21 expensive drinks items that are worth the money
Save for when you need to spark some joy; number 21 is the most important.
Drinking isn’t cheap. At around £8 a pint, Guinness now falls alongside avocado toast and matcha in the list of frivolous expenses young people are supposedly expected to forego if they hope to one day buy their first property.
You may not want to spend your deposit on boozing down the pub (I strongly recommend you start investing if you don’t already, and get that LISA open if you’re under 40 (not financial advice)), but the odd expense here and there can make life just that little bit easier. A little bit more joyful.
‘Expensive’ means different things depending on your income and lifestyle – a £200 per month gym membership might seem extortionate to someone who hates the gym, but to the person who uses it daily as a mental escape or physical health lifeline, it’s a drop in the ocean.
The same goes for alcohol, and the world around it. There are some bargains to be had in wine, whisky and spirits if you look for them, and often the price tag attached to bottles just isn’t worth it. For instance, The Dalmore has just released a new limited edition 14 Year Old for £350, and while I haven’t tasted it, no 14-year-old whisky from a fully operating distillery is worth that unless it’s also encrusted in diamonds. I don’t care how collectible it is.
But some things are worth splashing out on. For me, a purchase needs to pass three tests to justify spending a large amount of cash on it:
Will it bring me long-lasting joy?
Is it good value for money?
Can I still live within my means if I buy it?
After seeing the trend do the rounds on social media I thought long and hard about which drinks and drink-related items are worth splashing the cash on. I settled on 21 items. 21 expensive things (remember, expensive is relative), that pass the above three tests.
It doesn’t matter if you’re saving to buy a house, go on holiday or just live comfortably, anything you personally deem ‘expensive’ that passes my three-rule test is worth spending money on, whether that’s a pint of Guinness, avocado toast or a £350 bottle of whisky.
So here’s my list of 21 expensive drinks items that are worth the money. Do you agree? What else would you add?
1. Riedel thin-stemmed wine glasses
Elegant, beautiful, Riedel stemware will elevate every at-home wine drinking experience, plus ( and this is the best part of you’re a clutz like me), they’re tough to break. They do different shapes depending on the wine, but I love the versatility of the white/Champagne glasses (I’m more of a white and bubbles drinker though anyway).
2. A Coravin system
Vital if you love wine but only drink a glass at a time, or never manage to finish a bottle within a few days. A Coravin system can keep that bottle as fresh as the day you opened it, for at least two years. Technology at its finest. I have the still wine Coravin system at home, but you can also get their sparkling option too.
3. A birth year whisky
A treat to dip into every birthday, or to open on a special milestone in the future. Obviously the price you pay depends on the distillery and how old you are! It’s super easy to find a bottle with your DOB on it too – sift through the auction sites for a bargain, or explore vintage and milestone whiskies at a whisky specialist retailer.
4. 50 Year Old Tawny Port
One of the most mesmerising, electrifying taste experiences you’ll ever have, and at just £400, too. For perspective, a whisky that old would cost around £50,000, so in girl maths you’re technically saving £49,500. This one from Graham’s is my absolute favourite!
5. Laurent Perrier Rosé
It’s unbelievably delicious, one of the best rosé Champagnes around and the drink that accompanied many a memorable evening, but IDK why it has to be so expensive. I shopped around and the Whisky Exchange have it on offer for £61.95 just now!
6. A pilgrimage to your favourite distillery or winery
Whether it’s an Islay single malt distillery or your favourite Champagne house in France, everything you drink from that brand from then on will transport you back there in every sip. This is one of the best value ways to spend your money.
Whenever I sip Ardbeg I’m transported back to its warehouses on Islay, it’s such a magical experience.
7. Duke’s Martinis
The legendary bar in the Dukes Hotel in London’s Mayfair is a must-visit if you enjoy Martinis. They’re widely regarded as the best in the world – a rinse of vermouth, a healthy glug of frozen gin poured into a frozen glass, garnished with your choice of lemon or olive. At £20 a pop, they’re definitely a treat, but very worth it. Just be aware head bartender Alessandro will cut you off at two, though.
8. Thrill glass chiller
I’ve no idea how this thing works but it feels like a necessity if we’re to have ice-cold glasses for wine and martinis this summer! I can’t find a UK-based provider but will update you all when I do!
9. Klaris clear ice maker
I want one of these so badly! If like me you hate the taste of homemade freezer ice and wants perfectly clear, great-tasting ice in your drinks year-round, the Klaris clear ice maker is a must. Someone mentioned they aren’t being sold in the UK but I found it on Amazon!
10. A full bronze or rose gold cocktail kit
It just looks so much nicer than typical stainless steel kits. I love this kit from Rusty Barrel as it contains everything you need (as a former bartender I also prefer a traditional Boston tin over a cobbler).
11. Talisker 18 Year Old
People hate on the price Talisker 18 Year Old has become, but it’s still one of the tastiest single malt Scotch whiskies around. If I could always have a bottle of this in my house, I would.
12. 1970s Bowmore
Bowmore from the 1960s/70s is so incredibly special; that if you decide to invest in a bottle (and with prices starting at around £1,750, it really is an investment), savour the hell out of it. The cult Islay distillery made a particularly tropical style of single malt Scotch that true whisky fans fall over themselves to try. The Whisky Exchange is a reputable retailer with quite a solid selection of Bowmores from the 60s-70s, should you be looking for an ultimate treat.
13. Champagne & tater tots at Lyaness
Pre-dinner/pre-theatre/pre-lunch/after work… basically a glass of cold bubbles and a side of tater tots with ranch dressing is all I dream about. It’s the ultimate high-low pairing we all need in life, especially enjoyed in the gorgeous setting of London’s Lyaness, one of the world’s best bars, right on the River Thames.
14. A gym membership
If you like to eat and drink, you’ll need to find balance, too. I find mine in the gym. It’s damn expensive but I go regularly (five days a week), to offset the alcohol and Lyaness tataer tots…
15. Manicured hands (for photos)
I like to take photos of my drinks for the ‘gram so having nicely manicured hands is a must. A good mani isn’t just for the ladies either; this goes for you too, gents.
16. A stay at Glenmorangie House
Regardless of whether Glenmorangie is your favourite whisky, a stay at the maximalist haven that is Glenmorangie House will top most distillery experiences you’re likely to have…
17. Brora tour and dinner
…unless you visit the Highland distillery of Brora for a private tour and dinner, of course. With so much history and heritage within its walls, an exclusive visit (you get the place to yourself) is such a treat for architecture and whisky geeks.
18. Mahogany sideboard for an at-home cocktail bar
If you’ve been following me on Instagram you’ll have seen my attempts to rip out my living room shelves to transform the space from bottle dumping ground hell into a welcoming hosting haven. A beautiful sideboard to serve cocktails from would be such a dream, and will be a big worthwhile expense for me. This is the one I have my eye on (but can’t currently afford; fancy subscribing to help a girl out?).
19. Barrister bookcase for glassware
Have you ever looked these up?! Honestly, wtf they are so cool used as a cabinet for glassware or sample bottles!
20. A WSET wine or spirits course
I completed my WSET L3 Spirits with the Mixing Class and had a fantastic experience - I use that newfound knowledge every day. I’m about to also study for my Level 2 Wines with Hambledon in September, and can’t wait to be more confident talking about wines!
21. Drinking a bottle of wine or whisky with friends
It’s more expensive than buying just one glass, and sure, you may have a hangover the next day, but the opportunity to share a delicious bottle with friends, to bond over the experience and forge deeper connections… well, some things are just priceless.
Do you agree with these, or would you add something else? What would you absolutely not spend your money on? The comment section is open…
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About the author
Hey, I’m Becky. I’m an award-winning journalist, editor and broadcaster based in Brighton, UK, with over 20 years experience writing about food and drink – particularly whisky.
Nowadays you can find me writing brutally honest big-sister guides to whisky, spirits, cocktails and wine – basically what’s good to drink – so you don’t waste your time or money.
🥃 Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, regular recommendations and BTS from my life as a struggling drinks writer trying to catch her second wind.
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I dream of Coravin at home for that one glass option! Dreamy list.
I have Riedel Champagne, but also drink reds out of them!
A good decanter. And one that you can easily clean. The Riedel Mamba might be an objet d'art, but it looks like a pain for washing up.
Wine Society membership. £40 but you get half that back anyway and it's for life. Events all over if you live in the sticks, free delivery even on a bottle.
Hine Antique XO Cognac, but buy it at auction. So much cheaper. About £70 instead of £150. Or, most XOs, I guess. I saw some Remy Martin XO for £60, and VSOP is about £50. Plus it has a pretty bottle.
Delord 25 year Armagnac. It's hard to call a bottle of £82 booze a bargain, but it is. And it was a perfect 25th anniversary present.
Cognac distilleries are fun, in the same way that Champagne houses are fun, as it's more to see. Courvoisier in Jarnac are particularly good. Have you ever been to Cotswold Distillery? I love their gin and I've heard the tour is very good. Brewery trips (Hook Norton in particular) are fun. Regular winerys are a bit boring, in my opinion.