In High Spirit

Grain, water, an oak barrel and 64 long years. For connoisseurs and collectors, a rarer-than-rare whisky is nothing short of liquid gold. A fortunate few will now get to savour The Macallan's oldest whisky – a 64-year-old single malt – ever released in the famed Scottish distillery's 186-year history.

And all for a good cause. Sealed in a specially commissioned decanter from French crystalware firm Lalique, the prized elixir is making appearances around major cities in the world, where miniature taster bottles containing precious drams will be auctioned off at closed fundraisers. Proceeds will benefit Charity: Water, a non-profit organisation that brings safe drinking water to developing nations.

Rarer by the day, the lion's share is destined for a final auction in November at Sotheby's New York. Hopes of it surpassing the last rare bottle of Macallan sold, a 60-year-old that fetched USD75,000 (RM233,300) in 2005, are high. Just as coveted is the Lalique Cire Perdue decanter, which gets its name from the "lost wax" method in which it is made. An ancient technique originally used to cast big pieces in bronze, the tedious and expensive process yields incredible detail.

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