When Bottles Outperform Buildings

Why a Macallan 1926 might be a better bet than your mumbai penthouse

- — By Yashita Damani —

In recent years, whisky has evolved far beyond being a celebratory tipple; it has firmly established itself as an alternative investment class, especially in India's growing luxury collectibles market.

Rare expressions, Japanese malts, and limited-edition champagnes are increasingly viewed as tangible assets: imbued with time, craft, and scarcity—offering not just sensory delight, but potential financial returns!

Earlier this year, The Glen Grant unveiled one of the rarest expressions ever released: the 65-Year-Old from its Splendours Collection. Distilled in 1958 and aged patiently for over six decades in a single French oak butt, only 151 handcrafted decanters exist globally, each priced at $50,000. The showcase, held in Delhi under the evocative theme "Pour of a Lifetime", transported guests into a world where heritage, rarity, and meticulous craftsmanship converge.

Crafted by Master Distiller Greig Stables, the 65-Year-Old exemplifies the distillery’s legacy. Distilled using The Glen Grant's iconic slender pot stills and water-cooling purifiers and matured in Warehouse No. 4: the oldest stone dunnage warehouse. This whisky displays deep mahogany hues with aromas of treacle, ripe blackberries, and sandalwood, while the palate reveals orange, black cherries, rich fruit cake, and sticky dates, finishing on notes of citrus, oak, spice, and a delicate wisp of smoke.

Its rarity and historical significance make it not merely a drink but an investment. As Stables explains, “The Glen Grant 65-Year-Old captures not just six decades of time, but a lifetime of character. It is a whisky of rarity, depth, and distinction, unmistakably The Glen Grant.”

Heritage, Rarity, and Condition: The Triad of Value