted-almond notes, with a pleasant burn on the back end. And the bottle comes in a fetching case.
Buy Now: $650
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The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Sherry Edition
Image Credit: The Dalmore The partnership between the Dalmore and the sherry bodegas of Jerez, Spain, is crucial to the character of the whisky that emerges from this Scottish distillery. That’s because a great deal of it is matured in sherry casks, and this new limited-edition collection highlights the alliance with three single malts aged for 26, 28, and 43 years, each finished in a different type of sherry butt. The Dalmore has produced just 150 sets, contained in bespoke Italian-leather carrying cases for safekeeping.
Buy Now: $45,000
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Papa’s Pilar Ernest
The crystal decanter from the small Key West, Fla., rum distillery Papa’s Pilar sits in a display box with a photo of Ernest Hemingway, a tribute to the namesake of this blend of three rums aged up to 23 years and finished in Cognac and Armagnac casks. That final step has imbued Ernest with wonderful flavors, including vanilla, oak, cinnamon, and spice.
Buy Now: $2,110
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The Macallan 72 Years Old in Lalique
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Macallan There are many ultra-aged Macallan single malts to choose from, but one of the rarest is this 72-year-old. The liquid is exceptional, retaining its sherry-cask character with just a hint of peat smoke after nearly three-quarters of a century in oak. The Genesis Decanter that houses it is also a work of art, inspired by the stunning design of the distillery itself. Only 600 are available globally, so count yourself lucky if you manage to get your hands on this piece of Scotch-whisky history.
Buy Now: $129,136
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Glemorangie Azuma Makoto X 18 Years Old
Image Credit: Courtesy of Glemorangie The 18-year-old single malt from Glenmorangie is a testament to the quality of whisky that this Scottish distillery is capable of producing. It was aged in bourbon barrels for 15 years, and then a portion of the whisky was transferred to sherry casks for a final three years before rejoining the remainder. For this special release, Japanese artist Azuma Makoto created a floral-themed label and box that are as exceptional as the spirit they spotlight.
Buy Now: $182
Source: Robb Report
