Drink with a sting in the tail
However, a New Zealand businessman, James Manning, on Thursday night wrote a cheque for that amount in a Melbourne bar.
At the same time he wrote his name into the history books as the buyer of what is believed to be the most expensive cocktail ever made.
The basis for the cocktail, which will be claimed as a Guinness world record, is a bottle of Croizet cognac dating to 1858. It is, itself, already a world-record holder, having previously been valued at $157,000.
The bottle was purchased from Croizet by Crown Melbourne's Club 23 bar, whose barman Joel Heffernan put two days' preparation into the cocktail.
It includes two nips of Croizet - at $6000 per shot - along with Grand Marnier Quintessence, chartreuse Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolonge, and a dash of Angostura bitters.
Heffernan's concoction was presented with chocolate nutmeg dust, essence of poppy seed and roses, and hints of coconut, passionflower and oranges.
It is called the "Winston" in tribute to British prime minister Winston Churchill, who is said to have shared a treasured bottle of 1858 Croizet with Allies commander General Dwight Eisenhower on the eve of D-Day in June 1944.
The previous world record for a single cocktail is held by Salvatore's Legacy, a concoction developed by barman Salvatore Calabrese using Clos de Griffier Vieux cognac that dates to 1778. It sold for £5500 ($8330) in October last year in a London bar.
Crown spokeswoman Ann Peacock said although the world record would belong solely to Mr Manning, anyone else with the inclination - and finance - to try the Winston would still be able to indulge.
"An additional 11 cocktails will be available for purchase from Club 23. But because it takes two days to make, you have to give a bit of notice," she said.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The record-breaking cocktail is called the "Winston" and it sold for $12,500. A New Zealand businessman, James Manning, bought it at Club 23 in Crown Melbourne.
The Winston is built around a bottle of Croizet cognac dated to 1858 (a bottle previously valued at $157,000). The cocktail includes two nips of Croizet (priced at about $6,000 per shot), Grand Marnier Quintessence, Chartreuse Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé, a dash of Angostura bitters, and is finished with chocolate nutmeg dust, essences of poppy seed and roses, plus hints of coconut, passionflower and orange.
The Winston was created by barman Joel Heffernan at Club 23, the bar inside Crown Melbourne. Heffernan spent two days preparing the cocktail.
According to the report, the Winston will be claimed as a Guinness world record. The sale is described as the most expensive cocktail ever made and will be presented for the record.
The previous record was Salvatore's Legacy, created by Salvatore Calabrese using Clos de Griffier Vieux cognac dated to 1778. It sold for £5,500 (about $8,330) in a London bar in October of the prior year.
Yes. Crown spokeswoman Ann Peacock said Club 23 will make an additional 11 Winston cocktails available for purchase. Because each take two days to prepare, patrons need to give advance notice to order one.
The 1858 Croizet cognac is notable both for its rarity and value (previously valued at $157,000). The Winston is named in tribute to Winston Churchill, who is said to have shared a treasured 1858 Croizet bottle with General Dwight Eisenhower on the eve of D‑Day in June 1944.
The world record from this sale belongs solely to James Manning, who paid $12,500. Crown says others can still purchase the Winston, but the record will remain with Manning.
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