At £750, an original Trader Vic's Mai Tai isn't within everyone's budget, but its hefty price tag has been enough to secure it the official title of the world's most expensive cocktail.

The honour was bestowed upon the historic beverage by Guinness World Records at a special ceremony held yesterday at the hotel. The Merchant owns one of only six bottles in existence of 17-year-old Wray and Nephew Rum, which was used by trader Vic Bergeron to create the original Mai Tai over 60 years ago.

"Nobody else in the world can do this cocktail, we're the only bar," explained the Merchant's Bar and Potation Manager Sean Muldoon.

And although the 750ml bottle itself may look rather nondescript, it is worth a whopping £26,000.

"Due to the popularity of the Mai Tai when it was invented in 1944 the 17-year-old rum was used up and wasn't made any more," said Mr Muldoon.

"They substituted it with 15-year-old and then 8-year-old rum and when those ran out they didn't bother making any more."

However, a special batch of the 17-year-old rum was created recently, ostensibly for private gifts, but one of these was acquired by the Merchant.

To date only two of the cocktails have been sold, although a third was made yesterday to commemorate its entry into the record books.

"We made a normal Mai Tai and put it against the proper Mai Tai and it was a completely different ball game," said Mr Muldoon.

"When you get a real Mai Tai you can really taste the alcohol."

And with only around 15 servings left in the bottle the hotel is keen to ensure not a drop is wasted.

"When this bottle goes we will never be able to get another one," said Mr Muldoon.

"It's locked away and when someone asks for it, it's an event - the whole bar hears about it.

"We don't want to sell too much of it. Once it's gone it's gone."

For more information on the Merchant Hotel visit www.themerchanthotel.com