11 of the most expensive whiskies you can try in Edinburgh bars

Edinburgh's bars stock some of the rarest and most valuable whiskies in the world.

Published 30th May 2019
Updated 21 st Sep 2023

From peaty expressions, to sweet, sherry cask-aged drams and vintage malts, many of Edinburgh's bars have an extensive collection of whisky.

Here's our pick of the most expensive whiskies you can find and enjoy in Scotland's capital.

Some of the whiskies listed would set you back thousands of pounds for a full bottle, so better to try before you buy.

Read more: 10 of the best Scotch whiskies (chosen by experts)

Balvenie 40 Year Old

48.5% ABV; 25mls £195

(Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2AB)

11 of the most expensive whiskies to try in Edinburgh bars

Picture: The Balvenie

This 40-year-old malt is created by combining small amounts of Balvenie's most mature single malts. Matured in traditional oak casks and European oak sherry butts, which have lain in Balvenie's warehouses for at least 40 years, this warm, elegant dram has tasting notes of orange blossom, candied ginger and honeyed sweetness with a rich, honeyed citrus finish.

Glenmorangie Pride 1974

52.1% ABV; 25mls £350

(Scotch at The Balmoral Hotel, 1 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ)

Picture: Glenmorangie.

Glenmorangie calls this whisky "the rarest, oldest and deepest single malt every to emerge from our distillery". Aged for 41 years in the finest ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks, it's a whisky with intensely rich depths, balanced with smoothness and finesse. The priciest dram on our list, a full bottle would set you back more than £7,000.

 

The Macallan 25 Year Old

43% ABV; 25mls £95.00

(One Square Bar, Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh, 1 Festival Square, Edinburgh EH3 9SR)

9 of the most expensive whiskies you can find in Edinburgh bars

Picture: The Macallan

Forming part of The Macallan's Sherry Oak range, The Macallan 25 Year Old was matured exclusively in hand-picked sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez in Spain. This is an intense, full-flavoured whisky with citrus, dried fruits and wood smoke.

Bowmore 26 Year Old

48.7% ABV; 35mls £35

(Harvey Nichols Forth Floor Window Bar, 30-34, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AD)

9 of the most expensive whiskies you can find in Edinburgh bars

Picture: Bowmore

The second in Bowmore's Vintner's Trilogy, this 26-year-old expression has a burnt amber colour, developed through years spent in ex-bourbon barrels and wine barriques. It has notes of oak spiced smoke, dark chocolate and a hint of salt.

 

25.70: In a perfumed garden

58.3%% ABV; 25ml £35

(The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles St, Edinburgh EH6 6BZ)

9 of the most expensive whiskies you can try in Edinburgh bars

Picture: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s bottling of 25.70: In a perfumed garden has a fresh, vibrant character and is a true example of whisky history. It’s a 26-year-old dram from a Lowland distillery that closed down in 1993, making its price of £35 from the bar at the Society’s Members’ Room at The Vaults in Leith seem like a steal.

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The Macallan Reflexion First Fill Sherry Oak

43% ABV; 25ml £50

(The Register Club, 42 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AD)

9 of the most expensive whiskies you can find in Edinburgh bars

Picture: The Macallan

This whisky was matured in first-fill sherry seasoned American and Spanish oak casks, giving it a beautiful natural colour. Rich and sweet in flavour, it has notes of ginger, cinnamon and fudge. 

Dalmore 1991 20yo Constellation Cask no.27

56.6% ABV; 25mls £200

(The Devil's Advocate, 9 Advocate's Cl, Edinburgh EH1 1ND)

9 of the most expensive whiskies you can find in Edinburgh bars

Picture: The Whisky Exchange

This 20-year-old whisky has flavours of liquorice and spice, crushed almonds, pineapple, coconut and maple syrup. Created at Dalmore's distillery on the Cromarty Firth, north of Inverness, the prestigious drink spent its last three years in an oloroso sherry cask. It's also available for the same price at The Register Club in Edinburgh.

 

Glenfiddich 30 year old Rare Collection

40% ABV; 25mls £35

(The Abbey, 65 S Clerk St, Edinburgh EH8 9PP)

9 of the most expensive whiskies you can find in Edinburgh bars

Picture: Glenfiddich

There are just a handful of vattings per year of this 30-year-old rare malt. Each cask used is personally nosed and tasted by Glenfiddich's Malt Master, ensuring the unique character and richness that sets this dram apart. Rich bronze in colour, it's a seductively woody whisky with a floral sweetness.

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Bowmore 25 Year Old

43% ABV; 25ml £25

(The Dome, 14 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2PF)

9 of the most expensive whiskies you can find in Edinburgh bars

Picture: Bowmore

This mellow mahogany coloured dram combines delicious toffee and hazelnut bound together with sweet peat smoke. A whisky to be savoured, this balanced malt has been matured for 25 years in North American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks.

The Macallan Rare Cask 

43% ABV; 25ml £25

(Juniper Bar, Hotel Indigo, 20 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AN) 

9 of the most expensive whiskies you can find in Edinburgh bars

Picture: The Macallan

Rich mahogany-red in colour, this dram is comprised of whiskies taken from 16 sherry cask styles, many of which are first fill. This spicy dram has a polished oaky flavour, with vanilla and chocolate and a light citrus zest. It's finish is warm and woody.

 

Mortlach 1936 – G&M

40% ABV; 25ml: £200.00

(Usquabae, 2-4 Hope Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4DB)

9 of the most expensive whiskies to try in Edinburgh bars

Picture: The Whisky Exchange

This vintage 1936 Mortlach is estimated to have been bottled in the 1980s at Gordon & Macphail's distillery in Elgin. With a full bottle coming in at around £7,500, a dram for £200 doesn't seem so expensive after all.

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Crystal is Digital Content Editor at JPI Media and writes for Scotsman Food & Drink on the latest restaurant openings, and best places to eat and drink around the country.
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