Ikeja, Lagos Oct 26, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - A bottle of luxury whisky priced at 11 million would require a Nigerian minimum-wage worker to spend the equivalent of nearly 16 years of working days earning enough to buy it, according to new research by Liquor ETC.

The analysis, titled How Many Days Would You Need to Work to Buy Nigeria's Most Expensive Drinks?, examined the prices of 20 of the most expensive drinks listed in Liquor ETC's catalogue and compared them with Nigeria's 70,000 monthly minimum wage.

The findings put the cost of Nigeria's luxury drinks market into perspective, revealing how many days of work the country's highest-priced bottles represent when measured against minimum-wage earnings.

At the top of the ranking is The Macallan M Decanter, priced at 11 million. Based on estimated daily earnings of 2,692, a minimum-wage worker would need approximately 4,086 working days to earn the bottle's retail price, equivalent to 15.7 working years.

The calculation assumes that every naira earned is put towards the purchase, without accounting for living expenses.

The three most expensive bottles represent more than 33 working years

The research found that the three most expensive drinks in the ranking are all Macallan whiskies.

The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years, priced at 7.85 million, would require approximately 2,916 working days, or 11.2 working years, to afford. Meanwhile, The Macallan 25-Year-Old Sherry Oak, at 4.485 million, represents another 1,666 working days, equivalent to 6.4 working years.

Combined, the purchase prices of these three bottles represent approximately 8,668 working days, more than 33 years of working days at the minimum-wage rate used in the analysis.

The fourth-ranked drink, Hennessy Paradis Rare, is priced at 2.8 million. A minimum-wage worker would need approximately 1,040 working days, or four working years, to earn the equivalent of its retail price.

Even the least expensive bottles require months of earnings

The price gap extends beyond the most expensive bottles.

Clase Azul Reposado, priced at 420,000, would require approximately 156 working days to afford. The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years, listed at 419,000, represents roughly the same number of working days.

Both bottles would therefore cost the equivalent of around six months of working days for someone earning the minimum wage, even before accounting for everyday expenses.

Other bottles in the top 10 include The Balvenie 25 Year Old at 1.35 million, Glenfiddich Grand Couronne 26 Year Old at 1.078 million, Dom Pérignon Rosé Luminous at 1 million, and Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Rosé at 950,000.

The ranking also features premium champagne, cognac and tequila, including Moët & Chandon, Martell, Louis Roederer Cristal and Clase Azul, demonstrating the range of categories represented in Nigeria's luxury drinks market.

Whisky dominates the top of the ranking

Whisky is particularly prominent among the most expensive bottles examined. Macallan expressions occupy the top three positions, while The Balvenie, Glenfiddich and Dalmore also feature in the top 20.

However, the results extend beyond whisky, with high-priced champagne, cognac and tequila also making the list.

By comparing retail prices with daily earnings, the analysis offers a different way to understand luxury drink prices. Rather than considering the naira value alone, the working-days comparison illustrates the scale of the prices relative to an everyday income benchmark.

The figures are not intended to suggest that minimum-wage workers are the target market for these products. Instead, they provide a relatable measure of the difference between luxury retail prices and minimum-wage earnings.

The 5 Most Expensive Drinks in Nigeria and How Long It Takes to Afford Them

1. The Macallan M Decanter: 11,000,000

The Macallan M Decanter tops the ranking as the most expensive drink in the analysis. At an estimated 2,692 per working day, a minimum-wage worker would need approximately 4,086 working days, equivalent to 15.7 working years, to earn enough to buy one bottle.

2. The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years: 7,850,000

In second place is The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years, priced at 7.85 million. Buying this bottle would require approximately 2,916 working days, or 11.2 working years, at the minimum-wage rate used in the analysis.

3. The Macallan 25-Year-Old Sherry Oak: 4,485,000

The third-place bottle is another Macallan expression, the 25-Year-Old Sherry Oak, costing 4.485 million. A minimum-wage worker would need approximately 1,666 working days, equivalent to 6.4 working years, to earn its purchase price.

4. Hennessy Paradis Rare: 2,800,000

Hennessy Paradis Rare ranks fourth, with a retail price of 2.8 million. At the estimated daily earnings of 2,692, it would take approximately 1,040 working days, or four working years, to afford the bottle.

5. The Balvenie 25 Year Old: 1,350,000

Rounding out the top five is The Balvenie 25 Year Old, priced at 1.35 million. The bottle represents approximately 501 working days, equivalent to 1.9 working years, for someone earning Nigeria's monthly minimum wage.

Methodology

Liquor ETC examined the retail prices of 20 of the most expensive drinks listed in its catalogue at the time of research.

The analysis used Nigeria's 70,000 monthly minimum wage as the income benchmark, divided by 26 working days per month to estimate daily earnings of approximately 2,692.

The working days required to afford each bottle were calculated by dividing its retail price by the estimated daily earnings. Working years were calculated using 260 working days per year.

The calculations exclude taxes, living expenses, inflation, savings, and changes in product prices. Figures are rounded, and retail prices are subject to change.

Read the full analysis: How Many Days Would You Need to Work to Buy Nigeria's Most Expensive Drinks?

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