10 bougie sips you need to add to your bucket list

Perhaps the bougiest name in wine, Dom Pérignon is special. It’s named after a real man, a Benedictine monk who dedicated his life to a Champagne-region Abbey cellar in which he worked until his death. He made great progress in moving forward the creation of wine, and his teachings were recorded by a pupil after his death. From using only the most perfectly sized grapes, to “pressing” not “treading” and harvesting in the cool conditions of the early morning, his wisdom was vast, and it’s all most likely true. However, his famous quote, “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!” is most likely false as there’s no evidence of it before an 1800s advertisement, but that’s great historic branding that deserves its own recognition. To this day, Dom Pérignon is always a vintage release, so within every bottle, you will only find wine made from grapes of a single year. Some years do not even have a release because the grapes weren’t deemed good enough. Dom Pérignon was what was toasted at Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding, and it features in two Bond films (he uses the 1955 vintage as a weapon in Dr. No), but it’s referenced and seen in hundreds of films, songs and books. To taste, it’s a dry Champagne made from pinot noir and chardonnay. When you open it, don’t remove the foil (it’s not the done thing) just pull the tab of the wire cage out and open as if the foil wasn’t there.

Currently selling for: $399.99

From Japan’s oldest distillery, located in the mist where three rivers converge, Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malt is Suntory’s flagship whisky. Hitting the market in 1984, this was the first seriously marketed Japanese whisky that let the world know they make a seriously good drop. Made in the Scottish style (hence, not spelt “whiskey”), Yamazaki is dry, smoky and distinguished. Aged in sherry and mizunara (a rare oak from Hokkaido that grows for 200 years before cutting) casks, it has countless layers of flavour so there’s always something more to uncover. Due to its dedicated cult following, the Suntory distillery struggles to meet Yamazaki 12 Year Old’s growing demand year after year, adding “rarity” to its prized qualities. 

Currently selling for: $470

With this French Cognac, you’re investing in both alcohol and design. Remy Martin Louis XIII is as much about the liquid as the bottle, capeesh? First, the liquid. You’re sipping history, with the Cognac first made in 1874. Now, as then, it’s made from 1,200 eaux-de-vies from the best sites in the Cognac region, and therefore, the world. Never straying from the maker’s method, the Cognac’s flavour hasn’t varied from the first decanter. Now, to the decanter – it’s individually handmade by artisans from Baccarat Crystal, topped with the iconic fleur-de-lys stopper and features a 20-carat gold neck and 10 distinctive spikes on each side. Each decanter is individually marked and numbered, and it’s not to go anywhere near the recycling bin when finished. Of course, at this price point, it doesn’t stop there – it also comes in a signature red display case (or a ‘coffret’ if you want to talk the talk), complete with a mirror display inside that you can use to display the bottle at home. Although perhaps it’s better to keep this one in your safe.

Currently selling for: $4,950

Meet Australia’s most treasured wine jewel. Kept for 100 years in 475-litre barrels, many have taken their sip of the Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para 1984 tawny port over the last century, so now, it is bottled on request. There are only 500 litres left, and this iconic Barossa winery is not wanting to waste a drop. In the mid-19th century, Seppeltsfield pioneered fortified wine in Australia, mastering balance, intensity and flavour. Often described as the “perfect” wine, get yourself a sip of this. For your country.

Currently selling for: $3,150 (375mL)

This hotly anticipated release was received with open arms by the Scotch fanatics and for good reason. The Rosebank 30 Year Old Single Malt Whisky began its annual series of limited-edition bottlings in 2020, and this particular bottle (part of ‘Release One’) is one of just 4,350 produced with only 100 allocated to the Australian market. It’s sold out nearly everywhere, so this may be your last chance to get your hot little hands on an iconic piece of Scottish history. Produced in the Lowlands region, this single malt tastes like orchard fruits melting into vanilla tones, with a stunning peach cobbler quality and layers of flavour you just won’t find in other whiskies. Its long and lingering finish, bright yellow colour and slight oakiness round out a truly special drop of investment-grade whisky.

Currently selling for: $3,100