Patel is one of the top whisky connoisseurs in the world.
AB Wire
Indian American whisky connoisseur and building tycoon Mahesh Patel, known for his more than $6 million, 5,000-bottle whisky collection, has now planned the rarest of the rare trip for those who can afford it: a $2.5-million whisky experience in Scotland.
Patel says the whole idea is to whisk five people off on a personal jet to Scotland, where they’ll enjoy private tours, tastings, and whisky dinners at some of Scotland’s most celebrated distilleries: Glenfiddich, Dalmore, Balvenie, and Strathisla, home of the 62 Gun Salute, reported Fox News.
While you’re there, Patel says you’ll also be able to pick up a cask of a very old whisky from Glenfarclas–one of only three distilleries left in Scotland that are still family owned. That entails one of the lucky five to select a cask and then decanting it into custom-made cut crystal decanters made be a very famous Scottish family whose company is called Glencairn crystal.
Patel, the owner of Sirius Whisky, is also throwing in 5 high roller tickets to his 4-day Universal Whisky Experience at the Wynn Encore Resort in Las Vegas. Total value: $35,000.
“Expect an outrageous Whisky Expo featuring over 90 top brands and more incredible meals, including a special 8-course whisky dinner at Chef Joel Robuchon’s restaurant,” reported Fox News.
Patel gifted Fox News a mysterious 26-year-old whisky that he is selling through his Whisky Concierge Club for nearly $1,000. It’s called Prometheus, and comes from one of Scotland’s most iconic distilleries that he keeps a secret. It’s a very old style of whisky that this house became famous for, with a delicious sherry base, noted Fox.
Patel says the name comes from Greek mythology: the character Prometheus who came out to the world, did incredible things, and then died. Prometheus whisky will come out to the world for just 4 years before it dies. Patel will sell 1,000 bottles of Prometheus this year at 26, next year at 27 and again at 28 and 29. Whatever is left will be bottled at year 30 and Prometheus will be gone. And the stock is already dwindling.
A 2011 story on Patel by The Spirits Business noted that he likes to “buy £100,000 bottle of whisky, puts on elite dinners for $350 a pop, and unapologetically targets his Las Vegas whisky show at a very select number of people who can afford super premium whiskies to be snooty, superior and arrogant.”
“The truth is that there are people who are interested in these sort of whiskies and they have the money to pay for them,” Patel said. “But I collect whisky and I drink whisky, and I have no preconceptions about it based on cost. There are whiskies that I enjoy at all price points and I make a judgement purely on taste. I taste new whiskies blind.
“My wife and I might have a good life now but we remember here we come from. We both came to England in the 60s as refugees with absolutely nothing. We have never forgotten that.”
Patel worked in the construction industry in Loughborough, Leicestershire, then moved to Birmingham and Croydon, was educated in Brighton and then emigrated to the United States because of his work.
“His love of whisky evolved naturally but rapidly. Although he is known for his huge collection and particularly the top end purchases such as the £100,000 Dalmore Trinitas, he maintains he has as many bottles open as he has in his collection,” noted the Spirits Business story
And although he has invested in a premium whisky show which lost money in its first year and has spent large amounts on individual bottles of whisky, he maintains that his first driving force in whisky is love, not money.
1 Comment
I have a 1 gallon unopened,sealed,bottle of old charter whiskey,in origional wooden cradle it is approximately 70 years old
I would like to sell it
Is anyone interested
Thank you
Thelma