Scotch whisky consumption is on the wane in the wake of Europe’s economic hangover, but America might still have a taste for it — even at a record $190,000 a bottle.
A bottle of a celebrated single malt whisky, aged 54 years, is going on the auction block at a posh East Side gallery with a top bidding target of $190,000.
That amounts to an astonishing $9,500 for a small shot glass of one of the most exalted brews ever drawn from the oak casks at acclaimed Scottish distiller Morrison Bowmore Ltd. since its founding in 1779.
Only 12 bottles of the Bowmore 1957 blend exist, but demand has been weak — even for cheap whisky.
Sales are down sharply for all whiskies in major European markets, according to data released yesterday by the Scotch Whisky Association.
Spain’s consumption slumped 24 percent, and France is down 14 perent.
But it’s not all bad. Consumption in the US jumped 13 percent and India soared 28 percent.
But even those whisky-loving economies couldn’t offset the flat global sales of whisky of $2.9 billion in the past 12 months.
Hard times might also sober up any hopes of selling a $190,000 bottle of hooch here or anywhere.
Just two days ago, a sister bottle of the pricey Bowmore 1957 went to auction in Edinburgh to fetch a minimum of $160,000.
The auction collapsed after bids failed to come close to the minimum, prompting the distiller to pull it from the sale.
Another rare bottle of Bowmore 1957 will come up for auction here on Oct. 28 at Bonhams on Madison Avenue.
The pricey malt heads up a whisky auction of more than 390 other rare brews, valued from $300 upward.
A two-hour tasting of samples of the cheaper stuff comes earlier, on Oct. 24, at the gallery.