Discovering The World's Most Expensive Scotch

If you're searching for the perfect gift for a special whiskey drinker, you can count on scotch being a good choice — especially when it's a rare blend inside a bottle encrusted in diamonds.

The diamonds are just one of the features of the Royal Salute Tribute to Honour. The original Royal Salute was created in celebration of the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Chivas Brothers followed up with this unique blend that was only tasted by Master Blender Colin Scott, who produced it at the Strathisla Distillery.

Each whiskey used in the Royal Salute Tribute to Honour is at least 45 years old. Scott mixed them to perfection. Twenty-one bottles were made, each of which were numbered and filled by hand. Garrard, jeweler to the royal family since 1843, designed and created the bottles, which is encrusted with 413 black and white diamonds. The case includes white gloves so the bottle isn't damaged when it is held.

Mahesh Patel of Atlanta, Georgia, purchased bottle number 14 at a cost of $250,000. He is the first American to own one.

"I bought the bottle because of the magnificent craftsmanship of the bottle, the liquid gold inside, and the rarity of it," said Patel.

The bottle was handed to Patel and his wife during a formal presentation at Ballindalloch Castle in Banffshire, Scotland.  The three day celebration included a tour of Strathisla and the Royal Salute vault, where the bottles are held, as well as a tour of Glenlivet Distillery before ending with a traditional Scottish dinner.

"The experience was fantastic," said Patel. "[It was] first class in all respects. Thank You, Chivas Brothers."

Patel, founder of Universal Whiskey Experience, will not divulge the exact location of the Royal Salute Tribute to Honour, but does admit "the bottle is under safe storage in Scotland."