A bottle of whisky made during the Second World War is on sale at Heathrow Airport for the world record price of �22,000.

The Macallan single Highland malt whisky is one of only 12 remaining bottles in the world.

It is so valuable it is locked away in an airport safe and replica bottles are used for display at the specialist retailer, World of Whiskies.

The 60-year-old dram is the most expensive bottle of alcohol on sale in the shop.

Incredible flavour

William Ovens, travel retail business manager for The Macallan's owners, the Edrington Group, said: "The Macallan is the most prestigious and sought after of Scotland's many fine malts.

"It seems that every bottle released from the very limited stocks of this 60-year-old product achieves a higher and higher price."

It is twice as expensive as the most acclaimed wines on sale at a nearby shop at the airport - a 1947 Chateau Cheval Blanc and a 1945 Chateau Petrus Bordeaux which are both priced at �10,000.

Mr Ovens added: "A bottle of The Macallan 60-year-old is a very good investment - a bottle from the same cask sold for �13,200 in 1996 compared with �20,150 in 2002."

It is hoped the whisky, which is said to have an incredible flavour, will appeal to "well heeled, high-flying travellers".

Earlier this year an anonymous collector paid �20,150 for a similar bottle - the highest price paid for a single bottle of Scotch.