Dubai Restaurant Sells the World’s Most Expensive Cocktail for More Than $40,000 — Here’s What’s Inside

(Photos: Nahaté Dubai)

Last week, famed French crystal maker Baccarat celebrated its 260th anniversary with the auctioning of a €37,500 ($42,500) cocktail — purportedly the most expensive of its kind in history.

Well-dressed restaurant-goers arrived at the Nahaté cocktail bar in Dubai for a night filled with black caviar, oysters and never-before-seen liquor delicacies. The main attraction was stirred up by Salvatore Calabrese, otherwise known within the industry as The Maestro. Arguably one of the most famous bartenders alive, Calabrese has developed a reputation synonymous with these kinds of glitzy occasions. In 2012, he created what was — at the time — the world’s most expensive cocktail; in 2015, he created a drink with a combined vintage of over 700 years.

His latest feat was limited to a total of just two cocktails, each poured into a Baccarat glass from 1937. And what exactly did the winning bidder find inside?

The star of the show was a pour of Kina Lillet from 1950. Thought to be among only four known bottles worldwide, Kina Lillet is a slice of apertif history that’s since been overshadowed by popular iterations like Lillet Dry, Lillet Rouge and Lillet Blanc that are still widely available today.

Originally introduced in 1887, Kina Lillet was made from Bordeaux white wine mixed with fruit liqueurs and quinine (hence “Kina,” a nod to the cinchona bark from which quinine is derived). By all accounts, it’s a decidedly bitter aperitif, far removed from the light and floral offerings that the French producer is known for in the 21st century. That unique profile has established Kina Lillet as a collector’s item for discerning historians; you can even find a 1967 vintage bottle on display at the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans.

Of course, no discussion of the apertif is complete without at least a passing mention of James Bond. In Ian Fleming’s original Bond novel, “Casino Royale,” the now-famous Vesper Martini is described as follows: “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel.” Though that martini’s reputation has since ballooned to the level of a cultural icon, one of its key ingredients is now basically extinct. All the more reason for Kina Lillet to demand an exorbitant asking price.

The $41,160 cocktail also housed a splash of Vintage Patrón tequila, details for which are surprisingly few and far between. According to the restaurant, the liquid was sourced from a barrel not available to the public and only found for purchase at Nahaté. 

We have a few guesses about what’s inside. Another of the world’s most expensive drinks — the $1,200 “Billionaire Margarita” at The London NYC — is known for its signature pour of Patrón en Lalique Serie 1 Tequila. Releases in the series are among the most coveted (and expensive) bottles from the brand, typically demanding upwards of $10,000 for each extra añejo. Given the ultra-expensive nature of Nahaté’s latest creation, we wouldn’t be surprised if its vintage Patrón fell somewhere in that price or age range.

The special edition tequila was created by Patrón master distiller David Rodriguez specifically for use in the cocktail, according to The Spirits Business. It is reportedly a blend of three batches, said to boast flavors of caramel, vanilla, butter and stone fruit.

Last but not least: a few dashes of 1930s Angostura Bitters. It may be the only ingredient of the bunch that doesn’t demand an introduction. Invented in 1824, its secret recipe has purportedly (emphasis on purportedly) remained largely unchanged over the centuries. Bottles from the early 20th century are known to auction in the $150 to $200 range if they remain unopened.