Tycoon to launch new whisky company
Millionaire building tycoon Mahesh Patel has unveiled plans to launch a new independent whisky company specializing in rare and old premium whisky, and for what he says will be the world’s most lavish whisky show in Las Vegas in March.
Patel, who is one of the biggest whisky collectors in the world, still runs a large construction business in Atlanta, Georgia, but last year launched the Universal Whisky Experience aimed at high end whisky enthusiasts.
Now he is to take another step in to the world of whisky with the launch of Sirius, his new whisky company.
He has teamed up with Whyte & Mackay to buy four casks of rare cask strength whiskies, two malts and two grains. The whiskies are from Dalmore, Fettercairn, Carsebridge and North British. All of them are from the 60s, are of very limited quantity – in some cases well under 100 bottles only – and they will retail for between £750- £2,500.
“These set the pattern for what I want to do in whisky,” said Patel in an exclusive interview with The Spirits Business during a short break in London with his wife. “I am going to be doing similar old, rare, high quality cask strength bottlings with the likes of The Macallan and Glenfarclas.”
The whiskies are bottled but there are delays with packaging, and to promote the range in the United States Patel has teamed up with David Robertson, director of rare malts for Whyte & Mackay for an evening of eight whiskies including Patel’s four whiskies and four extremely rare Dalmore bottlings. The dinners are being held at some of theUSA’s best steak restaurants.
“These are amazing evenings where the best meat is served and each person gets a whisky pour valued at about $2000,” says Patel. “It’s giving the chance to try some amazing whisky.”
Patel has hit back at critics who have written articles knocking The Dalmore’s decision to promote super premium whiskies and to present rare whisky as an investment opportunity.
“Of course the rig bottles of rare whisky offer. Great investment opportunity,” he says. “It’s complete nonsense to say otherwise. The proof is there for anyone to see. Buy a whisky from the right distillery and keep it and it will make a return. Why should it be any different to wine, which everyone knows is an investable commodity, and in many ways whisky is a better prospect than wine because it is not limited by age.
“It’s like anything else. If it’s rare and there is a demand for it, it will go up in price. That should be obvious to anybody.”
