The $10,000 Rare and Fine
This December the San Manuel Casino in Highland, California unveiled a $10,000 cocktail. What goes into a drink that costs as much as a compact car? Very expensive whiskey, of course. But that’s just the beginning. Here’s what to expect when ordering one of the world’s highest priced tipples.
Titled ‘Rare and Fine’, the ultra exclusive offering is a measured blend of A.H. Hirsch 16-year-old bourbon and 1996 Lafite-Rothschild, with a topper of Le Printemps cognac from Hardy for good measure. Once assembled, it arrives at the bar in a tumbler composed of Lalique crystal. Holding the garnishes (orange zest and a maraschino cherry) in place is a 14-karat gold pick studded with diamonds. The hardware is yours to keep.
A little bit more about that booze, though: The whiskey—distilled in 1974—is among the most sought after spirits on the planet, typically fetching more than $4,000 a bottle. The wine is a Bordeaux from the legendary Château Lafite-Rothschild, awarded a flawless 100-point score by Robert Parker of The Wine Advocate. And the cognac is actually the rarest of them all—a stunning $18,000 carafe of liquid, some of which was set aside by Armand Hardy at the end of World War II.
All of this opulence would mean very little if the drink itself didn’t resonate. Thankfully, the blend is a beautifully balanced number with threads of leather and caramel persisting in an impossibly long finish. The release is part of a promotion for the casino’s new high-limit gaming space, where tables allow up to $25,000 bets. You’ll only be able to order the Rare and Fine while seated here. Which makes sense; if you’ve got that kind of money to drop on blackjack, this drink might actually seem like a bargain.
Rare and Fine Cocktail