Are you one of the millions of discerning drinkers around the world who enjoy a glass of fine whisky? If you are, then what would be prepared to pay for your favourite drink?

Most whiskies are reasonably priced but some are well beyond the pockets of ordinary mortals. The most expensive costs a mind-blowing £3.8 million, but it does come in a rather attractive decanter. So, what do you get for your money?

The whiskey is known as Isabella’s Islay. It is described as a “Very Old Single Malt cask strength Islay whisky” and it comes in a decanter fit for a king. Imagine if you can a magnificent English Crystal decanter coated with white gold and studded with 8,500 diamonds and 300 rubies; hardly surprising that it carries such a hefty price tag.

Fortunately, for the less well heeled there is a special edition that comes in a British Crystal decanter coated with white gold and with diamond lettering. This is much more reasonably priced at a modest £450,000.

These prices eclipse the records set earlier in 2010. In October that year, Scotland’s Dalmore distillery sold two of three of Dalmore 64 Trinitas for £100,000 each, the first to break the six-figure barrier. It is one of the world’s finest and rarest single malts.

A month later and another new record was set; the new titleholder was the Macallan 64, which sold at a charity auction in Sotherby’s in New York for a staggering US$460,000 (around £290,000). It was sold in a unique “cire perdue” crystal decanter by Lalique.

Available at a slightly lower price is Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve 1955, which cost an enthusiast $94,000 for a bottle (approx. £57,800). The barrel of whisky this comes from has been ageing since NYE (New Year’s Eve) 1955, when the founder’s granddaughter Janet died at the age of one hundred and ten years old.

Although most enthusiasts won’t be able to pay these prices, it is still possible to enjoy a taste of some of the world’s finest whiskies in any high quality whisky bar. Locals in London for example, can visit Boisdale of Canary Wharf which features a 12 metre long wall with over 1000 bottles of malt whisky on its shelves. This includes rare whiskies like the Macallan 1946, 56 year cask 46 available at just over £1,360 per 50ml.

However 1000 bottles is nothing when compared with The Devils Place in St Moritz, Switzerland. The bar here has the largest selection of whisky’s in the world, housingover 2,500 thousand bottles. They also have their own whisky shop, which sells over 1,000 different Whiskies online.

For the American readers amongst us, why not check out the Brandy Library, next time you are in NYC? Don’t let the name fool you, this bar has over 500 whiskies, in addition to brandies, cognacs, rums, wines, cocktails and more. One whisky highlight is a 38 year old bottle of Chivas Regal, named the Stone of destiny, available at just $178 a measure.

You can, of course, enjoy some relatively expensive whiskies at Boisdale. There is, for example, the Macallan 1946 56 year Cask 46. At just over £1,360 per 50ml, this delightful whisky, unusually, was made using peat malt due to the high post-war prices of coal. But you can discover the Macallan taste for as little as a few pounds, as Boisdale stocks almost the whole Macallan range.

There is also an excellent selection of modestly priced single malts from the Dalmore distillery, which has been producing fine single malt whisky since 1839. You can of course try the world’s favourite single malt – 12-year-old Glenfiddich. Or you could try one of the 600 bottles of Batch 6 of 40-year-old Glenfiddich at around £350 per 50ml.

Fine whisky should be taken in fine surroundings. The Boisdale whisky bar is the perfect place to enjoy your favourite drink.