I CAN’T Buy You a Drink: Top 10 Most Expensive Cocktails
There’s nothing like a fine drink at the end of a long day, but if you had ordered one of the most expensive cocktails featured on this list, you would have been looking at a bar tab possibly more significant than what you make for an entire week—or even much longer!
Thanks to some exceptionally rare liquor and some fabulously fancy twists, these are 10 of the most expensive concoctions your money can buy. Do you think you’ve had anything from this list? Read on to find out.
Here are the 10 most expensive cocktails in the world:
10. Original Mai Tai at The Merchant Hotel, Belfast ($1,270)
Made using the same ingredients list as the first ever Mai Tai, you can enjoy this original cocktail at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast.
This is the only place in the world where you can get a Mai Tai with the original Wray and Nephew rum, costing just $1,200 USD.
Enjoy the original Mai Tai at The Merchant Hotel in Belfast, made with the same recipe as the first ever Mai Tai. It features a blend of white and dark rum, Dubb Orange Curaçao, orgeat syrup, and fresh lime juice, representing a piece of cocktail history.
9. Sidecar at the Bar Hemingway, Paris ($1,511)
The Daily Meal
For a taste of Parisian sophistication, head to the Bar Hemingway and order the Sidecar. Priced at $1,511, this classic cocktail is a blend of Cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice. Sipping on this elegant drink in the heart of Paris is a truly timeless experience, reminiscent of the golden age of cocktails. Immerse yourself in the ambiance of the bar as you indulge in this iconic libation.
8. Sapphire Martini at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut ($3000)
Homemade Hooplah
If you find yourself at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut, be sure to treat yourself to the Sapphire Martini. Priced at $3,000, this dazzling drink is a feast for the senses. Combining Bombay Sapphire Gin, dry vermouth, and blue-dyed orange-flavored liquor, this martini is a visual delight. The rim of the glass is adorned with blue sugar, adding a touch of elegance to an already extravagant experience.
7. Diamond Cocktail at the Sheraton Park Hotel, New York ($4,300)
1of1 World
Sold at the Sheraton Park Hotel, this cocktail is a mixture of drinks, each costing a minimum of $1000 per bottle. The cocktail comes with a diamond, which the customer can choose.
6. Salvatore’s Legacy at the Playboy Club, London ($7,000)
Ramada Neemrana
In the heart of London’s Mayfair, the Playboy Club serves up Salvatore’s Legacy, a cocktail that will transport you to a bygone era of sophistication and refinement. Priced at approximately $7,000, this exquisite drink is made from 1778 Clos de Griffier Vieux cognac, 1770 Kummel liqueur, Dubb Orange Curacao circa 1860, and two dashes of Angostura bitters circa the 1900s. Each sip is a journey through time, allowing you to savor the history and craftsmanship that went into creating this extraordinary libation.
5. Ono Cocktail at XS Nightclub, Las Vegas ($10,000)
Bubble Club
The Ono cocktail at XS Nightclub in Las Vegas takes luxury to a whole new level. Priced at $10,000, this exceptional drink comes with a pair of gold cufflinks and an 18-karat gold necklace featuring a black pearl and diamond. The ingredients alone contribute to the steep cost, with Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie 1981 and Rémy Martin’s Louis XIII Black Pearl cognac forming the base of this extravagant concoction. Savor each sip of this lavish cocktail as you revel in the opulence of the Las Vegas nightlife.
4. Fancier than Fosters, Winston ($12,000)
Eater
An Australian establishment claims to offer the world’s most expensive cocktail, which they call the Winston.
The cocktail, named after Winston Churchill, was once the Guinness World Record holder for the most expensive cocktail in the world.
At Melbourne’s Club 23, a Winston will run you more than USD 12,000. The cocktail has just four ingredients, three common in any fine establishment.
The main ingredient of the Winston, however, is a generous pour of a cognac from 1858. There’s your twelve grand right there.
3. The Diamonds Are Forever Martini at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo ($19,000)
If you’re looking to make a statement with your cocktail choice, look no further than The Diamonds Are Forever Martini at The Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo. This extraordinary drink tops the list as the most expensive cocktail in the world, with a price tag of approximately $19,000. Crafted with Absolut Elyx vodka, lime juice, and a one-carat diamond, this martini embodies elegance and exclusivity. Sipping on this exquisite creation, available only at Tokyo’s tallest hotel, is a truly unforgettable experience.
2. The Jewel of Pangea ($32,000)
Luxuo
Technically, this drink is more expensive than The Winston Cocktail, but The Jewel of Pangea (the drink’s humble name) is cheating.
It was created by the award-winning bartender Ethan Leslie Leong. The cocktail is referred to as Asia’s most expensive cocktail and one of the world’s top 5 most expensive cocktails.
It is mixed using fine champagne and cognac, and then it’s garnished with gold and diamonds. The nearly thirty grand this drink will cost you is spent not on the beverage part of the concoction but on precious metals and stones. The fact that bodyguards will accompany your cocktail is pretty cool, though.
1. Cantina Laredo Margarita ($63,000)
Evening Standard
This is officially the most expensive cocktail in the world and probably the priciest cocktail in Mexico. The drink is worth it when looking at the ingredients used in making a drink worthy of being the most expensive cocktail in the world.
The cocktail is made up of two vintage tequilas, finger lime (lime caviar), white pineapples, and a lime-kumquat hybrid known as a ‘limequat,’ and then it’s topped with a diamond which floats on the drink.
It is worthy of being called the most expensive cocktail in the world because the Cantina Laredo Margarita costs almost $100,000.
An honorary mention among the most expensive cocktails in the world is:
Ruby Rose
For $40,000, this drink consists of Hanger One Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Cordial, freshly squashed grapefruit and pomegranate juice, and a few drops of rosewater. And, don’t forget, a massive four-carat red ruby. This cocktail is in another league of its own.
