Bottle of Macallan Whisky Sells for Record-Shattering $628,205 A six-liter bottle of rare Macallan 'M' whisky became the most expensive bottle ever sold at an auction.

By Laura Entis

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

This weekend, a single bottle of rare Macallan 'M' whisky sold for $628,205 at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong.

The purchase, which was well over the expected price range of $258,000 to $516, 000, crushed the previous record of $460,000 paid in 2010 for a bottle of whisky at a Sotheby's auction in New York.

This is just another indication of Asia's growing affection for whisky (Singapore is now the world's largest consumer of Scotch and last week, news broke that Japanese drink group Suntory, of Lost in Translation fame, will purchase American Whiskey distillery Jim Beam for $16 billion.)

Related: Would You Buy a $39,700 Bottle of Wine? Someone Did.

As the Asian market matures -- and the honeymoon period with fine wine ends -- expensive, high-end whisky is increasingly seen as an alternative investment opportunity.

"In 2009, we only sold a handful of wines. Now that the market is expanding, and buyers become more sophisticated and knowledge, whisky becomes a part of that," Robert Sleigh, head of wine, Sotheby's Asia told CNBC on Monday.

Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Science & Technology

5 AI Books Top Entrepreneurs Are Reading in a Rush for 2025

Entrepreneurs must embrace AI or risk falling behind. Discover 2025's top 5 AI books to gain a competitive edge, featuring insights from "The Wolf is at the Door" and a free AI Success Kit.

Business News

Zillow Predicts These 10 Places Will Have the Hottest Housing Markets in 2025

Zillow predicted that the hottest housing market of 2025 will be Buffalo, New York. Here's why.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Growing a Business

Entrepreneurs Should Invest in Service, Not Just Sales — Here's How to Build a Customer-First Business

A customer-first business strategy that prioritizes exceptional service, empowers employees and leverages feedback can transform satisfied customers into loyal advocates, driving sustainable, long-term growth.

Business News

These Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs That Only Require a 2-Year Degree — With Some Around $100,000 and Higher

People with two-year degrees may see career growth in the healthcare, aviation, and technology industries over the next 10 years, according to a new report.