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The Macallan 55 Years Old in Lalique Decanter. Dad has a cupboard in the pantry which serves as a kind of graveyard for gift boxes of cheap spirits and mostly undrinkable liqueurs received during the holidays over the years. Gathering dust, here solemnly rest the Irish Mist with special commemorative tumblers from Frank the postman, the Jack Daniels with special commemorative decanter from some second cousin, and the Drambuie with special commemorative tumblers from a secret Santa at some long forgotten office party.

Unveiled in November, The Macallan in Lalique decanter stands as one of the most elegant, luxurious, and unbelievably pricey counterpoints to those cheap holiday liquor box sets. Often called the "Rolls Royce of single malts," Macallan has long been a respected traditionalist in single malt production, using only sherry ageing in oloroso casks from Spain. Having matured for more than half a century at Macallan's home in Speyside, this rare vintage of whisky has a dark rosewood hue, which appears quite striking in its limited edition decanter.

The decanter itself, which looks a bit like an oversized, turn of the century perfume bottle, was handcrafted by legendary French crystal maker Lalique and comes in a leather and silk display box with leather-bound collectors guide.

With its impressive pedrigree, Macallan Lalique is definitely not an item consigned to the dust bin of history. But then again, with the decanter's equally impressive price tag, it's hard to imagine actually drinking it either…

420 produced worldwide, 100 available in the U.S.—M.F.

Price: $12,000

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