How much would you usually pay for a cocktail? If you thought that 40.00 was a bit steep then you’re about to be amazed. The current world record for most expensive cocktail stands at $50,000. It was created in Moscow to commemorate the opening of the Reka Moscow restaurant and was only served once (so any wishful purchasers can put their wallets away). Its’ ingredients are unclear, but it was reported to include three 1.5 carat diamonds.
So what makes a cocktail expensive? Well for one, these concoctions don’t necessarily just contain you’re average Grey Goose Vodka; the spirits used can date back over a hundred years and some have been known to include gem stones in the bottom of the glass. On another note they are served in some of the most prestigious and well known venues which already have a hefty price tag attached to enter. The cocktails can also take time to make; some of them up to two days to prepare, which just shows that these aren’t spur of the moment purchases they are a planned experience to be remembered.
Name: 27.321
Price: 4500
Where: Skyview Bar, Burj Al Arab Tower, Dubai
This cocktail is served with a view of Dubai; and you could say you’re paying more for the view and the prestige than for the drink itself. The cocktail is served in an 18 karat golden cup and consists of 55 year old Macallan and passion fruit sugar. Don’t forget, this cocktail is served in Dubai where diamond encrusted credit cards, fleets of super cars and seven star hotels are the norm.
Whisky connoisseurs woul statethat the sugarruinssuch aged whisky, however as the cocktail is served on the 27th floor, perhaps the owners were hoping the heights would go to customers heads, which it possibly did as this cocktail sold out! But don’t worry, you can still buy the Macallan whisky here, just without the extras.
Name: Salvatores Legacy
Price: 5,500 per glass
Where: Salvatore at Playboy London
Created by Salvatore Calabrese, a renowned mixologist whose personal collection of Cognac is worth over 1 million dollars and date back to 1770. This cocktail contains the worlds oldest ingredients; containing 1778 Clos de Griffier Vieux Cognac, 1770 kmmel liqueur, circa-1860 Dubb Orange Curaçao and two dashes of Angostura Bitters from the early 1900s. People travel all over the world to sample these cognacs, and even if this particular cocktail is not for you, if you’re a keen cognac drinker this bar is definitely worth a visit.
Name: The Winston
Price: 8583 per glass
Where: Club 23, Melbourne, Australia
This drink is made with 60ml of Croizet’s 1858 ‘Cuvee Leonie’ cognac (which currently holds the Guiness World Record for most expensive Cognac sold at auction), mixed with Grand Marnier, Chartreuse, and bitters. It takes two days to prepare and once broke the world record for Most Expensive Drink. However, now it has fallen behind in the world of mixology as bars and hotels have jumped on (or off) the bandwagon and created expensive masterpieces, some worth more than double the price.
Name: Diamond is Forever
Price: 13,199 per glass
Where: Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, Japan
Ignoring the name which is questionable English, a bad James Bond pun, and not a direct translation, this drink on the surface is quite simple. Despite the Bond links, (the bar plays the theme tune whenever it’s ordered) it’s not a Martini, it is a glass of vodka with a squeeze of lime (Grey Goose Vodka no less, but still not worth that price tag). So what makes it so expensive? Well there’s a one carat diamond hiding in the bottom of course. Which is confusing, as last time we checked diamonds were tasteless; however a perfect compromise for a holidaying couple if one wants to visit the pub and the other wants to go to the jewellers. The Ritz Carlton in New York offers a cheaper version which includes a diamond engagement ring and requires a 72 hour consultation with owner and jewellery designer, we can’t decide if this is slightly too clich.
Name: Ruby Rose Cocktail
Price: 23, 000 per glass
Where: White Barn Inn, Maine, USA
Created to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of this establishment, it contains Hanger One Vodka, St Germain, grapefruit, pomegranate and rosewater. Sounds like it should be cheap right? It usually goes for $18, but for this occasion they’ve added a 4 carat Ruby as a garnish (you can forget your standard orange peel at this establishment) which obviously adds a substantial sum on to the price.
Name: Rekas Moscow
Price: 29 ,000 per glass
Where: Reka, Moscow, Russia
More of a PR stunt than a speciality, this cocktail requires a special mention on this list. It was only served once to celebrate the opening of the Reka restaurant in Moscow. The cocktail contained three 1.5 carat diamonds (the actual liquid contents was not reported). This is now classed as the worlds most expensive drink, although you can now no longer purchase it.
