'Can I taste it?': Rare $55,000 bottle of spirits for sale in Moncton, N.B.

As many Maritimers sat down on Christmas Eve to wrap presents, some probably wondered if they bought enough for that special someone.

There’s probably a pang of regret among some shoppers who think maybe they should have spent a little more.

Worry not, because there’s a gift of a lifetime waiting at the Experience by ANBL store in downtown Moncton, N.B., but it’ll set you back $55,000.

The Bowmore Prestige 1969 is an extremely rare single malt Scotch whisky.

Store manager Alexandre Davidson said only 339 bottles exist, and just a few are left in Canada.

“Mostly, it’s not for drinking. Eventually someone will drink it, but I would say it’s like a work of art. It’s like a painting. So, people buy it, it’s an investment that will never go down in price. It will always go up,” said Davidson.

The store’s website describes the 700ml Bowmore Prestige 1969 as an ‘enigma of flavours’ with a taste ‘almost undefinable.’

It even comes with it’s own pair of white gloves. 

Davidson explained why it is so expensive.

“That scotch was held in the cask for 50 years, half a century. This is quite amazing. During that period, there’s a lot of that whisky that goes up in evaporation,” said Davidson. “We call it the angel’s share. We give it to the angels, but still, there’s not much left for us to drink. So this is why that scotch has so much value.”

Alexandre Davidson holds the bottle of Bowmore Prestige 1969. (CTV/Derek Haggett)

It’s the most expensive item in the store and has been there for about a year, but you can’t just walk off the street to take a peek, it’s safe and sound under lock and key.

“The box is there, and we show the display, but the actual bottle is safe. We don’t want to take any chances of somebody just breaking it,” said Davidson.

Davidson said they’ve built a strong relationship with distilleries in Scotland over the years thanks to the province’s annual spirits festival that he called world renowned.

“We have a good connection with them. Of the 339 bottles that were created with Bowmore 1969, one was for us,” said Davidson.

Many customers are fascinated by the price and Davidson actually sold a similar product around a year ago for $49,000.

“You don’t see those customers every day or every week, but they exist,” said Davidson. “Someone will buy it eventually.”

Yannick Boucher was picking up a few last-minute items with his wife on Tuesday.

He was very surprised to hear there was a bottle of spirits for sale for $55,000.

“Totally. I go to that Experience room once every few weeks, few months and I didn’t know anything like that could be in Moncton. It’s pretty rare, and very expensive,” said Boucher. “I’m not a whisky drinker, but I would taste something like that for sure. Can I taste it?”

Davidson wants potential buyers to know that the HST is included, so $55,000 is the walking out the door price.

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