Dubai Duty Free has evolved into a destination for serious whisky collectors, offering five rare bottles seldom seen outside auctions or specialist shops. Highlights include Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Peated Reserve, The Macallan M Black, Aberfeldy 45 Years Old, Glenglassaugh 44 Years Old and Bushmills 46 Years Old, each with distinctive cask histories, flavour profiles and eye-watering price tags.
Somewhere between the departure gates and the final boarding call, Dubai Duty Free has become a great stop for whisky collectors and enthusiasts. Behind its counters is a selection of rare and exclusive whiskies, including Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Peated Reserve, The Macallan M Black whisky, Aberfeldy 45 Years Old, Glenglassaugh 44 Years Old Coastal Malt Whisky and Bushmills 46 Years Old Secrets of the River Bush whiskey that can be difficult to find outside specialist whisky retailers and auctions. Dubai Duty Free's access to these whisky bottles is not new; the retailer has spent years building relationships with distilleries and securing allocations that few airport shops can match. Here are 5 rare whiskies worth seeking out at Dubai Duty Free priced under AED 50000, and what makes each one worth the extra suitcase space.
Named for the gun salute fired at the Tower of London, Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Peated Reserve whisky sits inside an emerald decanter shaped like the Imperial State Crown. Master Blender Sandy Hyslop drew on more than fifty rare whiskies, including liquid from the shuttered Caperdonich distillery, to build a smoky, celebratory dram. Expect dark cherry and ripe pear on the nose, honeycomb and orange marmalade on the palate, and a long, smouldering peat finish.
Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Peated Reserve Whisky Price at Dubai Duty Free: AED 13857.
Part of Macallan's prestige M Collection, this single malt whisky pairs sherry-seasoned oak with a gentle trace of peat, an unusual move for a distillery better known for sherry-forward richness. Each bottle sits in an individually numbered, six-faceted black Lalique crystal decanter, a nod to the brand's Six Pillars. The Macallan M Black whisky leans dark, all espresso, cocoa and roasted coffee, with a long, spiced finish.
The Macallan M Black Whisky Price at Dubai Duty Free: AED 28748.
Distilled back in 1975, the Aberfeldy 45 Years Old whisky is the oldest official expression Aberfeldy has put its name to. Master Blender Stephanie Macleod selected 7 rare casks, Cask 3970 among them, to shape a Highland single malt whisky built for slow sipping rather than quick tasting notes. It opens with red cherry and ripe pineapple, settles into Highland honey and vanilla fudge, and finishes soft and citrusy.
Aberfeldy 45 Years Old Whisky Price at Dubai Duty Free: AED 30600.
Drawn from a single Pedro Ximenez sherry cask, this coastal Highland malt is part of the Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection and one of the more genuinely scarce pours on this list, with only 274 bottles released and all of them earmarked for Dubai Duty Free. Rachel Barrie oversaw the maturation od the Glenglassaugh 44 Years Old Coastal Malt whisky, and it shows in a nose of salted caramel and blood orange, a palate of dark cherry and pink grapefruit, and a long, briny finish with a touch of nori.
Glenglassaugh 44 Years Old Coastal Malt Whisky Price at Dubai Duty Free: AED 14256.
Subtitled Secrets of The River Bush, this is the oldest single malt Irish whiskey ever released, aged for nearly half a century in Oloroso sherry butts filled back in 1978. Only 300 bottles exist worldwide, each housed in a handcrafted hexagonal walnut case. The Bushmills 46 Years Old Secrets of the River Bush whiskey carries dark dried fruit and apricot on the nose, cinnamon and black cherry on the palate, and a finish that lingers on toasted oak and warm toffee.
Bushmills 46 Years Old Whiskey Price at Dubai Duty Free: AED 48600.
| Whisky | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Peated Reserve | Blended Scotch Whisky | AED 13,857 |
| The Macallan M Black | Single Malt Scotch Whisky | AED 28,748 |
| Aberfeldy 45 Years Old | Highland Single Malt Whisky | AED 30,600 |
| Glenglassaugh 44 Years Old Coastal Malt | Single Malt Scotch Whisky | AED 14,256 |
| Bushmills 46 Years Old | Irish Single Malt Whiskey | AED 48,600 |
Which rare whiskies are available at Dubai Duty Free?
The whisky selection at Dubai Duty Free includes Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Peated Reserve, The Macallan M Black, Aberfeldy 45 Years Old, Glenglassaugh 44 Years Old Coastal Malt and Bushmills 46 Years Old.
Which is the oldest whisky on the list?
Bushmills 46 Years Old is the oldest, followed by Aberfeldy 45 Years Old and Glenglassaugh 44 Years Old.
Which is the most expensive whisky bottle?
Bushmills 46 Years Old, priced at AED 48,600, is the most expensive whisky bottle featured.
Are all five bottles Scotch whisky?
No. Four are Scotch whiskies, while Bushmills 46 Years Old is an Irish whiskey.