Dubai Just Served World’s Most Expensive Cocktail at Dh156K
Luxury meets mixology with rare 1950s ingredients, crystal glasses, and an iconic bartender behind the world’s priciest drink.
- Publish date: Tuesday، 15 April 2025
Dubai’s luxury dining scene has just reached an ultra-opulent milestone: a single cocktail sold for a jaw-dropping Dh156,000 — officially becoming the most expensive cocktail ever sold in the world.
The record-breaking drink was auctioned off at Nahate, a fine dining spot in DIFC, during a glitzy invite-only event. The one-of-a-kind creation was scooped up by Dubai-based model and entrepreneur Diana Ahadpour, following an intense bidding war that started at Dh60,000 and skyrocketed to €37,500 (around Dh156K).
So… what makes a cocktail worth six figures?
From the ingredients to the glassware, every detail screamed exclusivity. The drink was mixed by none other than Salvatore “The Maestro” Calabrese, a global legend in the mixology world known for serving up cocktails to A-listers.
What’s inside the world’s priciest cocktail?
It starts with a custom blend of Patrón Tequila, crafted exclusively for the event — only 500ml of this ultra-rare liquid gold exists, freshly picked up from Mexico. Then comes Kina Lillet, a 1950s fruit wine originally used in James Bond’s iconic cocktail recipe — no longer in production and nearly impossible to find. And to top it off? A splash of 1930s Angostura bitters. Yep, you read that right — bitters that predate World War II.
And the presentation? Equally extra.
The cocktail was served in a pair of Baccarat glasses from 1937, handmade from rare crystal. These glasses were previously preserved in a museum and had never been used — until now. “Only two pieces of it were made... I picked them up by myself from Paris and brought them to Dubai,” shared Andrey Bolshakov, beverage and marketing director at Nahate. The lucky buyer got to keep the iconic glasses as part of the experience.
“The lady who bought it was determined to be the one who got her hands on the special drink,” Bolshakov told Khaleej Times. “It was a truly special event for everyone.”
And if alcohol’s not your vibe…
Don’t worry — Dubai also just launched the world’s most expensive mocktail for Dh12,099. Yup, that’s still five figures.
Served at Jimmydixs in Barceló Hotel, Al Jaddaf, the luxe mocktail is poured into a pure silver goblet (which you get to keep) and features a fancy mix of cranberry, mint, pomegranate juice, sea salt, and 24-karat edible gold. It’s also paired with two starters of your choice, both sprinkled in — you guessed it — more gold.
The concept was created by Indian entrepreneur Sucheta Sharma, founder of Boho Café Group, known for glamorizing humble drinks. “This is not a gimmick,” she said. “It’s about creating a memory.”
The first sip went to Chinese expat Yao Lei, who won a lucky draw at the event. “It’s surreal,” he said. “I’m not sure I’ll ever order it again, but I’ll definitely keep the glass.”
Organisers have confirmed plans to submit the mocktail to Guinness World Records, joining Dubai’s ever-growing list of record-breaking food and drink moments.
TL;DR?
In Dubai, even your drinks come with bragging rights, museum-grade crystal, and price tags that would make your rent cry. Cheers. 🥂
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