The $10,000 Bottle of Whiskey

And you can’t buy one.

Why? Because it was created as a gift for the British queen. No, not Elton John. Queen Elizabeth II, in honor of her visit to Churchill Downs for this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Crown Royal blended this batch of whisky, (they spell it without an “e”), expressly with Her Majesty in mind. In fact the first ever batch of Crown Royal Canadian Blended Whisky was made in 1939 for her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, to commemorate their Grand Tour of Canada. (There’s your history lesson for the week.)

A fire at Seagram’s Waterloo Distillery in Ontario almost completely destroyed this batch, with only a few barrels surviving the blaze. The rarest ones, with the highest rye content, were blended into what became the Crown Royal XR Extra Rare Heritage Blend. (“Yeah, um, a ‘fire’ destroyed the barrels we had made for the rest of you, so you’re kinda S.O.L… Sorry. Only barely enough left for the Queen. And you know how she enjoys her whisky…”)

A master glass designer in Louisville, KY was commissioned to craft a one-of-a-kind decanter, etched in 24 karat gold leaf, so it will stand out on Her Majesty’s Most Royal bar back at the castle.

This incredibly rare and “priceless” blend is not for sale, but according to Crown, if they had to put a price tag on it the price would “likely begin at $10,000.” Making for one expensive whisky sour.

No word on if QEII will be pouring $1000 mint juleps for fellow Derby-goers.