[caption id="attachment_78182" align="aligncenter" width="274"] This handout picture taken on October 18, 2013 and released by Sotheby's auction house in Hong Kong on January 18, 2014 shows the Macallan 'M' Decanter 6-litre Imperiale[/caption]Record Set at Auction for Single Malt Scotch Bottle

Bidding was fast and furious to win a rare bottle containing Macallan Whiskey, recently sold at auction for a record price of $628,205. Sotheby's Auction House in Hong Kong was in charge of the sale and had only expected to fetch somewhere in the neighborhood of $250,000 to $516,000 for the six-liter bottle. Adding to its value was the bottle's unique design, a crystal decanter featuring the name Macallan and a bold letter M on its front. The last record set at auction for a rare bottle of Macallan Whiskey was four years ago in New York City when Sotheby's auctioned a 1950 bottle of the hard spirits for $460,000.

The Macallan Distillery in Scotland only produced four of the specially designed crystal decanters, called the Imperiale "M" Decanter. The funds received in the latest auction sale were set for distribution to a variety of non-profit organizations throughout Hong Kong. Officials at Sotheby's report that the Asian market is becoming increasingly profitable for whiskey sales as an alternative to collecting bottles of wine. The two things that Asian buyers look for when investing in whiskey is brand quality and the rarity of the packaging or bottle.

On The Web:
Single Malt Scotch Record
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/single-malt-scotch-sells-world-record-686-000-auction-2D11959077