15 months after auction, anonymous buyer of world’s largest whisky bottle finally revealed

The anonymous buyer, who paid nearly USD 1.4 million to acquire the world's largest whisky bottle, has been identified.

The owner of the world's largest whiskey bottle is a Vietnamese businessman. Photo Courtesy: Cask World Instagram page.

The bottle, standing at  5 feet 11 inches, is taller than the average human being.

The rare item is now owned by Vietnamese businessman Viet Nguyen Dinh Tuan.

According to reports, he already owns a spirits collection valued at more than USD 190.8 million.

The special bottle, named the Intrepid, contains 311-litre of 32-year-old Macallan single malt.

The auction took place on May 25, 2022, in Edinburgh.

Apart from buying the rare bottle, the businessman also received an official certification from the Guinness World Records following the sale.

He received the certificate which recognised the vessel, containing 444 standard bottles of whisky, as the world's largest.

Interestingly, the final purchase price of the bottle worked out at almost USD 116.90 a dram (25 ml).

According to reports, the name was inspired by the works of "11 of the world's most pioneering explorers who are featured on the bottle,"  including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Dr. Geoff Wilson and Karen Darke MBE.

Auction house Lyon and Turnbull said that the project, launched by Daniel Monk in honour of his father, Captain Stanley Monk, "is supporting the explorers' chosen environmental, physical and mental well-being charities,"

Speaking to The Guardian, Viet Nguyen Dinh Tuan said: "I’ve been spending my spare time collecting these bottles for decades. The history and traditions of whisky-making give each one its rarity, and that’s the value I see in each bottle."

"I was enticed to acquire the Intrepid for three main reasons: the fact it’s the world’s biggest bottle, it contains Macallan and because I was inspired by the record-breaking achievements of the 11 explorers depicted on the bottle’s label," he said.

Monk wrote on LinkedIn: "It was a dream come true to see the worlds biggest bottle of whisky known as The Intrepid proudly displayed and added to the whisky war chest of multi world record holder and whisky enthusiast Mr Viet."

He said: "We were honoured to join Mr Viet for dinner in Ho Chi Minh on his 54th birthday and to see his remarkable collection at first-hand."